January 2025 –  The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Amazing Grace Sanctuary, Enschede, Netherlands, has been awarded a Quick Wins grant from the Wonder of Worship program at Columbia Theological Seminary. The grant, secured by Dr. Ayodele John Alonge, will support the church’s efforts to nurture children’s engagement in worship through innovative initiatives.

Funded by the Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative, the $1,000 grants are available to congregations of all denominations. The program aims to enhance children’s worship and prayer experiences, encouraging creative approaches to spiritual development.

Dr. John Alonge (second from the back row) at the Fall 2024 Godly Play Training, another significant initiative of Wonder of Worship.

“Churches in the first round of these grants have proposed many creative ways of using this money, from building worship training resources to hiring consultants to aid in writing more child-friendly liturgy,” said Dr. Kathy L. Dawson, project director for the Wonder of Worship grant program. “Some are renovating cry rooms to enhance family participation in the service, and others are developing programs for child leadership of worship. I’ve been amazed by the creativity in our partner churches so far and look forward to what this second round of Quick Wins grants will bring.”

The Amazing Grace Sanctuary is among 80 congregations selected in this round and plans to utilize the funds to implement a range of child-centered worship enhancements, including:

• Integrating age-appropriate technology, such as interactive screens and multimedia presentations, to captivate children’s attention and enhance worship activities.
• Introducing interactive worship elements, including participatory music activities and storytelling, to actively engage children in meaningful worship experiences.
• Providing dedicated children’s musical instruments, such as keyboards, tambourines, and hand drums, to foster musical skills and encourage active participation in worship services.

With this grant, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Amazing Grace Sanctuary, Enschede, reaffirms its commitment to fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and spiritually enriching worship environment for children. The initiative aligns with the church’s broader mission to nurture young believers and deepen their connection to faith through engaging and meaningful worship experiences.