As I travel across the country, I consistently hear the same concerns: Help me get more folks involved in Kids ministry (Enlistment); Help me get a grip on Classroom Management (Discipline); and NUMBER ONE – Help me understand better about Children and Salvation!
I want to share with you 13 principles of Responsible Evangelism with Kids. I’ll do this over the next several posts. I believe these principles, when followed, will make for a really good foundation as you join kids on their spiritual journey.
1. Responsible evangelism with kids begins with PRAYER. As much as you love the kids you work with each week… much more so the Lord Jesus Christ loves them and desires to spend an eternity with them. Pray to the God of the Harvest. Ask Him to lead you as you have conversations with kids about becoming a Christian. He will honor your heart and your prayers.
2. Responsible evangelism with kids depends on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that calls a person (adult and child) to Him and to eternal salvation. We should never work apart from the Holy Spirit in attempts to manufacture conviction or manipulate a child’s innocence and emotions.
3. Responsible evangelism with kids understands how kids develop. Understanding basic characteristics of boys and girls will help when talking with them about salvation. For instance, if you understand that most young children are very concrete in the way that they think and process information, you will work hard to discern a young child’s thinking and understanding of the basic concepts of sin and the gospel (which can be very abstract).
4. Responsible evangelism with kids deals with each child individually. It is not uncommon for a child to “walk the isle” or “raise their hand” in a group setting. Too often I’ve talked with folks who are confused and who struggled with the decision they made as a child. They believe they may have simply “followed the crowd.” Our job, as responsible evangelists, is to make sure that each child is counseled individually and help each child make a very personal decision to follow Christ.
5. Responsible evangelism with kids does not rush a child. Deciding to follow Christ as personal Lord and Savior is often a process for children. They may start a conversation, receive information, process that information and return with more questions at a later date. Just because a child is curious doesn’t mean they’re under conviction. It’s okay for the process to naturally unfold over a period of time.
Bottom Line: It is a privilege to walk with a child toward God. It is a blessing to share God’s redemptive plan with a Child… but with every blessing comes responsibility!
What are your thought?
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