Silliness Matters in Ministry Life
There are many things people expect to find in a Christian family center: Classrooms, counseling sessions, prayer meetings, lesson plans, and serious conversations about trauma and restoration.
What people may not expect is the occasional human piñata walking past a classroom, a teacher dressed as cotton candy, or a giraffe serving lunch.
And yet, those are common sights at Roots & Wings.
Over the years, spirit weeks, expos, silly games, and moments of controlled chaos have become a normal part of life here. Sometimes that looks like a mad scientist leading parent activities about the forgiveness we find in Christ.
Sometimes it means staff wearing ridiculous hats just to make anxious children laugh. Sometimes it means fully grown adults discovering they are far more competitive at ping pong than anyone expected.
While none of these seem like standard staff meeting topics, at Roots & Wings they are always included. Why? Because somewhere along the way, we became convinced that every job, or at least every job working with children, should probably include costumes.
In a place where many children and parents have experienced instability, fear, trauma, and heavy burdens from a young age, joy matters. Laughter matters. Play matters. Making silly memories together matters.
The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength
As Christians, we know that joy is not simply a personality trait or passing emotion.
Joy is a command, a fruit of the Spirit, and a source of strength. Scripture reminds us that “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
In a ministry that regularly walks through difficult situations, moments of joy become reminders of God’s goodness, grace, and love.
Sometimes healing looks like counseling sessions and difficult conversations. Sometimes it looks like a child laughing uncontrollably because their director showed up dressed as the Cookie Monster.
Joy is not separate from healing. In many ways, it is part of the healing process. Research in neuroscience and psychology continues to show that joy, play, and positive emotional experiences can help support healing from trauma.
For children who have spent much of life in survival mode, learning to laugh, play, trust, and engage freely can be an important part of restoration. Moments that may seem small from the outside often reflect growing safety, stability, and emotional healing.
At Roots & Wings, we want children not only to feel cared for, but also free to experience the kind of childhood God intended for them to have: one marked by security, intentional nurturing, freedom to grow, and active, protective love.
Creating that kind of environment requires more than structure and counseling. Sometimes it also requires costumes, music, games, and adults willing to look slightly ridiculous for the sake of a child.
Fortunately, our staff has shown remarkable willingness to embarrass themselves when necessary.
Silliness Matters in Ministry Life
There are many things people expect to find in a Christian family center: Classrooms, counseling sessions, prayer meetings, lesson plans, and serious conversations about trauma and restoration.
What people may not expect is the occasional human piñata walking past a classroom, a teacher dressed as cotton candy, or a giraffe serving lunch.
And yet, those are common sights at Roots & Wings.
Over the years, spirit weeks, expos, silly games, and moments of controlled chaos have become a normal part of life here. Sometimes that looks like a mad scientist leading parent activities about the forgiveness we find in Christ.
Sometimes it means staff wearing ridiculous hats just to make anxious children laugh. Sometimes it means fully grown adults discovering they are far more competitive at ping pong than anyone expected.
While none of these seem like standard staff meeting topics, at Roots & Wings they are always included. Why? Because somewhere along the way, we became convinced that every job, or at least every job working with children, should probably include costumes.
In a place where many children and parents have experienced instability, fear, trauma, and heavy burdens from a young age, joy matters. Laughter matters. Play matters. Making silly memories together matters.
The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength
As Christians, we know that joy is not simply a personality trait or passing emotion.
Joy is a command, a fruit of the Spirit, and a source of strength. Scripture reminds us that “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
In a ministry that regularly walks through difficult situations, moments of joy become reminders of God’s goodness, grace, and love.
Sometimes healing looks like counseling sessions and difficult conversations. Sometimes it looks like a child laughing uncontrollably because their director showed up dressed as the Cookie Monster.
Joy is not separate from healing. In many ways, it is part of the healing process. Research in neuroscience and psychology continues to show that joy, play, and positive emotional experiences can help support healing from trauma.
For children who have spent much of life in survival mode, learning to laugh, play, trust, and engage freely can be an important part of restoration. Moments that may seem small from the outside often reflect growing safety, stability, and emotional healing.
At Roots & Wings, we want children not only to feel cared for, but also free to experience the kind of childhood God intended for them to have: one marked by security, intentional nurturing, freedom to grow, and active, protective love.
Creating that kind of environment requires more than structure and counseling. Sometimes it also requires costumes, music, games, and adults willing to look slightly ridiculous for the sake of a child.
Fortunately, our staff has shown remarkable willingness to embarrass themselves when necessary.