18. What's so important about that number? Let's talk about it.
Research from Dr. George Barna has revealed that the vast majority of people who accept Jesus as their Savior do so before the age of 18.
64-68% of all believers in the U.S. come to Christ before their 18th birthday.
Not sure about that? Do this. The next time you are with a group of believers ask them how many of them came to Christ before the age of 18. The vast majority of them will raise their hands.
Every time I stand in front of a group of kids, I feel the burden of this. Will they come to Christ while their hearts are tender and open to the things of God?
If you have heard me speak, you know that I often use the analogy of cement and concrete. Wet cement is impressionable. You can easily write on it, make impressions on it, and shape it. Contrast that with concrete. Concrete is hard to write on or make impressions on. You have to use a hammer, chisels, etc.
We often here it said, "children are like wet cement." It is true. While they are young, they are very impressionable and mold-able. But soon the wet cement turns to concrete. You only have a small window of time before this happens.
We must reach children now.
We must consistently share the Gospel with children. Make sure...make sure...make sure your curriculum is sharing the Gospel with the children God sends your way. More than character traits....the children you interact with and teach need to come to Christ for their salvation.
Go all out to reach children. Make the Great Commission your primary marching orders. Be passionate about it. It's what God is passionate about. He is not willing that anyone perishes, but that everyone comes to salvation.
I believe those who serve in children's ministry are laboring in the greatest harvest field in the world. God has entrusted you with reaching the next generation.
One of the proven ways to reach children is by having a salvation milestone. When kids show an interest in Jesus, invite them to attend a class with their parents. In this class, thoroughly share the Gospel with them. At the end of the class invite their parents to lead their children to Jesus.
The proven class that I use is called Starting Point. I have seen thousands of kids and many parents come to Christ in this milestone class. In one year, in a local church, I saw over 430 children (and many parents) attend this class and come to Christ and follow Him in baptism. You can get more information about the class at this link - it is called Starting Point.
430 kids may seem like a lot of kids and I rejoice in what happened. But...that is not the number we should focus on. The number we must stay focused on is the number of kids in our community...in our city...in our area who don't know Jesus. We are surrounded by many, many kids who don't know Jesus. That is the number that should keep us on our knees praying and that is the number that should keep us faithfully sharing the Gospel.
18...time is short...let's reach kids.
