Meet Our Founder:
Dr. La Verne Tolbert
Dr. La Verne Tolbert is the visionary behind Welcoming Children Into Worship and the founder of Teaching Like Jesus Ministries. A respected author, educator, and advocate for children, she has spent over 30 years equipping church leaders across the U.S. Her work champions biblical teaching, intergenerational worship, and the spiritual care of children—especially those in foster care. As a wife, mother, and grandmother, Dr. Tolbert brings both wisdom and compassion to this work, inspiring churches to become places where every child belongs.
The Rationale
Build it, and they will come. Will they? How many magnificent cathedrals and landmark churches throughout the United States echo the hollow testimony that this belief is flawed? How is the church meeting the needs of children and families in their communities today? Our focus groups—so timely, thanks to the God-ordained opportunity of the Lilly Endowment Inc. Nurturing Children Planning Grant—gave voice (and ears) to these concerns.
Our Approach
1
We Listened
14 churches from the First Jurisdiction of the Church of God In Christ participated in a series of focus groups supported by the Lilly Endowment Inc. Through mind mapping, design thinking, and open discussion, we gathered insight from pastors, worship leaders, parents, and young people themselves.
2
We Learned
What did we learn? There’s a growing awareness of the need for intergenerational worship—but longstanding traditions and implicit biases often stand in the way. Many churches desire change, but don’t know where to begin.
3
We Took Action
These findings are now guiding our next steps: equipping 20 churches across California to move from awareness to action—creating spaces where children aren’t just included, but fully engaged in worship.
Our Team
Our team is made up of passionate advocates who believe every child deserves a place in worship. Together, we’re working to equip churches with the tools, training, and heart to welcome the next generation.
Rev. Dr. Stan Long
Project Director, N. CA
Dr. La Verne Tolbert
Project Director, S. CA
Rosalind Sago, M. A.
Project Manager
Pastor Arlando Hill
Pastoral Liaison
Odette Kahwajian
Foster Care Liaison
Our Goal
“Welcoming Children Into Worship” will advance the aim of the Lilly Endowment Inc. Nurturing Children Initiative by equipping 20 Church of God In Christ churches to invite and engage children, teens, and young adults to actively participate during Sunday morning worship services.
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INREACH
We strengthen churches and promote the pastor’s vision by providing training for leaders, staff, parents, and volunteers; coaching for pastors and worship leaders; tools to evaluate the worship environment; resources to covenant with children living in foster care, and more!
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OUTREACH
We help build congregations by identifying and promoting strategies for engaging with families in the community, schools in the neighborhood, and programs that support our vision.
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EVALUATION
​We focus on learning together as we implement new practices and ask/answer these questions: What’s working? What needs to be improved? How can the work we do have a lasting impact on the people we serve by welcoming children into worship?
