Teaching Kids to Use Everything to Serve God

Teaching Kids to Use Everything to Serve God - Parenting Like Hannah
Photo by Savannah Negas

If you talk to anyone in business or non-profit management, they will tell you one key to success is finding synergies. Synergy is finding the connection to someone else so you help each other succeed by combining your talents and/or resources. Have you ever thought about how you might create synergy with God?

God has gifted each person with talents, resources and connections. He has given you the tools to succeed. Have you thought about how to use those same gifts to serve God? Did you ever consider teaching your children how to look at everything they have been given and see how they can use it to further God’s Kingdom?

We wanted to teach our children how even seemingly meaningless items, or hobbies meant only to amuse, could also be used to serve God.  We had the children rotate among several tables and learn about how people used every day objects to serve God.

One grandmother taught the children how to make a simple appetizer. She shared with them all the many ways cooking could be used to serve God, from hosting people in your home to taking meals to people to running food drives. One of our elders used scrap wire from telephone jobs to make flowers and animals. He taught the children how to make them and shared how he uses them to open conversations with strangers on mission trips.

The photo shows a project our children’s ministry intern shared. She showed the children how to make coasters out of old magazines. She shared how missionaries often teach people in other countries how to make crafts using found items and trash. This allows the people to earn a living in the local markets and help feed their families. These programs also take time to teach people about God.

So the next time your children want to try a new craft or hobby, let them if you can. Then encourage them to find a way to use that same skill to serve God. You may be surprised at the creative ways they find to use their gifts for God.

What interesting or off the wall talents or hobbies have you used or seen used to serve God? I would love to hear about it in a comment below.

Published by

Thereasa Winnett

Thereasa Winnett is the founder of Teach One Reach One and blogger at Parenting Like Hannah. She holds a BA in education from the College of William and Mary. She has served in all areas of ministry to children and teens for more than thirty years and regularly leads workshops for ministries and churches. She has conducted numerous workshops, including sessions at Points of Light’s National Conference on Volunteering and Service, the National Urban Ministry Conference, Pepperdine Bible Lectures, and Lipscomb’s Summer Celebration. Thereasa lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband Greg, where she enjoys reading, knitting, traveling and cooking.

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