“Porque el Señor es bueno y su gran amor es eterno; su fidelidad permanece para siempre.” – Salmo 100:5

“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” – Psalm 100:5

“Jesús dijo: «Dejen que los niños vengan a mí; no se lo impidan, porque el reino de los cielos es de quienes son como ellos».” – Mateo 19:14

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” – Matthew 19:14

This summer, I spent a week in Bogotá, Colombia on short-term mission with a women’s group from my home church: Living Hope Church in Memphis, TN. This trip, though brief, gave me the opportunity to go into the world and serve with intentionality as a valuable member of a team for the first time. Our team consisted of nine women with varying ages, careers, and skills. We had college students, grandmothers, working women, and a little bit of everything in between. This multigenerational representation, even within our small team, significantly impacted the work we were able to do; the variety in walks of life, skill sets, and spiritual gifts really enabled us to work together as one unit to share the Gospel and build connection with the people we encountered and served.

My largest takeaway from this experience was that the God we believe in and serve is excellent at equipping us, even when we don’t believe we are capable. Every one of His followers is called and made capable through His grace, no matter how little they are, what language they speak, or how the world defines them.

The first half of our week was dedicated to running a conference entitled Mujeres en la Palabra, meaning “Women in the Word.” The women in attendance were all ministry leaders, but many of them served without a full foundation of what Christians believe, so our focus in teaching was giving that foundation to them so they could take it back to their churches. We spent the second part of the week working with a local foundation connected to a church in Bogotá, and there, we had the privilege of serving women and children in the poorer parts of the city.

In all of this, my role was to lead worship, teach a session at the conference, facilitate a small group of nine attendees, and teach a children’s class at the foundation. And in full transparency, these things scared me. I felt too young, too inexperienced, and too soft-spoken to make any sort of impact in the lives of these people, especially given the short timeframe of just one week. The fear was so strong in the months leading up to the trip that I dreaded even going at all. I procrastinated preparing and spent more time complaining to those around me about how unequipped I was than doing anything about it.

Even after I finally finished preparing, the feeling of fear lingered, even up to the last few days before I went. Upon some pondering, I, somewhat begrudgingly, went to the Lord in prayer, confessing the fact that I was terrified and felt like I was going to be useless: “Why did I say yes to this? I’m not qualified! I barely know any Spanish at all, and I’m too young. How am I supposed to share the Gospel with these women and children?” And in this prayer, I realized that I was much too focused on myself. I was reminded of Matthew 16:24, in which Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Being a follower of Christ is quite literally defined by taking off selfishness and putting on obedience.

After this realization, my fear didn’t fully subside, but my reliance on the Lord began to overpower it. Moment after moment, time after time, He proved His capability and faithfulness in and through me. I got through my teaching. I sang in Spanish in front of everyone. I asked questions in small group. I helped teach the children’s class. But through all of it, my part was minimal. When women were encouraged, when they shared vulnerably, when children learned and felt seen, the Spirit of the living God was the one who did those things. Through His grace, care, and intention alone were those people impacted—not through anything I did.

In the class we taught to the children at the foundation, we did an activity to explain our identity in Jesus Christ. We taught them that their identity is not found in what they call themselves or what others say about them; they are defined by who God says they are. We emphasized that they are loved, made in the image of their Creator, forgiven, seen, heard, and provided for. After the lesson, we gave them little handheld mirrors with Scripture written on them to remind them of who they really are.

Then, I had the privilege of teaching them the song “Jesus Loves Me” in both English and Spanish. The lesson, the small gift, and the song made an impact on those kids, and it was a joy to see it so clearly. Their faces lit up, and when their parents came to get them, many were telling all about what they learned and singing about how Jesus loves them. Though those children were aged from about 4–7 years old, they were still capable of sharing the Gospel.

One of my favorite things to ask the Lord over the years has been for Him to use me as the hands and feet of Christ. But during this short week, I actually got to experience that in such a tangible way. My hands were open to do the things He asked of me, and my feet were ready to go wherever He led. Even though that obedience is probably the most difficult thing we can do as Christians, I think it is the most beautiful and fulfilling action. Obeying, listening, and submitting to God’s authority aren’t passive; they are empowering, thrilling, and so active.

It is a beautiful thing to get out of our own heads and fears to share the love of Christ and do the things we were created to do as we are carried along by the Holy Spirit. Children exemplify these qualities in a very special way. The fact that they are so young means that they really are eager to learn and be a part of something bigger than themselves. Children learn so much, so quickly—why not teach them skills and lessons and then actually give them the space to use them for the betterment of both themselves and others?

At the Center for Worship and the Arts, our new children’s grant has given us the opportunity to equip and encourage local churches to utilize their children in the participation and leading of worship. We’ve seen this year after year with youth at our summer camp, Animate, as well. These young people are fully capable of being used by God to lead both their peers and those in older generations.

The Christian Church has the unique calling to include all generations in its work, which looks very different from the rest of the world. Where the world says that little children are too young to be heard or seen, Jesus says, “let them come to me.” God’s Kingdom includes all ages, all languages, all statuses, and all cultures as one perfectly functioning body. I saw evidence of this through my mission team of women from multiple generations, our conference with participants of all ages, and the foundation dedicated to serving all in need. Though God’s intention is to include each one in His redemptive work, it requires the Church to step out of her comfort zone and into obedience. The opportunity to see the Church flourish through empowering both the young and the old is undoubtedly worth the cost.

In reflecting on my experience in Colombia, I have learned so much about how God uses even the fearful and unequipped in the advancement of His Kingdom, and I’ve witnessed the beauty of involving little ones in that very work. I invite you to see how you can do that in your communities and congregations. Take a step back to ask our incredible God to empower you to be the hands and feet of Christ, and let Him show you how you can help embolden those around you to serve as well—whether they are four or eighty-four years old.

¡Dios los bendiga!

Caroline Lewis is a senior at Samford University, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Music. She will be pursuing her MSW at Samford in fall 2025. Originally from Olive Branch, MS, she serves as a Student Resident for the Center for Worship and the Arts (CWA). Passionate about young people and their role in worship and the Church, Caroline is actively involved at Redeemer Community Church in Birmingham, where she serves by teaching toddlers in the children’s ministry. She also studies voice and plays piano, combining her love for music and ministry in her work and studies.