See Lauri laugh. See Lauri love. See Lauri smile. Lauri Chaudoin is one of our Ministry Team Leaders for 24Kids. Because of that, when you bring your school aged children with you to 24 and they land in Kids Worship, you can be assured that they too are laughing, loving, and smiling!

Lauri has built a beautiful family and Christ-centered life with her husband of over 14 years. Their story started in her sophomore year in high school where they met and started dating, “I have the ’89 Gatlinburg airbrushed shirt to prove it!” Danny and Lauri married a few years after high school and tried for over 5 years to start a family beyond themselves. After being told that she has only a 1%-4% chance of conceiving, she was healed by God while on a mission trip to Brazil. “I count my blessings everyday – God’s love for us is so awesome! I learned I was expecting a month after returning. That mission trip was life-changing in so many ways! I enjoy listening for God’s guidance and taking major steps of faith when called. God is STILL trying to teach me to trust without worry – some people are so thick-headed!” Since that trip and that lesson in faith, Lauri and Danny have brought 3 beautiful children into God’s world. Hannah is 9, Olivia 7 and little Lane is now 3.

Learning this lesson has led to many changes in Lauri’s life recently. She felt God guiding her to spend more time with her family so she quit a big corporate job, started her own home-based employment law practice (Chaudoin Law) and began homeschooling her children. “I went, in one month, from thinking all homeschooling moms were “CRAAAZZZY”, to hearing God’s call so undeniable that I became a crazy homeschooling mom myself! We love it and are starting to hit our groove.” Lauri loves to take her kids on adventures as often as possible like horseback riding, rock hunting and tubing. In her quiet moments, she loves to enjoy a good cup of coffee, some good music and a great book. Her favorite book is My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Lauri says that every time she picks it up, it “hits me right between the eyes!”

Lauri and her family became a part of 24Church about 2 ½ years ago after moving to Joelton from Nolensville. Initially they continued to travel the 50 miles every week to their church in Nolensville where she had started their kids worship and Danny was a deacon. Yet again, after much prayer and really listening to God’s purpose for them, they knew that it was time to find a local church and they knew that He was giving them permission to leave the one they had been so involved in. On their first visit to 24, Olivia tagged it “the Rock-n-Roll Church” and they knew they had found their new home. Not long after, Lauri started volunteering in 24Kids and became a leader about a year later. Lauri has been a vital and important part of the growth of 24Kids and many of the changes and progress that has been seen and felt in that room were because of her! If you’ve ever spent any time on “that side” of the church, you know that 24Kids is energetic, enthusiastic and a bit crazy! Lauri’s patient manner and calm demeanor are the perfect fit for what can be chaos.

“I believe that Kids church is a critical ministry for any church. I understand when some people say they want kids to learn to “behave” while attending “big church”, etc., but I think we should give the kids more while they are in God’s house… This may be the only time they hear the name of Jesus in a whole week!” Lauri believes that each and every child is precious and each has their own needs. Some times it’s as simple as one of her gentle smiles, sometimes it’s a patient and understanding listening ear.

“The more workers we have the more individualized attention we can give our kids. Come experience this joy along with us! We need volunteers!!! The only experience necessary is love for kids!” Volunteers in 24Kids make such an impact in our church, in our community and for the Kingdom of God! If you would like to talk to Lauri about what serving in 24Kids is all about, email her at Lauri.Chaudoin@24Church.com!