Let the Children Lead

Models for Worship with All Generations

Book - Paperback
Let the Children Lead
Paperback ISBN: 9781791039578
$17.99 Show Buy
E-Book ISBN: 9781791039585
$17.99 Show Buy

Published July 2025

Nurturing Children (and all) as disciples through worship.

Discover a new approach to ministry with children and families, one that goes beyond simply increasing attendance numbers. Dive into five innovative congregational models that faithfully and intentionally engage children in worship. Gain insight from real-life success stories and learn how to contextualize and scale the models, implementing them with the laity and leaders in your congregation.

The models include pray-grounds, sensory sensitive worship practices, outreach-oriented experiences, school partnerships in the arts, and leadership in band-led worship settings.

The book offers theological perspectives on the importance of worship in children’s faith formation. And it provides practical help as your congregation learns to support and serve children not as a means for church growth but as an act of faithfulness. See the Holy Spirit at work as you follow Christ’s example of embracing young hearts into the worship community.

About the Author

Nelson Cowan

Nelson Cowan is the director of the Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. A worship leader, liturgical theologian, and ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, he also teaches worship and church history at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Drew Theological School, and Wesley Theological Seminary. Nelson is married to Samantha, an ordained deacon in the?United Methodist Church