Scripture offers assurance that kids can enter an authentic relationship with Jesus. You probably even know of examples that show children do commit their young lives to Jesus. So the question becomes how?
Many children’s ministries answer that question with clear and relevant lessons, accompanied by creative Bible teaching. Incredible salvation messages for kids have become plentiful and readily available, and certainly enjoy success. But they represent only one approach. Because when one of these programs or lessons ends, little eyes frequently scan for adults in the room while their little minds formulate big questions.
What happens next contributes mightily to a ministry’s ability to reach its full impact. The adults in that room can help individual kids cross the line of salvation by engaging in simple conversations. Oftentimes, the situation calls for clear, plain talk about a relationship with Jesus. Or maybe answers to questions about God and heaven. These simple exchanges at church (or home) can have profound effects—but they call for preparation, because the stakes are high.
When Dennis was a young boy, he expressed a desire to start a relationship with Jesus. So his mother took him to meet with a staff member at their church. This person explained several biblical concepts and prayed the salvation prayer for Dennis. It wasn’t until many years later that Dennis, in a conversation with his small group leader, heard about the need to pray for himself. Now he wishes he had learned that critical piece of the process earlier in life.
Sure, when my son or daughter expresses interest in hearing about how someone gets to heaven, I could schedule a meeting with a staff member at my church and let the “professional” do the talking. No one would call me a bad parent. Or as a kids’ small group leader, when one of the boys in my group asks me what it means to be a Christian, I could find one of the large group teachers or the ministry director to offer an explanation. But do either of those approaches fully serve the child involved?
Deferring to someone more qualified or experienced feels more comfortable, because I avoid an encounter with my own fearful thought, What if I don’t say the right thing? But consider the child’s viewpoint. If the adult she is close to hesitates to talk about Jesus on a personal level, will Jesus seem close by or far off? Even if the reason for the handoff stems from the adult’s uncertainty about how to say what he or she knows in a kid-friendly way, the impact is equally confusing.
Conversely, imagine the potential impact on a child who listens to his or her parent’s from-the-heart story of faith. Or the potential unleashed when an adult at Sunday school offers a simple clarification of what it means to be a Christian, answering a question the child didn’t want to ask in front of everyone. It’s easy to believe that a child in either situation might be encouraged to start a relationship with Jesus right then and there.
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.
