A Personal Approach
by David Staal
posted 3/31/2006
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Your Role
Now imagine you are that parent or that children's ministry worker. Sometimes you will enter moments with kids when their eternal destinies are as close as the air you breathe, if you can simply speak the right words. In their language. Because the terms and analogies mature Christians use to discuss faith issues with each other are likely to be lost on kids.
Ron, a children's ministry volunteer, had the spontaneous opportunity one weekend to share his testimony with a boy in his group who asked if Ron was a Christian. After two minutes of confusing language peppered with plenty of "ums" and "uhs," the conversation went elsewhere. Opportunity lost.
This scenario is easy to remedy—simply prepare to say the right words whenever the right opportunity arrives. Scripture points out that deliberate attention to language will benefit both the recipient ("A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver." Proverbs 25:11) and the speaker ("A man finds joy in an apt reply. . ."Proverbs 15:23).
But don't let those Bible verses take you to the conclusion that what's needed is for adults to hand kids a heavy load of theology. Yes, fluency with Paul's conversion on the Damascus road serves as a useful reminder of how Jesus changes lives. Even more valuable, though, is the confidence to describe the path you took to become a Christ follower—or how the child you're talking with can walk the same steps. Eager willingness to engage in the latter could change the world of a young one—and you'll need to hold onto a safety bar to handle your excitement!
A Willow Creek sermon series titled "Just Walk Across the Room" focused on developing a willingness to be used by the Holy Spirit for spiritual conversations with others not yet in God's family. "I enjoy (doing) many things in life," said senior pastor Bill Hybels. "But I don't know if there's anything I like better than that moment when someone says, 'I'll be grateful for all eternity for what you did when you walked across that room. . .' That's as good as it gets."
The payoff—the thrill—Bill describes is real. Double the thrill if that conversation is with a youngster trusted to your care as part of a small group or Sunday school class. And triple the thrill if the child is your son or daughter.
So if you work with kids at church, determine now to become even more prepared for unscripted, unplanned scenes when you talk with a child about faith—his or hers and your own. No workbooks, no notes, no kidding. Or if you're a parent, commit to becoming fluent with simple personal faith explanations so that you're ready for any bedtime conversation that may become a real-time salvation opportunity. Even if you feel fairly confident in your ability to have such conversations, commit to polish your skills further. You'll celebrate your readiness when a child needs you.
David Staal, senior editor of Today's Children's Ministry, serves as the president of Kids Hope USA, a national non-profit organization that partners local churches with elementary schools to provide mentors for at-risk students. Prior to this assignment, David led Promiseland, the children's ministry at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois. David is the author of Words Kids Need to Hear (2008) and lives in Grand Haven, MI, with his wife Becky, son Scott, and daughter Erin.
Excerpt from Leading Kids to Jesus by David Staal (Zondervan, 2006.)
Copyright © 2006 Promiseland.
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