We invited beloved kids worship leader, Yancy, to be our guest on Minno Life today to celebrate the launch of a brand new Minno 5 Minute Family Devotional: Yancy’s Little Praise Party 5 Minute Family Devotional

Read our interview and be inspired then keep scrolling to check out all of the many ways to worship with Yancy on Minno!

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Welcome, Yancy to the Minno Life blog! It’s such an honor to have you as our guest this week and to be sharing your incredible kid’s worship music with our Minno families. I’d love for you to share a little bit about you, your family, and your ministry.

Thanks for letting me share with the Minno families. I’ve been making music for the past 23 years and have focused on kids and families for the past 12 years. I like to say I make music that makes Jesus loud! I get to travel and do family concerts and lead worship for special kid’s events, which is so much fun! I also get to train kid’s worship leaders through sessions at various ministry conferences and online events, as well as write for worship and ministry magazines. I love fashion, bright colors, and sparkly things. I’ve been married for 17 years to my husband Cory and we have two sons: Sparrow is 9 and Rhythm is 4. We live in Nashville, TN.

Can you share what led you to become a worship leader? And why for kids?

From the time I was single digits, I knew God put me on earth to do music. I grew up being involved in every worship team possible at church. I originally set out to make popular Christian music but God started pointing me more towards worship. I ended up on staff at a church in Tulsa, OK for a few years, and oversaw worship for students, young adults, and preteens. I also led adult worship and the last thing I took on was elementary and preschool worship. I started off just fulfilling a need. In fact, that’s how the first Little Praise Party album was made. God started opening more and more doors for me to make music for kids. I began to see that’s where I was connecting and flourishing and the rest is history.

Why do you think it’s important for kids to learn why we worship?

People perish for a lack of knowledge. There are so many Christians that don’t fully understand worship and why it matters. I promise you kids are the easiest age group to lead in worship because it’s naturally in them to worship God. But sometimes they need you to draw a box and help them understand why and how. Being intentional from the time they are young and inviting them to take part in worship is important. Think of it like a set of stairs. As leaders and parents, we get to help them keep taking the next step to grow in their experience and understanding. 

Worship is a hiding place that we have in God’s presence. Take a look at the Psalms and the words of David. Look closely at how he worshipped and model that for your kids. Helping kids learn to be the worshipers God created them to be is a passion of mine. It’s why I write these songs and create worship resources for churches. I am passionate about helping kids learn how to run TO God in the midst of everything they face. 

What do you think are the keys to raising worshipers? 

Understand the power that’s in their worship and communicate the power of their worship to your kids. Psalm 8:1-2 says, “God, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name. Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you; toddlers shout the songs that drown out enemy talk, and silence atheist babble.” (vs 1 MSG) and vs. 2 (TPT) says, “You have built a stronghold by the songs of babies. Strength rises up with the chorus of singing children. This kind of praise has the power to shut Satan’s mouth. Childlike worship will silence the madness of those who oppose you.”

That is powerful stuff. I get chill bumps thinking about how even the youngest of kids silences the enemy when they use their mouths to declare the greatness of God. 

Every time you push play on a song you are unleashing God’s power to be at work in your homes, cars, classrooms, and wherever you go. Be intentional about what you listen to as you are on the go. Be intentional about what you let your kids watch and the things you talk about with them. Being a Christian is a seven days a week thing. Worship shouldn’t be something we only do and take part in on Sundays. 

There are so many Bible filled songs that I listened to growing up in my mom’s minivan. To this day those songs come to my remembrance when I hear certain things or am going through something. Music is an amazing thing and has so much memory attached to it. I get excited from my own experience because I know the things that we are putting into our kids right now will be with them for decades to come. May I even dare to say that teaching them to worship now is more about preparing them for their future. Repetition is such a valuable thing. There are so many things that took root in my heart and spirit because I heard them over and over and over when I was a child.

Teach your kids to have a heart after God by teaching them to run to Him in everything—on the hard days and even on the best days. 

This year has made it really hard for families to go to church! Many haven’t yet returned to church services. What can parents do at home to connect their child’s heart to God through worship?

Be committed to nurturing their faith. Doing church at home was hard for us. It took a lot of time to do three different lesson experiences. Our kids distracted us no matter how many times we asked them to not talk and let us pay attention. Our church has been meeting in person again and I was SO happy to go back. But, when we couldn’t meet, we made the effort and were committed to doing church every Sunday. No exceptions. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word.” Again repetition (and consistency) is so important for kids.

Remember that worship isn’t just about church—whether in a building or at home. For example, I’m intentional about what we listen to in the car because it’s an opportunity to worship. I want my kids to hear me singing along and see me engaging in worship. Your example speaks volumes. You can’t lead others to a place you haven’t been. If you want your kids to be sold out for Jesus they’ve got to see you be sold out for Jesus. They are watching what you prioritize and focus on in life. Show them what matters!

What is another important practice parents can do at home to ensure their family continues to grow in faith if they cannot gather with their church community?

Take Deuteronomy 6 to heart and make Jesus a part of your lives at home, on the go, in the morning, in the evening, and all the space between. Most days I do one of the Louie Giglio devotions with my boys. There’s an awesome parenting book a friend of mine (Sarah Blount) wrote called “Fearless Parenting”. In it are prayers for parents and confessions for children. I have my oldest son read and pray one of those each day and my mama’s heart swells hearing him speak out those words because I know over time those words will become attitudes and convictions for how he lives his life. 

We all know kids have no problem “worshiping” things or people in their lives. How can parents help turn those passions toward God?

I think worship is naturally there in kids. In most cases, they haven’t unlearned how to be the worshiper God created them to be and they point their worship in another direction. They need guidance and encouragement. Kids are used to being told what to do and being given instruction.  As the Bible says . . . do not forsake the assembling together of believers. Your kids need their church community. They need the investment of those small group leaders and other adults in their life showing them that Jesus is relevant to their world and that people that don’t have their same last name believe in them.

Lean in as your kids worship. Kids worshiping is the sweetest sound you will ever hear. When you hear your child singing in worship you will be brought to tears. I believe it’s the most natural thing that they could do.

Teach why we lift our hands. It’s us placing confidence in Him. It’s us being surrendered wholly to Him. It’s us reaching up to Father God, just like a young child reaches for a parent to pick them up, to say “I need You”.

Again be intentional and even strategic. Don’t just listen to the latest pop song on the radio or the latest Kidz Bop record. Push play on something that will help your kids build their foundation on the solid rock. It’s the only thing that won’t sink or fail.

Verbally encourage your kids worship. When you see them taking part in worship remind them that it makes God smile. Remind them that even God delights over us with singing. I love to teach young kids that their worship is a way they show their love to God. Even the youngest of children understand the concept of love and that’s the first way that I start teaching kids about worship.

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Thank you, Yancy, for taking the time to share your heart for kids and worship! How can our Minno families stay connected to you?

I love seeing photos and videos of your kids watching my videos on Minno. Thanks for letting my music be the soundtrack to your days. It’s one of my greatest honors. Follow me on Instagram @yancynotnancy Let’s stay in touch!

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Minno has so many ways for your kids to worship with Yancy!

Yancy’s Little Praise Party 5 Minute Family Devotional

Introducing a brand new 5 Minute Family Devotional featuring Yancy’s Little Praise Party songs! Worship and learn about why we sing to God with this 10 episode family devotional series!

Yancy’s Little Praise Party

Yancy’s Little Praise Party LIVE!

Yancy’s Little Praise Party (Spanish)

Yancy’s Rock-N-Worship

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