Terry Shue is director of Leadership Development for Mennonite Church USA.
Beyond the cute factor, children singing in church is a holy time for me. Watching them find their voice of praise and seeing unveiled joy on their faces lifts my heart and does an abundance of good for my soul. Seriously, I have noticed that I am not alone. When children sing in church people worship and smile.
A number of decades ago, a young woman was touched with the power of children’s music in church like many of us have been. Over the years in her career as a teacher and musician in the public school system, she continued to see the value of children’s music in the life of her home congregation. She saw that music not only helped shape the youth of a congregation, it had a positive effect on the congregation as well. It is out of her love for children, music and the church that Martha wanted to help other churches promote children’s music. So deep was her desire to do this, she established an endowment to promote children’s music in the life of congregations in Mennonite Church USA.
Each year we help identify congregations and other organizations who promote the singing of children in worship through the distribution of small grants.
Over the years congregations have applied for the $500 grant to buy musical instruments, song books, children’s musicals or even music lessons for budding musicians. Anything that would help young people engage in worship through the act of music is what this fund is for.
What is your congregation doing in worship music with children? If this grant would help your musical ministry with children, I invite you to request and return the simple application from our office by emailing Beth at . There are a limited number of grants we can offer each year, so it may not become immediately available, but please apply!
Keep on singing!