If you walk into the Little Lambs preschool choir rehearsal at Saddleback Church on any given week, you'll hear tiny but powerful voices singing out with all their might.
Lyrics like "You are good all the time/ All the time you are good" echo through the worship center. It is so precious to hear the praise of Jesus on the lips of our young children.
I have the privilege of mentoring children in what it looks like to live a life of worship. We are teaching children to become lead worshippers in the various kingdoms God has placed them in—school, family, church—and all of the activities in between.
It is both an honor and a responsibility that we are given to invest in these children now and not 10 years from now. They are today's leaders, but they are too often sidelined in their ministry until they become adults.
At Saddleback, we understand and believe that these early years are the most formative, and we recognize the opportunity that we have to inform the foundational building blocks that will help shape these young worshippers. We take them seriously and always remind them of the importance of the work they are doing for God's kingdom.
It is our role to champion them as they lead others around them, both in worship and as Christ followers.
As our kids transition from preschool through sixth grade, and then on to junior high and high school, these same worship values are being established year after year. At each stage, the idea of leading worship as a lifestyle is reinforced in these young leaders.
It is a beautiful thing to watch them grow up and then send them on to the next chapter of ministry. Nothing fills my heart more than seeing students I once taught continue leading others in worship as teenagers. My heart soars even more when they decide to come back and help lead in the kids' choirs, giving back and passing on what they've learned to the next little ones coming up.
Don't ever stop shaping the next generation of worshippers! 
Rebekah Jones is the kids' choir director at Saddleback Church.
For the original article, visit Pastors.com.
Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Dr. Mark Rutland's
National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)
The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!
FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.
Do you feel stuck? Do you feel like you’re not growing? Do you need help from an expert in leadership? There is no other leadership training like the NICL. Gain the leadership skills and confidence you need to lead your church, business or ministry. Get ready to accomplish all of your God-given dreams. CLICK HERE for NICL training dates and details.The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.
