The Importance of Sharing Your Faith Story

By: Crystal Mazzuca

“The influence of one loving leader can be immeasurably beneficial in the faith journey of a child.”

Flip the Script

If you’re reading this, then you care about the faith of the next generation. You want to see them trust Jesus, live their lives for Him, and follow Him all the days of their lives. You help, serve, work, learn, and lead—all to pour out and influence the next generation.

One of the best and most incredible resources your ministry has for kids to learn about how to share Jesus is you.

Share with Kids Who You Were Before

Whether you’ve been following Jesus for 50 years or 15 minutes, you have a story of who you were before Jesus changed your life. When you share with kids (in an age-appropriate way) who you were and what you were like before Jesus, it shows them what a difference following Him can make. The choices you made and the attitudes in your head and heart are all examples of what you were like without Jesus. It’s important for kids to know that you saw a need for Jesus because it lets them know that they need Him too.

Share with Kids When and Why You Started Following Jesus

Were you one of those kids who wanted to give your life to Jesus and asked your parents to pray with you? Or maybe you had that moment at VBS? Did you start following Jesus as a teenager at youth group? Perhaps your moment came later in life as an adult. Whenever and wherever you placed your faith in Jesus, tell kids about that moment. As kids hear real-life stories about people making the choice to follow Jesus, they see it as something real, relatable, and available for them as well.

Share with Kids Who You Are Now

Following Jesus isn’t just a one-time decision—it’s a transformational lifestyle. Tell kids stories about how you are different now. Point kids to the changes Jesus has made in your identity, values, and perspectives. Talk about how Jesus impacts your decisions and desires. When you tell kids that Jesus not only changed but continues to change your life, you help them see that Jesus offers more than salvation. He offers hope, healing, and help every day.

Your Faith Journey Influences the Faith Journey of Others

Sharing your faith journey—who were before Jesus, when you started following Him, and what your life is like now—has incredible impact in the faith journey of the kids in your ministry. As you love and follow Jesus and share that love and transformation with them, the truth of an authentic relationship with Jesus becomes so much clearer. So share your faith journey with your kids. Your sharing has the potential to make an incredible impact their own faith journeys.

Crystal Mazzuca is the Content Editor and Resource Specialist for Lifeway’s NextGen resource Hyfi. With an MA in Christian Education Administration, she has a passion to encourage and equip leaders to impact the next generation for Christ. She’s spent the last 20 years in Kids, Student, and Family Ministry and loves serving both the big C church and her local church in Olympia, WA. Crystal loves reading, going to the beach, and playing video games with her 3 sons.