Child-Like Faith: My Favourite Easter Prayer

My favourite Easter prayer goes like this:

"Dear Jesus.  Thank you for going up on the cross for us every Good Friday.  You must be really happy when the weekend's over!"

That’s why I love kids’ prayers. Children remind us that we can be child-like, not childish, in the way we pray. Praying is easier for children, as there is no embarrassment, no formulas, no clichés, or no religiously correct God words…they just pray whatever comes to their minds. Children tell God what they are genuinely thinking and they understand that God is listening, and that praying is very important.

After all, Mark 10:15 says "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." 

My hope is that we all become more child-like in our faith, and that we aren’t afraid to offer up simple, spontaneous prayers when needed.

That way, we won't always be the ones saying grace because we are the designated “church professionals!”

Clayton Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah and Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie.  He has served as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for the past ten years, helping parishes develop their own youth and young adult ministries.  When not doing ministry, Clay enjoys spending time with his family, playing music, playing sports, playing naptime, and writing blogs on topics such as family, faith, and the Vancouver Canucks.  Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo      

Christmas Cheer

Merry Christmas to all of you loyal readers of Canadian Youth Worker!

I'll get back to some more "serious" writing next week but for this week I wanted to share with you a couple of "lighter" items to help spread some holiday cheer.

The first is yet another example of child-like faith - this time from my 9 year-old Jacob.  It's the note that he left for Santa Claus on Christmas eve.

The second is my annual Vancouver Canucks Christmas Carol.  We've done these for a few years now...and this year we cover the classic "This Christmas".  Enjoy!

Clayton Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah and Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie.  He has served as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for the past ten years.  Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo

Child-Like Faith at Disney World

I'm in Orlando for the biennial National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry (NCCYM) sponsored by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM).

I look forward to connecting with old ministry friends, making new ones, and learning even more acronyms.  :p

Being here at Walt Disney World reminds me of one of my favourite videos that I originally posted back in May:

I've written before on child-like faith, and how children remind us that we are to be child-like (but not childish) in the way we pray. After all, Mark 10:15 says "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." 

This scripture reminds us that whomever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.  Now that doesn’t mean that we should all start sucking our thumbs, wearing diapers, crawling around from place to place, and crying and whining until we get what we want...that's childish.  But God has set aside the Kingdom of God for the childlike...for those who are loving enough to trust and obey Him, and humble enough to depend on Him.

My kids teach me what it means to have a child-like faith.  Because they are obedient, innocent, and curious.

See what I mean in this video...and in particular pay attention to Jacob, our middle child.  The only background you need to know is that our kids thought we were going to spend our Spring Break in Seattle.

Hello Tooth Fairy...

I've written numerous times on the importance of child-like faith...and how having child-like (and not childish) faith can extend our youth ministry careers.  How God has set aside the Kingdom of God for the childlike...for those who are loving enough to trust and obey Him, and humble enough to depend on Him.

Which brings us to this week's post.  My middle-child Jake wiggled one of his teeth right off of the gum last night and decided to write the Tooth Fairy a note before he went to bed.

His heartfelt letter is a perfect example of child-like faith:  it's innocent, it's curious, and full of wonder and awe.

I think his Tooth Fairy is going to have to find a second job though.

Clayton Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah and Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie.  He has served as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for the past ten years.  Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo

Surprise...We're Going to Disneyland (and not Seattle)!

I've written before on child-like faith, and how children remind us that we are to be child-like (but not childish) in the way we pray. After all, Mark 10:15 says "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." 

This scripture reminds us that whomever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.  Now that doesn’t mean that we should all start sucking our thumbs, wearing diapers, crawling around from place to place, and crying and whining until we get what we want...that's childish.  But God has set aside the Kingdom of God for the childlike...for those who are loving enough to trust and obey Him, and humble enough to depend on Him.

My kids teach me what it means to have a child-like faith.  Because they are obedient, innocent, and curious.

See what I mean in this video...and in particular pay attention to Jacob, our middle child.  The only background you need to know is that our kids thought we were going to spend our Spring Break in Seattle.

Jacob is a perfect illustration of child-like faith.  The pure joy, innocence, and surprise he displayed brings a smile to my face every time I watch the video.

And to his credit, our eldest Sean did a masterful job of keeping the surprise from Jacob and Kayla.  Sean's teacher mistakenly spoiled the surprise when he asked Sean if he was excited to go to Disneyland.  In a remarkable display of restraint, Sean didn't tell me, Gail, Jacob, or Kayla that he knew.

Until he pulled me aside after dinner one night a few days prior to our trip.

"Dad, I know we're going to Disneyland for Spring Break."

"What are you talking about?  No we're not!"

Sean wasn't buying it.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Because I was looking at Mom's browsing history in Google."


Clayton Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah and Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie.  He has served as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for the past ten years.  Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo

When I grow up I want to be...LIKE DAD! .

When you ask a young child what he wants to be when be when he grows up, the usual response is something rather glamourous: a musician, an athlete, a cop, a firefighter, or movie star. Then, as the child becomes a teen, it's sometimes more about success and money-earning potential as opposed to fame: doctor, dentist, lawyer, accountant, engineer, or teacher.

So I was thrilled, flattered, humbled, and very surprised a few years ago when Sean showed me a piece of school-work where he said that he wanted to be a Youth Worker! His reasoning?

"Because I get to work with grade 7s and I get to set up for Youth Day and I get to play basketball and I get to do lots of fun activities and I get to work past my bedtime."

I was proud that Sean took an active interest in what Daddy did for a living, though I was slightly concerned that he'd noticed my irregular sleep pattern.

It reminds me of a story I tell in speaking on the topic of child-like faith and imitation being the sincerest form of flattery.  I am flattered that he knows what I do and what I am passionate about.

We were getting dressed for an outing recently and Sean came running up to me wearing a golf shirt and shorts. Looking handsome, he said to me, "Look Dad...I'm in youth ministry!" So I quickly replied, "Oh...so you don't make any money either???"


Clayton Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah and Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie.  He has served as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for the past ten years.  Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo