Josh always came into Good News Club with a hurt. He bent back his finger, or was bleeding somewhere. We used a lot of Band-Aids with Josh. We knew he needed that little bit of extra attention.
Josh’s dad registered him in the Good News Club, picked him up each week, and was so glad his son was in the club. Over time, as Josh asked us to pray for his mom, we learned she lived in another state and that his grandma helped care for him. We prayed and felt even more compelled to show God’s love in tangible ways.
Each week at the end of the Bible lesson, the teacher always gives children a chance to talk further about what it means to trust Jesus as Savior. Sometimes a child will come talk to the teacher simply wanting to pray for a sick pet and we do that.
One week Josh approached me as the club moved on from the Bible lesson to the next activity. I asked him, “Why did you come to talk to me?” His answer was, “I need to ask Jesus to forgive my sins!”
We sat on the floor in the hall and reviewed the gospel message –
- Who is God, what is He like?
- What separates us from God?
- Who is Jesus what did He do for you?
Josh understood each point and was able to talk about why he needed a Savior. So I asked, “Would you like to pray to trust Jesus as your Savior today? He said, “Yes!” and prayed in his own words telling God that he knew he had sinned, that he believed Jesus died for him, then asking Him to forgive and change him.
What a privilege to see God at work in one child’s life – a child who was needy, hurting!
In that moment, all God’s covenant promises became his, and Josh became a true child of the King. (John 1:12)
We did not see Josh the next school year. I’m so glad to know that Josh has a forever friend, Jesus, who will never leave him. (Hebrews 13:5)
Written by Martha Clouse
GNC Coord, W’Burg
