How blessed we are when we learn to follow God from a young age!

“Since my youth, O God, You have taught me, and to this day I declare Your marvellous deeds.” Psalm 71:17

Psalm 71:17 isn’t just a reflection of one person’s journey. It’s a reminder of what becomes possible when a child meets God early, walks with Him consistently, and grows up surrounded by people who model His love.

And that’s where Children’s Church faithfully and beautifully steps in.

1. Faith that begins early grows deep roots

The psalmist looks back and recognises something precious: God didn’t enter his story late. God was there in childhood — teaching, guiding, and forming.

Children who meet God early don’t just learn about Him. They learn to recognise His voice, trust His character, and see His fingerprints in their everyday world. They grow up knowing:

• God is not distant
• God is not complicated
• God is not only for adults
• God is Someone they can talk to, lean on, and love

When faith begins in childhood, it becomes part of the child’s identity — not an add‑on, not a Sunday-only ritual, but a lifelong anchor.

2. Children’s Church is often where that journey begins

Many adults can point to a moment in Children’s Church — a story, a leader, a prayer, a craft, a song — that planted something eternal in them.

Children’s Church matters because it creates:

• A safe place where children can ask questions and explore faith
• A joyful place where God’s Word is experienced, not just explained
• A consistent place where weekly rhythms shape lifelong habits
• A relational place where leaders model what following Jesus looks like

You and your team aren’t just “running a program.” You’re shaping spiritual memories that will still be echoing in hearts decades from now.

3. Older believers remind us why early faith formation is worth it

When you listen to someone who has walked with God for 50, 60, or 70 years, you hear:

• stories of God’s provision
• testimonies of answered prayer
• wisdom forged through trials
• gratitude for the faith they learned young

Many of them will say, “I’m so thankful I met Jesus early.” And many will add, “Someone in my childhood church helped me know Him.”

Their lives are living proof that what we sow into children today becomes tomorrow’s strength, resilience, and testimony.

4. Children’s Church helps children build a faith they can grow old with

Every time you:

• tell a Bible story with wonder
• help a child memorise a verse
• pray over a child’s worry
• create a craft that reinforces truth
• model kindness, patience, and joy

…you are helping them build a faith that will still be standing when they are older, wiser, and declaring God’s marvellous deeds — just like the psalmist.

Children’s Church is not “childcare.” It is spiritual formation. It is discipleship. It is legacy work.

5. A blessing for every generation

Psalm 71 reminds us that faith is a lifelong journey, but it often begins with the smallest steps — steps taken in a colourful room, with glue sticks, memory verses, worship actions, and leaders who genuinely care.

When we invest in children, we invest in future grandparents, future leaders, future encouragers, future prayer warriors, and future psalmists who will one day say:

“Since my youth, O God, You have taught me.”

What a privilege.  What a responsibility.  What a blessing.

Free Beach Series to Download!

The Twins at Sunshine Cove

I was blessed to grow up with Christian grandparents on both sides of my family. When it came time to name the godly grandmother in my Sunshine Cove series—the one who faithfully runs the little post office—I chose my maternal Grandma’s name, Phyllis, to honour her. Twins Jesse and Erin spend their school holidays with their grandmother, and throughout their stay, she weaves lessons from the life of Daniel into their everyday adventures.

Chapter 1: Clean Carrots (Daniel and His Friends Obey God) https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Chapter-1-Clean-Carrots.pdf

Chapter 2: Starfish (Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream) https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Chapter-2-Starfish.pdf

Chapter 3: Summer Storm (Saved in a Fiery Trial) https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Chapter-3-Summer-Storm.pdf

Chapter 4: Seaweed Sandwiches (Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream) https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Chapter-4-Seaweed-Sandwiches.pdf

Chapter 5: Operation Clean Up (The Writing on the Wall) https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Chapter-5-Operation-Clean-Up.pdf

Chapter 6: Special Delivery (Daniel in the Lion’s Den) https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Chapter-6-Special-Delivery.pdf

Bonus Chapter: Mystery of the Captain in the Lighthouse (Don’t Hide Your Light) https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Bonus-Chapter-Mystery-of-the-Captain-in-the-Lighthouse.pdf