This past weekend, I had the privilege of leading a two-day children’s revival that reminded me why I love ministering to kids so much. Saturday night was powerful yet simple, genuine, and full of God’s presence. Before the night was over, more than ten children had said “Yes” to following Jesus. There’s nothing like watching a child’s heart open to the Lord.

But what happened the next morning during our children’s workshop is what I’ll never forget. My goal that day was to help the kids understand what it really means to follow Jesus, not just in words, but in action.

I started by sharing how Jesus passed the baton to us, giving us His light to carry into the world. I told them, “Jesus didn’t just do miracles to show off His power. He was showing us what’s possible when we walk with the Holy Spirit.” And then I said something I wanted every child in that room to hold onto: “Jesus never set an age limit on His call. He just said, ‘Come, follow Me.’”

We walked through a few examples of how Jesus lived. They learned how He was helpful, generous, and compassionate. Then we focused on one story: Jesus healing the ten lepers. I shared how He heard their plea, had mercy on them, and healed them.

Then I looked at the kids and said, “That same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. You don’t have to wait until you’re older to be a light, you can be one right now!”

I showed them how to lay hands and pray for someone who is sick, and then I asked all the adults in the room who were dealing with something in their bodies to raise their hands. Hands went up all over the room. I turned to the children and said, “This is your moment. Go pray. Be the light. God can use you right now.”

And they did.

I stood there and watched as children began walking over to adults, gently laying their hands on them, and praying. You could hear the sound of their voices all over the room. The presence of God filled that space. Tears started flowing, not just from me, but from the adults who were being prayed for. It wasn’t a performance; it was pure, childlike faith in action.

Afterward, the pastor stood up, eyes full of tears, and said, “I’ve never had a child lay hands and pray over me before.” Then one young boy came to me and said quietly, “That was the first time I ever prayed for someone while they were right there." That moment broke me. Tears streamed again because I knew our children had been waiting for their turn.

What Do We Do Next?

As I looked around that room filled with faithful older saints, a lady turned to me and asked, “So, what do we do next?” That question has stayed with me. What we experienced wasn’t just a good weekend; it was a spark and an ignition. If we want to keep the fire burning, we have to do three things: See them, Train them, and Release them.

1. See Them as Jesus Sees Them

Jesus never overlooked children. He called them close, blessed them, and told us to learn from their faith. When we start seeing children through His eyes, we stop calling them “the church of tomorrow” and start recognizing them as the church TODAY!

Kids are capable of deep faith, powerful prayer, and bold obedience. When we take time to see and affirm their spiritual gifts, it reminds them that God has already chosen them for His work.

2. Teach, Train, and Equip

Children need faith-building moments through scripture, and they need to see faith in action.

At the revival, I didn’t just talk about prayer. I modeled it. I showed visuals, photos, and videos of other children that I had the opportunity to lead in prayer services. And when the time came, they were ready to step out and try it. That’s what happens when you train them. It gives them confidence to live what they’ve learned.

We must teach them who they are in Christ, train them to hear God’s voice, and equip them with opportunities to serve. They can do more than just lead songs, read scriptures, and share what God is teaching them; they can go into spiritual warfare! When we trust them with responsibility, they begin to walk in purpose.

3. Release Them to See “Greater Works”

Jesus said, “Greater works shall you do.” That includes children. Releasing kids doesn’t mean stepping aside; it means modeling and walking beside them. It means trusting the Holy Spirit inside of them and celebrating what God is doing through them.

When we give children real chances to lead, serve, and minister, we’re not losing control, but we’re gaining an army of young believers who know who they are in Christ and are not afraid to show it.

A Weekend I’ll Never Forget

That weekend reminded me that revival doesn’t just start in adults; it can start with children. Their faith is pure. Their hearts are open. They don’t need to be convinced; they just need to be invited. I believe God is raising up a generation of children who will pray with power, worship with passion, and love with compassion. They’re not waiting for the future; they’re ready now.

So, let’s keep making room for them. Let’s create spaces where kids can experience God for themselves. Let’s let them minister, pray, lead, and shine. Because when we do, we won’t just be teaching kids about Jesus, we’ll be watching Jesus move through them. And that, my dear brothers and sisters, is what “greater works” really looks like.

​Angela Marks is a passionate children’s ministry leader with 13 years of experience serving in various churches and ministries. She resides in Fayetteville, North Carolina where she has yielded to the call of reaching young people inside and outside the walls of the church.