George Barna in his book, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, states:
“…if you want to shape a person’s life—whether you are most concerned about his or her moral, spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional or economic development—it is during these crucial eight years (ages 5-12) that lifelong habits, values, beliefs and attitudes are formed.”
How can parents and the Church incorporate this truth in reaching and teaching children?
Ideally, the Church will offer child evangelism training in addition to evangelism geared toward adults! This training should not be limited to Sunday School teachers and other children’s ministry workers, but also be easily available and geared toward parents and grandparents. The objective being to give the adults who care the most the confidence to present the gospel of salvation to their children.
After salvation, the disciple-making process is crucial through early teenage years. This includes a firm grasp of the character and promises of God (Who God is), the identity of a believer who is rooted in Christ (Who I am In Christ), and what God’s express marching orders are for His Children (Grateful Obedience and Witness to Others).
There are two strategic reasons to reach children and disciple them during the formative years:
- If disciples of Christ are not formed at this time, chances are slim it will happen later. The teen years are filled with turbulence and questions about identity. Without a firm trust in Jesus and understanding of His power in them to withstand temptation, many teens flounder.
- Discipled teenagers are the most effective group to evangelize younger children. A youth who is trained in child evangelism has the energy and enthusiasm to, in turn, reach younger children who are the most responsive to gospel presentations.
When teens learn the power of the Gospel in its simplicity and can practice sharing with children, they are much more likely to stand for the Lord against peer pressure in high school and college.
That is why CEF partners with Churches and parents in both child evangelism for adults and training teens to share the gospel. CEF Staff is available for half-day to weekend retreats on child evangelism training.
CEF also offers a one-week, intensive training called Christian Youth in Action® each June for teenagers to learn how to present the gospel to kids. The teens then live out what they learn by serving on a team conducting outreach to children through summer 5-Day Clubs and Good News Clubs during the school year.
Contact Martha Clouse more information: 740-972-1689, martha.clouse@cefpeninsula.com
