Just before he died, Jesus told his followers to "go and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19).

I've noticed that different people interpret what that means in different ways. Some seem to think it means just getting people to convert to Christianity, to start a relationship with Christ. The church I grew up in put quite an emphasis on the conversion experience, which usually had to be preceded by convincing someone to believe in Jesus. This is not a bad thing, but I think there needs to be more to it than just that. If we simply want to convince those we minister to that they ought to believe certain things, we limit the work Jesus could do in their life, and in ours.

As someone who ministers to children, you are responding to Jesus' call to make disciples. But how can we do that in a way that actually works? In a way that builds not only the faith of those we lead, but our own faith as well? Is that even possible? Yes, it is—if we can learn how to listen.

Jesus told his followers to make ...