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Stop right here and open your Bible to Mark 10: 13-16. You all know this passage, but read it with fresh eyes. Jesus makes it very clear that kids matter to God. In fact, they matter so much that He encourages us grown-up and self-important adults to become like them if we expect to participate in the Kingdom of God.
. Does that happen through more programs, more Bible facts? Or is it through a real person, willing to live out the love of Jesus right before their eyes? Kids need to know and see that the adults at church are willing to give of their time consistently; they need to see that these grownups want to build relationships with them. Kids need relationship with Christian adults who know their names, who truly enjoy being with them and who think they are so special that being with them is the best thing at church!
Because it’s biblical! This is the foundation of all of our ministries. Psalm 78:4 should make us pause and think: “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power and the wonders he has done.” When we accomplish verse 4, we will see the words of verse 7 come to pass: “Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.” When we truly pass on the wonder and joy of following Jesus, seeing God at work in daily miracles, we fulfill God’s highest calling.
Because it is our future. Take a minute to think about your church—what’s the average age of adults? Now imagine your church in 10 to 15 years. Without children, who would be left? Investing ourselves in the next generation provides our churches with a future and a hope! A strong ministry not only gives a return today but also yields positive strength for the future.
Because it is the best investment we can make! Between the ages of five and 12, the probability that a child will accept Jesus as Savior is about 32%, according to the research of the Barna Group. This is the time of life when people are most likely to embrace Jesus. And if a child does not then solidify a relationship with Jesus, the chances of doing so drop dramatically as the child ages! More than that, if we’re concerned with the problems of our culture, the only way to successfully reshape it is through children who are following Jesus!
We are all called to pass on our faith. So I ask… are you willing to come forward and answer God’s call? It is through the ministry of relationship that children learn to build a relationship with Jesus. Loving, Christ-centered relationships with adults help kids to grasp what it means to have a relationship with Jesus. |
