Get Off the Stage: Teach from the Heart, Not Just the Platform

Authority impresses; authenticity impacts. Learn the secret of connecting eye-to-eye with kids.

This Secret of Excellent Kid Communicators is something I rarely see. For those in small ministries, it may not seem immediately relevant—maybe you’re in a room with no stage at all, just a circle of kids and a worn carpet. But trust me, this principle is universal. Whether you’re speaking to a crowd of hundreds or sitting with a handful of wiggly kids on the floor, the key is the same: connection over performance.

When you’re on stage, you have authority. But when you’re among the kids, you have authenticity. And while authority can command respect, authenticity captures hearts.

Over the years, whether leading ministries of 10 or 100+, one of my favorite and most impactful habits has been to step off the stage—literally. I sit among the kids during worship or videos. Sometimes I just plop down beside a child during a game or activity. The effect is immediate. I’ve seen children’s eyes light up as if someone famous just chose them to sit with. I once overheard a little boy run up to his mom after church and exclaim, “Mom, Pastor Karl sat with me!” That simple gesture made him feel seen, known, and valued.

Some kids act up not because they’re “bad,” but because they’re craving attention. And they’ll take negative attention over none at all. But what if we were proactive? What if we saw them and sat beside them first? What if we took away the need to get our attention through bad behavior?

Sometimes I even take it a step further while I’m teaching. I’ll bring my stool down and teach from right in the middle of the kids. I’ll pull up a chair, invite them in close, and just talk heart-to-heart. I don’t stay there the whole time—up front is better for visuals and volume—but when I need to make a point stick, being right there in the crowd makes all the difference.

It’s in those moments I speak from the heart: