A couple of weeks ago, I finished a week of kids’ camp at Tabor College, serving as a counselor as I’ve done every summer for the past several years. It’s demanding—long days, high-energy activities and high temperatures.
However, it’s worth it to me because of the opportunities it brings for discipleship. Kids’ camp has a lot of good programming—games, music, speakers—but for me, the sweetest discipleship moments happen in the small, in-between moments. It’s tucking a scared student into bed and praying over her. It’s reprising a worship song at the top of our lungs while on a walk. It’s listening as a preteen pours out her heart on a one-on-one evening walk.
I wonder if, when we think about discipling kids, especially in a church context, it’s easy to think about it in terms of programming. What are we going to teach? What Bible knowledge do we want to impart? What character qualities do we want to see our kids develop? There isn’t anything wrong with asking these questions or with doing the best we can to develop excellent lessons and programs. However, I think we need to consider that discipleship mostly happens in those along-the-way moments, as we make memories and grow in relationship with the kids God has placed in our care, whether they are children in our own families or in our church families.
Jesus was a master of inviting his disciples into ordinary, along-the-way moments. They watched as he healed, taught, encouraged, confronted, worked and rested. He answered their questions, confronted their misunderstandings and invited them to imitate him.
As we strive to follow his example, it’s worth considering: who are we intentionally inviting to come alongside us? One man in our church makes a habit of asking some of our young teenagers to come and help him with construction projects and farming chores. He works alongside them, and they talk about work, life and following Jesus. He understands how the simple question, “Hey, do you want to help?” can make space for meaningful conversation and even life change.
If the idea of discipling the students in your life feels daunting, take heart. God isn’t calling most of us to teach systematic theology—but he might be calling us to make some space in our schedules. It’s the small acts of everyday togetherness and faithfulness that help pass our faith on to the next generation, as they watch us pursue Jesus in real time. The challenge for us as church members, parents, grandparents and mentors is to notice those moments that are ripe for discipleship—and simply invite our kids in. So the next time you want to lean into discipleship, start with something simple: “I’m going to the gas station for a fountain drink. Want to come with me?”
Kayla Traver joined the Cornerstone Community Church, Topeka, Kansas pastoral staff as family pastor in 2023, after calling Cornerstone her church home for several years. She is a graduate of Manhattan (Kansas) Christian College where she earned her bachelor’s in Bible/Cross-Cultural Ministry. She and her husband, Nathan, have two daughters.
