Echo Worship Camp: Let the Next Generation Praise His Name
“Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants, you have established a stronghold against your enemies…”
— Psalm 8:1-2 (NIV)
We are launching something new at Navarre United Methodist Church, something that has been stirring in our hearts for a while. Echo Worship Camp is a two-night experience created to help kids begin exploring what it means to worship God, not just with their voices but with their whole lives.
Kids already lead worship in the Children’s church, and our youth faithfully serve behind the scenes each week, running tech. But we want to take it further. We want to show them how worship happens in our sanctuary, both in contemporary and traditional services. Because worship isn’t just about music, it’s about presence, purpose, and praising God in everything we do.
Our theme song this year is “That’s My King.” One of the lyrics that anchors our heart says,
“I’m not letting the rocks cry without joining the chorus…”
Luke 19:40 reminds us that even the rocks will cry out in praise if we stay silent. But we believe the next generation is ready to raise their voices, talents, and lives in worship.
We already see it happening. Several of our youth currently serve on the main worship team, singing, playing instruments, and helping lead our congregation in praise each week. Their passion, humility, and heart for Jesus inspire everyone around them. Echo Worship Camp is another step in continuing that legacy, giving even younger kids a chance to see what it means to serve with joy and boldness.
At Echo, campers will experience hands-on learning with instruments, songwriting, media, tech, and more. They will also dig into the heart of worship, why we do it, what it means, and how it shapes every part of our lives. Worship doesn’t stop when the music fades. It keeps going in the way we welcome people, the way we serve, and the way we love our church and our community.
Not every child will sing a solo or run sound on Sunday morning, and that’s okay. Some will find their place setting up before anyone arrives. Some will discover joy in cleaning up after a big event. Some will feel called to create a welcoming and peaceful space. Every act done in love becomes worship. We believe every child has a place in the body of Christ, and every gift matters.
Romans 12:1 calls us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. That is true worship. And it starts young. From preschool chapel to youth group to adult Sunday worship, we intentionally build a culture where every generation is invited to know God and respond with their lives.
This is just the beginning. Echo Worship Camp is our first, but not our last. We hope this becomes an annual event that continues to grow, inviting more and more kids to discover who God made them to be and how they can serve His church.
Would you join us in prayer?
Pray for God to speak clearly to these kids.
Pray for open hearts and bold steps.
Pray for our church as we raise the next generation of worshipers to sing louder and live fully for Christ.
The rocks are ready to cry out.
But we would much rather hear our kids sing.
Let’s echo heaven together.