Like a Child
Pastoral | June 04, 2026 | By: Tracy Skoog
Over the years, people have often asked me what I love most about children’s ministry. Honestly, there are so many things. I love that I can act goofy and somehow it seems completely normal. I love the hugs, the high fives, and even the controlled chaos that comes with a room full of hundreds of energetic kids.
All those things are fun, but there’s one thing that surpasses them all: witnessing the awe and wonder on a child’s face when they hear the Gospel for the very first time.
Nothing surpasses the wonder on a child’s face when they hear the Gospel for the first time.
For many of the kids who regularly attend our Sunday programming, the Gospel message is familiar. They hear often about God’s love and what Jesus has done for them. But for the child visiting for the first time, seeing their reaction when they truly begin to understand the story of Jesus is something unforgettable.
During large group teaching on Sundays, things can get pretty wild. The worship music is loud and fun. Kids are singing, moving, clapping, and praising God with excitement. Then we begin our teaching time. We share our engaging Bible story videos, and each week we connect the lesson back to God’s plan for us through His Son, Jesus.
And when kids hear about Jesus, something incredible happens.
As we begin telling the story of Scripture—how in the beginning God created everything, and it was perfect—the room is still buzzing. But then we explain that things didn’t stay perfect. That Adam and Eve disobeyed God. As a result, sin entered the world. We are each sinful, and because of sin, every one of us is separated from God. We tell the kids that there is nothing we can do on our own to make ourselves right before Him.
And right about then, the room changes.
The giggles quiet down. The whispering stops. The distractions fade. Kids who moments before could barely sit still are suddenly locked in.
Then we continue the story. From the very beginning, God had a plan to rescue us from our sin. That plan was Jesus. Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again so that we could be forgiven and restored to God. We explain that salvation is a free gift—a gift we can accept through faith in Him. And when we do, God’s Spirit lives within us, guiding us, changing us, and reminding us that our salvation is secure.
When some of the kids hear this for the first time, their reactions are unforgettable. Their eyes widen. Their jaws drop. You can almost see the wheels turning in their minds as they begin to grasp the magnitude of what they are hearing. It is one of the most beautiful things to witness.
Sometimes, they are even brave enough to come talk with us afterward.
One year, a little second-grade boy visited for the very first time. He carried a tiny notebook with him and spent the lesson taking notes. I remember thinking he was probably every teacher’s dream student. As I shared the Gospel, I watched him closely. The moment I explained that Jesus died on the cross for him, his pencil stopped moving. His eyes stayed fixed up front for the rest of the lesson.
As he was leaving that morning, he walked up to me holding his little notebook and said, “I wish you could tell me more!”
The next Sunday, he came back ready to learn even more about his Savior.
On June 8, we will welcome more than 1,300 kids across our campuses for VBS: The Greatest Safari. Throughout the week, kids will embark on an unforgettable adventure as we discover who God is and His plan for our lives. Many of the children attending have never been part of our programming and may have never heard the Gospel before.
Many of the children attending VBS have never heard the Gospel before.
We would love your prayers for VBS, especially for Thursday, June 11, which we call “Gospel Day.” On that day, kids will hear God’s story, learn what Jesus has done for them, and be given the opportunity to place their faith in Christ as their Savior.
God willing, eyes will widen, jaws will drop, and many lives will be forever changed.
My prayer is that, even as adults, we would never lose our wonder at what God has done for us through Jesus. I pray that every time we hear the Gospel, we would respond like a child.
Tracy Skoog
Central Discovery Kids Minister
Discovery Kids is much more than childcare. It’s a place where kids learn who Jesus is and how much He loves them. Invite a family to experience it, or join our Tag Team and be part of what God is doing in the next generation.
Like this Article? Share on Social:
FEATURED ARTICLES
RECENT ARTICLES
SIMILAR ARTICLES
