Serving the Little Ones at Giftopia Land

Giftopia Land was the theme for this year’s Children’s Day Celebration at our Children’s Church. Why Giftopia Land? Because we believe every child is wonderfully created with unique gifts, talents, and purposes from God. Our hope is that through this celebration, the children will begin to discover, develop, and delight in the special gifts God has placed within them. While the little ones below age 6 had activities such as the Mini Artist Studio, Tiny Chef Corner, and Little Builder Site, the 7 to 10-year-olds were engaged in activities that showed them that God makes them an overcomer, a keeper, and a worshipper. As for those in upper primary, they learnt that God gives them the ability to inspire others and to be a thinker.

Psalm 139:14 - I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Chong Xuan shares her personal experience serving at the Carnival: my Cell members and I volunteered at the Giftopia Land Children’s Day carnival, where I was assigned to the Little Artist Corner for preschoolers aged 18 months to 6 years old. The children began their morning with a time of worship and listening to the Word of God before heading off to various activity rooms, where they decorated cookies and built creative block structures of their own design.

As the service countdown timer started, the children eagerly joined in, counting down with excitement. I was deeply moved by their enthusiasm for the start of the service and their genuine desire to worship God. It was heartwarming to see how they valued worship and learning about His Word even more than the fun activities waiting for them.

Although I wasn’t assigned to assist with the worship segment, I found myself drawn into the moment. I joined the children in worship – following the actions and singing along – and was reminded of the pure, joyful way they approached God. Their simple and sincere faith encouraged me to worship with the same childlike heart.

At the Little Artist Corner, the children took part in a delightful foil art and craft activity. Similar to sand art, this craft replaced coloured sand with holographic foil paper. Instead of pouring sand onto an image, the children carefully pressed shiny foil pieces to create their own vibrant masterpieces. The result was a beautiful artwork shimmering with bright colours – a creation they could proudly bring home and admire. This hands-on activity not only sparked their creativity but also gave each child a sense of accomplishment and pride as they completed their unique art piece.

Having served at the Children’s Day carnival for the past three years, I really appreciated this year’s concept. I believe that through the thoughtfully designed activities, the children were able to better understand themselves by discovering their God-given interests and gifts. Beyond simply uncovering these talents, the various stations also encouraged the development of essential character traits that help the children remain humble as they grow in their gifts.

For example, one of the stations – “I am Helpful” – focused on cultivating a servant’s heart. It reminded the children that serving others is valuable, even when it’s outside their natural interests or abilities. By learning to serve in different capacities, they came to recognise that service is ultimately unto God, and that they can depend on Him as they use their gifts for His glory.

Although I do not naturally gravitate towards working with children, this experience pushed me out of my comfort zone. I learned to be patient while explaining the craft instructions and assisting the children whenever they needed help. Through this, I realised that serving isn’t about being on a visible platform or holding a title – it’s found in the simple, unseen acts of service, like peeling off stickers or helping a child press foil paper onto their artwork. No one is too young or old to serve God and use their gifts for Him – come, just like these little children!