Encouraging Our Kids to Lead and Serve

October 11, 2025

Don't let anyone make fun of you just because you are young. Set an example for other followers by what you say and do, as well as by your love, faith, and purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

As parents, one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the belief that they can make a difference right now. Our kids don’t have to wait until they are grown-ups to serve God and help others. They are part of the church today, and their gifts, passions, and ideas can bring real change in their schools, churches, and communities.

Encouraging service doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It can start small—a family project, a school initiative, or even an idea sparked by your child’s interests. Sometimes those small steps grow into something amazing, creating moments where others can see how a young Christ-follower sets an example in faith, love, and action.

At Kids Corner, the Kids in Action YouTube series highlights real-life stories of kids using their God-given talents to serve others. Here are just a few of their inspiring stories:

Swimming Across Lake Erie Mallory, Everett, Leah, and Noah trained for a year to complete a relay swim across one of the Great Lakes. Crossing took eight hours, but they pushed through challenges and setbacks with determination and teamwork. Their hard work wasn’t just for themselves—they used their swim to raise money for a local charity!

Accessibility Leader Kyra knew firsthand how difficult it was to navigate her school’s cobblestone walkway and heavy front doors in her wheelchair. Instead of simply wishing things were better, she became part of the team that renovated her school, creating spaces welcoming all of God’s children.

Motorcycle Siena loved taking things apart and putting them back together. As a school project, she restored a 1977 Honda motorcycle and donated it to a local charity. With encouragement from her shop teacher and experience from a part-time job at a garage, Siena and her class learned more about cars and even entered them in drag races at Mission Raceway Park.

These stories remind us that kids are already making a difference. Our communities are looking for leaders, and many of those leaders are young people with a heart to serve. The good news? Your child can be one of them.

Maybe their passion is helping people in need, caring for animals, fixing things, gardening, singing, or writing stories. Whatever it is, God has given them gifts to use today, not just someday in the future.

Our kids are world-changers in the making.

• Talk with your child about what they love to do and how they can use that to serve others.
• Look for opportunities at church, school, or in the community where they can get involved.
• Remind them (and yourself!) that small acts of kindness and service matter.

Let’s encourage, support, and walk alongside them as they grow in faith and action.

Want more inspiring stories? Check out Kids in Action and see how young people are making an impact!