More than a Program, It's a Process

By: Stephen Jones

Director of Discipleship Ministries

Cornerstone Conference IPHC

Wasn’t it soul-stirring to see our children and teens worshipping onstage, leading us through songs, dance, dramas, and sermons?

Didn’t it fill your heart with gratitude to see God working in their lives, drawing them into deeper relationships with Him through worship and service?

We hosted our annual Cornerstone Fine Arts Festival earlier this month and once again, we were blown away—not only by the talent and hard work our children and students demonstrated, but also by their energy and excitement to be together for the sake of growing and becoming leaders. It was a great day!

Fine Arts is more than a program.. It’s a discipleship process where children and teens discover their passions for worship and service, develop their skills with mentors and leaders, and deploy their gifts in the Kingdom and within the local church. More than just a special performance on a single Sunday or Wednesday,

Fine Arts is a system where we connect children and students with mentors and leaders who will walk with them as they grow in a relationship with Jesus, practice with them to hone their craft, and help them prepare for their future as leaders

If the whole idea of creating and staffing a new program in your church seems daunting, don’t let the enemy talk you out of a tremendous opportunity. These children and teens represent our very best investments in our own lives and ministry. This is our leadership pipeline!

If you’re looking to get started, here are some small steps you can take to begin raising up those leaders and stewarding those young disciples:

1. Pay attention to their personal expression. Note what they’re probably already doing in some measure—whether in school, at home, or in their community—and encourage them in those pursuits.

2. Partner with parents. Engage families as they “train up their child(ren) in the way they should go,” show them specific ways they can leverage their gifts and passions, and help them see the greater picture of how God can use them.

3. Platform them as soon as possible. Whether you display a work of art they’ve created in the foyer, schedule a solo on an instrument they're learning to play, plan for a song they’ve practiced, or incorporate a dance they’ve perfected, look for an opportunity to let them publish their work. Give them constructive feedback, introduce them to a good mentor, and encourage them to keep working.

4. Point them back to Jesus. Help families see that our performances are all created to be tools in the hands of our Savior for His great Plan—that our acts of worship, regardless of their category, are just our way of showing gratitude to a King Who loves us and gave Himself for us. The platform is not the ultimate destination, nor is the applause our primary pursuit. We’re merely giving back to Him what He’s given to us.

To those who have already committed, and especially for those who made our Cornerstone FAF a success, thank you. Thank you for all you’ve done to make space for this discipleship process in your home and church. Thank you for the time and energy and investments you’ve made to raise up these leaders. God will certainly finish His good work in them, and in us!

Parents and Pastors, encourage your children and teens to give Fine Arts a try. The Cornerstone Fine Arts Festival is a wonderful weekend to celebrate what God is doing, but in the end, it’s just a celebration of what’s already present in the local church. Let’s focus on leading these young people to see themselves as God sees them—useful and effective in His Kingdom. They’ve been created to be part of the body, to contribute their gift, and to glorify God with their lives. Let’s help them find the avenue where they’ll excel and set them on the path to His Purpose!