This article is part of a series exploring three popular models of worship engagement for children. In this article, the Managing Director of the CFC, Dr. Ahyuwani Akanet, argues for the exclusive, or age-graded, model of ministry with children.
It is common for parents looking for local churches to consider what options there are for their children. Often, their top concern is finding specific and robust children’s ministry activities and programs appropriate for their kids. While the all-age approach is encouraged for intergenerational engagement, the age-specific model seems to be the go-to when the majority of parents consider church involvement. I have enjoyed experiencing local congregations that have used the age-specific approach well. Doing it well does not mean perfection; it means accentuating the benefits of the model. This brief reflection looks into the age-graded worship model and what we can learn from it.
Laying a foundation for lifelong faith
Several passages in Scripture talk about parents and other adults in the community of faith being responsible for caring for children’s faith formation (Deut. 6:4-9; Psalm 78; Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4). The example of the Israelites and their Passover celebration shows what age-specific worship or teaching might entail. The instructions for Passover were very specific and age-sensitive. The parents were instructed to teach their children about the meaning of the Passover and its significance in their history. One would expect such instruction to be tailored to the age and understanding of each child, with younger children receiving simpler explanations and older children engaging in deeper discussions. The mention of children asking questions hints at the need to provide space for children to engage their curious minds about the things of God. We see Paul also hinting at the need for milk in the case of new believers before they can receive solid food as they develop. This is doubly true of children as they are both developmentally young and just being introduced to the faith. There is, therefore, value in an age-graded approach to faith formation practices like worship.
The age-graded approach ensures that each generation understands God and his word as it pertains to their faith. It also allows parents and other adults, including children’s ministers and volunteers, to engage in meaningful conversations with children about Christian beliefs and practices. As highlighted in the previous paragraph, this model can be seen throughout the Scriptures, demonstrating God’s understanding of different ages and developmental stages.
Engaging the whole child in worship
A holistic definition of worship strongly supports age-graded Christian worship. If worship is understood not merely as ritualistic acts but as the engagement of the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—in response to God, then age-specific approaches become essential. Children at different developmental stages understand and experience the world, and therefore God, in distinct ways. A three-year-old’s worship will naturally manifest differently than a teenager’s. Providing age-appropriate expressions, teachings, and activities within worship allows each child to engage authentically with God at their current level of understanding and ability. This ensures that worship is not a passive observance but an active, meaningful encounter with the divine, tailored to their specific developmental context.
Meeting children where they are
One can make a strong case for age-graded worship by considering the key elements of child development. Children of various ages have different cognitive, emotional, and social capabilities. A preschooler’s understanding of abstract concepts like God or faith will be significantly less developed than a teenager’s. Their attention spans, emotional regulation, and social skills are also in different stages of development. Therefore, attempting to engage children in worship designed for adults will likely result in disengagement, confusion, or frustration. Age-graded worship allows for tailored experiences that match children’s developmental stages, fostering a more meaningful connection with God and facilitating genuine spiritual growth. By providing age-appropriate activities, teachings, and expressions, the church can effectively nurture each child’s faith journey, recognizing and celebrating their unique developmental stage.
Providing fertile ground for healthy faith growth
Fowler’s stages of faith development illustrate that faith evolves through predictable, albeit not rigid, stages, mirroring cognitive and emotional development. Younger children often exhibit intuitive-projective faith, characterized by imaginative and emotional connections to stories and symbols. Older children and adolescents may be moving towards synthetic-conventional faith, where they conform to group norms and adopt the beliefs of their community. Young adults and beyond might strive for individuative-reflective faith, questioning and personalizing their beliefs. Age-graded worship allows for tailoring experiences to match these stages. For instance, early childhood worship can be rich with sensory experiences and storytelling, while youth worship might foster discussion, questioning, and peer engagement. This approach supports individuals in their current stage while also providing gentle scaffolding for growth into the next, fostering a more robust and personalized faith journey.
Fostering genuine spiritual growth
Implementing an age-graded worship model is not without some challenges. For instance, it requires more resources, such as volunteers, staff, materials, and space, and finding and training dedicated volunteers for each age group can be challenging. Adequate space to accommodate different age groups and activities may also be a limiting factor. In such instances, local congregations could begin small by grouping similar ages together until more staff or volunteers are recruited. That also helps with the space constraints; repurposing space would be necessary as the ministry grows. Another challenge is that effectively coordinating multiple age-specific programs requires strong organizational skills and clear communication among leaders, volunteers, and families, and ensuring smooth transitions between programs and keeping everyone informed can be complex. This is where church leadership development is handy, where the local church identifies potential helpers and training. There are short training programs like the TEDS certificate in children and family ministry that are suitable for both paid and volunteer children’s ministry leaders. There’s a potential for age-graded models to create divisions within the congregation if not implemented thoughtfully. Striking a balance between age-specific needs and all-age worship experiences can be challenging, and some members may resist changes or feel that their needs are not being met. That is why the vision is for the whole congregation, so every member recognizes that it is one local congregation that benefits from specific ministries and all-age activities.
Despite these challenges, the benefits of age-graded worship, such as deeper engagement and more meaningful spiritual growth, often outweigh the difficulties. Careful planning, strong leadership, and open communication can help churches overcome these challenges and successfully implement an age-graded model.
Witnessing genuine spiritual growth
The age-graded model is important for Christian worship because it recognizes that individuals at different developmental stages engage with God and the world in distinct ways. Tailoring worship experiences, teachings, and activities to specific age groups allows everyone to connect with God authentically and meaningfully. This approach ensures that worship is not just a passive observance but an active encounter, where each person can respond to God according to their unique level of understanding and ability. In essence, age-graded worship fosters genuine spiritual growth and engagement for all participants.