Things to Remember When Teaching Children To Pray

Aug 5, 2026 | Articles

Many adults assume children automatically know how to pray because they hear prayers in church. In reality, children learn prayer the same way they learn language—through observation, instruction, practice, and encouragement.

Teaching children to pray is not about teaching them perfect words; it is about helping them build a relationship with God.

Matthew 19:14

“Let the little children come to me…for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Jesus welcomed children and valued their faith.

Luke 11:1

“Lord, teach us to pray.”

Even the disciples needed to be taught.

If adults needed instruction, children certainly do as well.

Proverbs 22:6

“Train up a child in the way he should go…”

Teaching prayer is part of spiritual formation.

Explaining what prayer is.

Children understand simple ideas. Rather than giving complicated theological definitions, explain prayer as:

Talking with God. Not just talking to God, but developing a relationship with Him.

Children should understand that prayer includes:

• Talking
• Listening
• Thanking
• Praising
• Asking
• Confessing
• Trusting

Things to remember. 

1. Children Learn by watching adults
2. Keep prayer simple
3. Teach different types of prayer
4. Encourage conversation not performance 

Important Reminders

Do:

• Pray with children regularly.
• Celebrate honest prayers.
• Model authenticity.
• Encourage participation.
• Be patient.

Avoid:

• Criticising a child’s prayer.
• Comparing children.
• Using prayer as punishment.
• Making children pray publicly before they are ready.
• Expecting adult-level theology.

Conclusion

Prayer is one of the greatest gifts we can teach a child. Long before children understand complex doctrines, they can know that God loves them, listens to them, and welcomes them into His presence.

Our goal is not to produce children who can recite beautiful prayers, but children who develop a lifelong habit of speaking with God in faith, honesty, and trust. As adults consistently model prayer and create safe opportunities for children to practice it, they lay a spiritual foundation that can shape a child’s relationship with God for years to come.

Mary Catherine Beek

WHO ARE THE HEROES?

Jul 1, 2026 | Articles

Many years ago when our son was young, I noticed him eating his cereal one morning.  As most of us used to do, he was reading the back of the cereal box.  The box was advertising “Masters of the Universe”.  Then someone gave him a book on the “Masters of the Universe”.  All of a sudden my righteous indignation was stirred up.  “Who IS the Master of the Universe?” I asked Kyle.

I realise that all kids go through trends and fascination with imaginary heroes.  However, my spirit is deeply disturbed when I see kids—dare I say, church kids—who know more about fictional heroes than they do Bible heroes.  Everything from toys to DVD’s to bed linens and room decor promotes these heroes who are unrealistic and false. 

Why don’t our kids have heroes in the church and heroes from the Bible that they want to be like?  Have we, as parents, promoted the secular more than the spiritual?  Why can’t we act out Bible stories rather than cartoons and unreal heroes from the heart of Hollywood?

I want my children and grandchildren to have Bible heroes and modern day spiritual heroes.  I will always remember a precious saint of God, Betty Willeford, who was the mother of Steve Willeford, Cheryl Black and Phil Willeford.  I used to stay with them a lot when my parents travelled.  Betty always instilled in her kids a deep respect for the ministry and those she considered “heroes of the faith”.  She told me one time that she had taught Steve that it was far greater to shake the hand of one of our church leaders than it was to be known by any politician or other famous person.  I always remembered that and know that her children today still have a deep respect for the leaders of our church and show great honour to them.

What is unnerving for my generation is that so many of our heroes are passing on.  Where does that put my generation?  We are fast coming up to the top end when we will be considered the elders.   Our elders are getting fewer and farther between.  Where we live, my husband who is 73 years old is the oldest man and longest serving member of the General Board of the United Pentecostal Church of Great Britain & Ireland that is still alive.  To be honest, it’s a scary feeling.  I am very thankful that a few of my personal heroes are still with us and I cherish every moment I get to spend with them.  Each of you reading this has your own heroes.  Cherish your time with them and glean everything you can from them.

I ask myself the question, “Will anyone look to me as a hero?”  I’m not interested in it for personal fame but I am interested as to whether or not my life will be one of Godliness that my children, grandchildren and the next generation will want to model themselves after. 

The world will continue to produce their fantasy heroes and the younger generation will be swept up in the fads and heroes of the day.  Will the church continue producing heroes that they will also want to model after?  Or, will the heroes of the church just be a sweet and nostalgic memory of yesteryear? 

When I reflect on the heroes my generation has looked up to I see in them sterling characteristics.  They have (or had) steadfastness in the face of every obstacle, holiness both inwardly and outwardly, integrity, fairness, honesty, unswerving commitment to the Cause, loyalty to the United Pentecostal Church, LIVES OF PRAYER and complete belief and obedience to the doctrines of the Bible that we have always stood for.  I see in them the passion to take the “Whole Gospel to the Whole World”.  Does this present generation see these character traits and lifestyle in your life?  I am challenged in my spirit to be sure that my life exemplifies these traits.

 I challenge you to be sure your offspring are patterning after Bible heroes and heroes of the church.  I further challenge you to become a hero or heroine in the eyes of the younger generation–not for your own glory but that Jesus might be glorified through your life.  Let your life be a shining example of Godliness and graciousness.

By Jerolyn Kelley

BREAD AND FISH

Jun 1, 2026 | Articles

CLOUDS, BISCUITS, LEMONS AND LEMONADE

May 3, 2026 | Articles

While travelling on an airplane flight, I casually took the shortbread biscuits [cookies] offered to me
by the stewardess. The shortbread was especially good, and I turned over the package and began
reading about the ingredients. Here’s what it said:
“The Isle of Mull is renowned for wild and unspoilt landscapes and its welcoming islanders.
It’s our home and where we make these particularly characterful biscuits.
We mix only the best organic ingredients and bake them using unique ovens that are heated
by Mull’s plentiful renewable timber. Like our organic ingredients this is not only environmentally
sustainable, but the gentle heat gives a slow, perfect bake.

Our mixers whizz with clean hydro-electricity generated on the Tobermary River that flows
past our bakery. This works best on Mull’s frequent rainy days . . . every cloud has a biscuit lining.”
I love it! “Every cloud has a biscuit lining.” I like it even better than the old cliché: “Every cloud has
a silver lining.” I love biscuits [cookies] and cakes and this little line really resonated with me.
I have a lesson entitled, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” All of us go through trials
and tough times. It’s just life, whether you’re saved or unsaved. The question is: do the rainy days
and clouds bring about something sweet in my life? Do I make lemonade with the “lemons” in my
life?

My desire is that when people observe my life that they will want to “taste and see that the Lord is
good.” I want the bad times in my life to make me better, not bitter. When life throws me a lemon,
I want to get all the juice out of it and then throw away the rind. Some people chew on lemon rinds
for years, never getting over the bad times and constantly reliving them.
Yes, Scotland has lots of rainy days. We also have lots of “clouds”, both naturally and figuratively.
I’m going to keep looking for that biscuit lining!

I’m going to keep praying for my children and grandchildren through the good times and the bad.
My desire is to be there to encourage them and cheer them on when they’re going through tough
times and to humbly be grateful when they are going through times of blessing.
Until I draw my last breath, I will keep praying daily for our children, their spouses and our
grandchildren that they will walk in Truth, holiness and integrity all the days of their lives AND that
they will love it. Some only walk in obedience, but I want my family to also LOVE Truth, holiness and
integrity.

When you get discouraged and the clouds block your view of the “Son”, remember that with every
cloud there can be a “biscuit lining”. Hold on in prayer. Never give up!

By Jerolyn Kelley

Intercessory Prayer

Apr 1, 2026 | Articles

“For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers” (Romans 1:9).

Recently, while sorting through our family members’ clothing and preparing for the transition from winter to spring and summer, I came across two small T-shirts with these words printed on the front: “My mom prays for me”. They were given to our two boys from the Daughters of Zion several years ago, and I never had the heart to give them away.  They are a precious reminder of the fact that as mothers, we earnestly pray for our children. In fact, we tend to pray more fervently and more frequently for the ones who are close to us, especially when there is a need. Intercession, or intervening for another, happens when we willingly put ourselves in someone else’s place and pray on their behalf. Interceding in prayer for someone far away or for someone we don’t know may not always seem natural to us at first, but a heart and readiness to pray for our own children, whether natural or spiritual, is something we are often more ready to do.

“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one” (Ezekiel 22:30).

God is searching for anyone who is willing to intercede – to stand in the gap before Him – on behalf of others. We live in a world in desperate need of God. Our first priority is to pray for and meet the needs of our own children, who have been given to us. But it doesn’t stop there. A gate into intercessory prayer is to see any person we are praying for as if they were our own child, sister or brother, dear parent or closest friend. We need to be willing to care about the salvation of others, as we would care for our own family members.

Intercessory prayer requires a true humbling of the heart. We don’t intercede for other people because they are worthy of it, or because there is some gain in it for us. Moses interceded over and over again for people who rebelled against God and were given over to their own selfish ways. Many people we pray for may not know exactly what they need, or how to get out of their mess. They need our help.

As women of God, we need to rise and intercede on behalf of our neighborhoods, our cities and our nations. Will you answer the call?

Ingunn Bakke Turner

Ingunn Bakke Turner was born and raised in Norway. Nate and Ingunn Turner are UPCI missionaries to Estonia and pastor in the capital city of Tallinn.