Kidsong World Europe 2011 Highlights [VIDEO]
5 September, 2011
Kidsong - the ultra-serious part of Conference that has the glow-stick parties and bubble machines...
So we've recently closed the doors on Kidsong Europe 2011 - a conference that was ultra-serious about reaching new heights in every way possible. And it did.
We like to think of Kidsong as a complete conference experience, tailor-made for 3 year olds (or 11 year olds, or 6 year olds...). We're not into "baby-sitting the kids while the adults do the serious God-stuff." We're into each and every child enjoying the same personal welcome, the spirit-led praise and worship and the life-transforming bible teaching that mum and dad are enjoying next door. We just do it in a way that works for their young minds. And we get to do it with bouncy castles :-)
This year's journey in London centered on the great search for the "One Ted" - that beloved part of the family who has gone missing. The teddy bear with only one eye that we can't find since last summer. The football that your brother kicked over the fence and now you have to go into the neighbour's yard to get it back. The warm, red jacket that got lost we when moved house at Christmas. Every one of us (children especially) has a "One Ted" that went missing. Everyone of us has a "One Ted" that is "Wanted" (get it? Say it slow...). So we went on a journey to find the One Ted, and to bring him quickly home where he is safe and loved. Sounds a little like a story about a shepherd and a sheep? I hope so.
It's difficult to think of just one highlight from a conference that offered so much. Was it the All Stars and Voltage grand finale, where the band played "Your light will shine in the darkness" in a completely blacked-out room - the only light our eyes could make out was that emanating from the glow sticks wrapped around their guitars, drums and microphones? Was it hearing 100 Ark children singing, "I am not forgotten" at their top of their little (but remarkably loud) lungs? Was it watching our Cubbyhouse children listen in wonder as our team helped them to understand that the feeling that we get when we lose a teddy bear, well, God got that same feeling when He lost one of His children.
Daisy, are getting in church and at conferences. They get the opportunity to grow up in a culture where looking out for each other is not just second nature, its first nature. To them a life earmarked by community, generosity, acceptance and selfless love is the only life that they know. Theirs is the generation that has a healthy understanding of God's goodness in their lives.
I think I speak for many when I say that this is the type of life that we want every child to be able to enjoy freely and express faithfully. This is why we do Kidsong Conference.
Phil Barnard
Kids Pastor, Hillsong Church London
For more infromation and to register for Kidsong World & Hillsong Conference please visit hillsongconference.com
For more information on Hillsong Kids please visit hillsongkids.com and follow us on facebook.com/hillsongkids and twitter.com/hillsongkids
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