July Fourth and Kidmin

Any American can likely recognize the fact that patriotism has changed in this country. While the United States is still markedly more patriotic than other countries, younger generations simply don’t feel as strongly about the flag, the national anthem, and politics as previous generations.

So how then can you incorporate God and country into your ministry? And why should you celebrate the Fourth of July in your kids’ ministry? I have three considerations for you.

Why every kids’ ministry leader should care about July Fourth

1. It is an opportunity to help kids understand what it looks like to embrace patriotism as a Christ-follower. Kids can easily have misconstrued ideas about what patriotism looks like based on the narratives they’re handed at school, through television, and other media. This is an opportunity to teach kids how we should approach and even share the faith of the men and women who sacrificed so much to ensure that this became the land of the free.

2. It is a chance to teach kids about the freedom they have to worship Christ and that there are others who don’t have the same freedom. International current events and holidays both provide an opportunity to share with kids the extreme privilege we have of living in a free country. With that honor comes responsibility. What will we do with it?

3. It allows us to teach kids that we have an opportunity to reach people and show God’s love in our own backyards and around the world. Jesus called us to go and make disciples of all nations. And who are we to reach first? Our communities. Kids may not be able to go and serve on another continent, but they can serve their widowed neighbor who needs help getting the snow off her windshield and needs to hear the good news.

At first glance, a holiday like the Fourth of July may not seem to present a spiritual teachable moment. But when we step back and consider how we can weave in the importance of serving our communities, sharing the gospel, and being thankful for the opportunity to live in a blessed and free nation, we can see that this holiday provides an opportunity to help our kids understand freedom from a Christian perspective.