Lisa and Evie Ricketts

A Reluctant Beginning

Hey, everyone, Lisa Ricketts here, and I’m so grateful for the chance to share my story with you this morning. My husband, Brian, and I have been married for 17 years, and we’re blessed with three wonderful kids: Evan, who is almost six, Will, who is 11, and my beautiful daughter, Evie, who is 13. Today, we want to talk about what our journey has looked like together in ministry.

At the end of her fifth-grade year, Evie came to me with a big request: she wanted to serve in kids' ministry. To be completely honest, my first reaction wasn’t excitement. I knew that if she served, it meant I needed to serve with her. I was already heavily involved in community ministry, homeschooling our kids, and managing the chaos of competitive sports schedules for my older ones—all while parenting an exceptionally difficult three-year-old. My plate felt full to overflowing, and I was hesitant to add another commitment.

But Evie was so excited. She saw her friends serving, and she wanted to join them. She didn’t fully understand the depth of what serving would mean, but her heart was in the right place. Proverbs 22:6 often comes to mind in parenting:

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

That verse challenged me. It reminded me that my role as a mom isn’t just to train my kids’ minds but also to nurture their hearts—teaching them who God is, how to love others, and what it means to live a life rooted in grace and humility.

God began to work in my heart, showing me that training Evie to serve wouldn’t just require me to send her—it would require me to walk alongside her. So, I said yes, and we began serving together.

A Transformative Journey

At first, it was exciting and new. But as the weeks went by, the reality of a weekly commitment set in. The kids were hard. The Sunday mornings felt relentless. My desire to serve began to waver.

Thankfully, God met me in those moments of weariness. He reminded me that my role as a mom and a leader wasn’t just about meeting a need or checking a box—it was about modeling the joy and fullness of life in Christ. Each week, I had the privilege of demonstrating to my daughter what it looked like to pour out love and grace to others, even when it wasn’t easy.

For Evie, the journey was equally transformative. She learned how to manage a classroom, ask thought-provoking questions, and lead discussions that helped the girls think for themselves. She modeled vulnerability and watched the girls grow in their willingness to share hard things. Together, we had countless conversations about God, His character, and what it looks like to love and lead in a broken world.

One of the most beautiful gifts from this journey has been seeing God strengthen our relationship. Evie and I worship together, teach together, and laugh together. I’ve had a front-row seat to watch her faith grow deeper and her heart grow bigger. And God, in His sovereignty, has allowed me to see myself in the girls we serve—many of whom are walking through unimaginable hardships. Each week, I get to look those sweet girls in the eyes and remind them that they are deeply loved by their perfect Father.

An Invitation to Serve

Our time together in ministry is rooted in the truth of Zephaniah 3:17:

“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you; He will quiet you with His love and rejoice over you with singing.”

We remind the girls—and ourselves—that God’s love is perfect, constant, and transformative. Watching these young women grow in their faith and choose to live in response to God’s love has been one of the greatest joys of my life.

To anyone who thinks serving in kids’ ministry is just babysitting, let me tell you—it’s so much more. It’s an opportunity to disciple the next generation of believers. It’s messy, exhausting, and hard, but it’s also life-giving, humbling, and deeply rewarding. I leave the classroom every week sore and tired, but my soul is refreshed and encouraged.

As Ephesians 4:15-16 reminds us,

“We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church.”

Serving with kids has been transformative—not just for me and Eve, but for our entire family. It’s strengthened our bond, deepened our faith, and given us the privilege of being part of God’s work in the lives of others.

So today, I want to encourage you: if you’ve ever considered serving, don’t let hesitation or fear hold you back. There’s a world of eternal souls on the other side of the building, running amuck, making messes, and breaking rules—but also forgiving easily, loving fiercely, and worshiping unhindered. They’re ready to learn, grow, and experience the love of Christ. And we have the privilege of being a part of that.

Thank you for letting me share our story. I hope it encourages you to step into whatever God is calling you to today.