Calling All Children

Onething 2015 is fast approaching, and families—and children—are most welcome!

That’s the message that Lenny LaGuardia, director of the Children’s Equipping Center at the International House of Prayer, has for parents and families: come to Onething this December and get equipped together!

“I think this is the one event that we do all year that you’ll see your children walking alongside of you as the Lord ministers to your whole family at once,” he says. “This is a chance to get your whole family moving in one direction.”

While 20,000 people—mostly young adults—fill the auditorium of the Kansas City Convention Center, Lenny and his wife, Tracy, lead ministry to about 800 children, ages 5–12, in a downstairs conference room.

The CEC sessions mirror what’s happening in the main hall, reinforcing the same themes.

“We walk alongside what’s going on upstairs, so prayer, praise, power, and the prophetic are some of our values,” Lenny says. “Getting children introduced to those concepts, and allowing them to really walk out the kingdom of God, is powerful.”

Kim B. has seen the impact firsthand in her family.

She, her husband, and their three children–ages 7, 11, and 14—have attended Onething every year since 2009.

“My children would not miss it for the world,” Kim says. “One year, some family members wanted to take us on a cruise, and the kids were like, ‘Only if it’s not during Onething.’ We love it so much.”

Although Kim and her husband thoroughly enjoy the main sessions, which this year will include special guests Reinhard Bonnke, Francis Chan, and Bethel Music’s Steffany Gretzinger and Amanda Cook, “Onething is for our children more than it’s for us,” she says.

At Onething 2009, her son received revelation of his calling during one of the CEC sessions, “and he hasn’t strayed from it whatsoever since,” she says.

Last year, her youngest daughter had an encounter with the Lord that included a glimpse of heaven’s throne room, and revelation about something her parents had been praying about, even though she had no prior knowledge of it.

“They’re always filled with the Holy Spirit there,” Kim says of the CEC ministry at Onething. “It’s better than Christmas. We love celebrating as a family, but Onething is better than Christmas that time of year. My kids actually count down to it!”

“The Holy Spirit that makes Jesus known is this year’s theme,” Lenny says. The children will be trained to pray for the sick, hear God’s voice, and minister.

“The same Holy Spirit that is moving upon the young adults upstairs is to be set free among the children,” he says. “There’s no difference in the Holy Spirit over there than there is here.”

In addition to worship, teaching, and ministry, children will receive discussion questions to review with their parents, and directions on how to start prayer meetings with their friends when they return home. Ministry to their own family—including loving their parents—is highly emphasized.

“Many of the testimonies we receive are ‘my son now prays,’ or ‘my daughter wants our family to study the word together,’” Lenny says. Other testimonies he has heard include, “My son and daughter want to be on ministry teams back at our church” and “They’ve got a compassion like never before.”

“We want to see the hearts of children turned to the fathers and the fathers to the children, bringing unity in the family.” Lenny says.

The CEC track runs during each of the conference’s main sessions (not including info meetings), and the environment is secured through a badge ID system for children and parents; additionally, all staff have undergone background checks.

The track costs $49 per child, and scholarships are available through inquiring with cec@ihopkc.org.

“We want as many kids as we can have going through it,” Lenny says. “It’s a paradigm shift for these guys—they’re being equipped to minister back in their church, home, school, and family, so we want as many as we can get.

“In light of the hour that’s here, and the hour that’s coming, I think this is one of the best things you could bring your family to,” he adds. “I’d do anything to come to this.”

Learn more about CEC at Onething and watch a short video »

Register for Onething »

Adam Wittenberg

position

A Detroit native who was raised in Vermont and Connecticut, Adam worked as a newspaper journalist until 2012, when he moved to Kansas City to complete the Intro to IHOPKC internship. Afterwards, he earned a four-year certificate in House of Prayer Leadership from IHOPU and is now on full-time staff in the Marketing department at IHOPKC. He also serves in the NightWatch (overnight prayer hours) and is active in evangelism. He, and his wife Stephany, have a vision to reach people everywhere with the good news of Jesus Christ.