KWLS - Kids in Worship, Leadership and Service

Here's how my year is going. Again our group is comprised of 4th through 8th graders. We have around 15 kids who rotate through serving, depending on their schedules. We rehearse/meet once a week and the kids lead a brief children's church service on Sunday mornings. The kids have also started rotating through the classrooms as helpers, and KWLS has become the umbrella for processing other kids/teens for serving in the classrooms.

Positives:
1. The KWLS kids have grown to appreciate their role in the church as leaders. They know they are valued and their opinions matter.
2. The kids and families are excited about the music and are using it in their homes.
3. I have fourth graders chomping at the bit to join this year.
4. Parents are supportive of the commitment to KWLS.
5. Partnership with the other leader has meant we've never had to cancel.
6. Possibilities for outreach have grown.
7. Younger kids are seeing KWLS as caring leaders in their community.
8. Continued desire to add more to what we are doing (new songs, skits, collections, etc).
9. Requests from the adult worship team to involve the kids.

Negatives:
1. Getting some complaints about some 'fairness' issues.
2. Focus has shifted somewhat from wanting to 'serve' - to wanting to do 'what I like.'
3. Having trouble maintaining interest from boys.
4. Burnout on rehearsals.
5. Difficulty with inconsistency in attendance.
6. Still struggling with how to attract older teens and kids who don't want to 'sing and dance.'
7. Still trying to balance performance and worship.

On Thursday, we hope to do a year-end review and tweak some of our procedures for the coming year. In September we will be including the next generation of KWLS by adding the upcoming 4th graders.I am praying that the kids will be open to expressing their opinions and respectful of those who disagree. I am praying that the kids will be able to see how much they have grown over the last year. I am praying that we devise an effective mentoring system for the younger kids coming into the group. I am praying for those who desire to step down to feel accepted and respected for doing so. We will close out the year by having a KWLS & family picnic in August.