HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Hot Springs Baptist Church closed out its summer ministry with Summer Praise, a children’s worship camp held Aug. 4-6.  

More than 100 children, from age four through fifth grade, participated in the three-day experience before joining the congregation the following Sunday to help lead corporate worship. 

Worship Pastor Andrew Chandler said the camp is about far more than teaching children songs for a Sunday morning performance. It is an intentional investment in the next generation of worshippers – and potential worship leaders. 

“Over the years, God has truly blessed this camp,” Chandler said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to share more about the incredible work God is doing through Summer Praise. Through music and worship, children are coming to know God on a deeper level.” 

The vision behind Summer Praise is straightforward: help children understand that worship is not something they simply watch adults do on Sunday mornings. They can know God, worship Him, use the gifts He has given them and actively participate in the life of the church right now. 

“Music is obviously a big part of the week, but our goal is for it to be much more than simply learning songs for a performance,” Chandler said. “Throughout the week, we spend time teaching the kids what the songs mean, why we sing them, and most importantly, who we are singing to.” 

This year’s theme was “Jehovah,” centered on Isaiah 12:2 and the declaration, “the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song.” The theme provided a biblical foundation for the week, as the children explored who God is and why He is worthy of their worship. 

A typical day at Summer Praise included large-group worship, choir rehearsals, teaching about the theme and the biblical truths behind the music, as well as activities designed simply for the children to have fun and build friendships. 

“It makes for a really full few days where they are singing, learning, building friendships, and making memories together,” Chandler said. 

But one of the most meaningful aspects of Summer Praise comes after the camp itself ends. 

The children are given the opportunity to take what they have learned and help lead the church’s corporate worship the following Sunday. 

“There is something incredibly special about watching children take what they have learned all week and use it to point an entire congregation toward the Lord,” Chandler said. 

The opportunity to lead on Sunday is an important part of the church’s approach to discipling children, giving them a place to serve and participate in worship from an early age. 

“I think it is incredibly important for churches to intentionally invest in the next generation because the future worshippers and worship leaders of the Church are already sitting in our children’s ministries today,” Chandler said. 

“If we want to see a generation that loves the Lord, understands biblical worship, and is prepared to use their gifts to serve the Church, we have to be willing to intentionally teach, encourage, and give them opportunities to do that now.” 

Chandler said that begins with helping children understand that worship extends well beyond music. 

“Worship is our response to who God is and what He has done, and music is one of the ways we get to express that,” he said. “When we teach children the truths behind the songs they are singing, we are helping give them a biblical foundation for worship that we pray will stay with them long after Summer Praise is over.” 

The camp also gives children an opportunity to discover that they have a meaningful place in the ministry of the church, regardless of their age. 

“We don’t want them to grow up believing that ministry is something they have to wait until adulthood to participate in,” Chandler said. “When we recognize their gifts, invest in those gifts, and give them meaningful opportunities to use them, they begin to understand that God can use them at any age.” 

And while some of the children who participate in Summer Praise may eventually become worship pastors, musicians, choir members or other ministry leaders, Chandler emphasized that producing future platform leaders is not the ultimate goal. 

“Not every child who comes through Summer Praise will grow up to stand on a platform or become a worship leader – and that isn’t necessarily the goal,” he said. “Our hope is to raise up lifelong worshippers.” 

That vision offers a valuable model for churches looking to disciple the next generation. Equipping children for worship is not simply about preparing them to sing on a Sunday morning. It is about teaching them who God is, why He is worthy of worship, how their gifts can be used to serve Him, and that they have a place in the church now. 

“If some of those children eventually become worship pastors, musicians, choir members, or other ministry leaders, what an incredible blessing that will be,” Chandler said. “But ultimately, our prayer is that every child we invest in will grow into an adult who knows why they worship, loves worshipping the Lord, and understands that using their gifts to serve Him is a privilege.”