Freedom.  Uninhibited worship.  Adoration.  Purest praise.  Sound like a window opening into the Throne Room of God?  Try your own backyard.  For those who may be unfamiliar with the Surf Shack, prepare to step into the presence of the Most High.

Surf Shack is Fellowship Bible Church’s classroom for 1^st – 4^th graders whose parents both serve on Sunday mornings at either service.  The Surf Shack’s mission is to “unleash kids to passionately seek God together!”  Jenny Rogers, Director of Creative Ministries with FellowShip Kids, puts it this way,

“We are intentional in Surf Shack about kids serving other kids.  They are learning at a young age to serve as action leaders, ushers, greeters, or part of the Worship Team.”

Meet three remarkable young members of Fellowship’s “Surf Shack Worship Team:”  Jared Toney, Juliana Parks and Matthew Lawhon.  These pre-teen servant leaders are modeling lives that are worthy of being followed.

If you happened to be in the FBC Worship Center on Sunday, November 1, you will probably remember Jared Toney.  He was the drummer as Surf Shack led worship. Faithfulness marking his young life, there is obvious giftedness as you watch Jared drum.  Yet, he shares that his parents have taught him to give his gift back to Jesus.  “I love to worship God,” he says unashamedly, twirling drumsticks in his hands.  Jared is a 6^th grader, and on his second year as drummer in the Surf Shack Worship Team.

Juliana Parks is another life touched by talent and humility.  Juliana is following in her mother’s footsteps as a worship leader.  At nine years old, Juliana is a precocious songwriter.  She shares how “words just started coming into my mind at the piano one day” and then, a song was born.  Juliana believes God wants her to be a songwriter to tell others about His love and goodness.  With serious intensity, she is a powerpacked example of how the Holy Spirit desires to speak to all who know Jesus, regardless of age.  Juliana has been a vocalist with Surf Shack for the past several months.

Lastly is Matthew Lawhon, a vocalist on the Worship Team for almost two years.  Matthew says he loves to lead worship because it is so much fun watching other kids smiling and worshipping God.  Matthew also has become more interested in reading his Bible on his own because of the Bible Teaching Time in Surf Shack.  “I’ve learned a lot,” he shares.

Faithfulness….offering your gifts back to the Giver…..serving others in the context of abandoned worship!   Could there be a better environment anywhere for kids??  Sign me up!!

And Jesus said to them, “…Have you never read

‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have perfected praise?’”

Matthew 21:16 – NKJV