RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

The latest research from Barna confirms once again that the majority of people who invite Jesus into their life do so by the age of 18.

Pre-teens really stood out to me in this survey.  43% of people come to Christ in their pre-teen years.  The hand off from pre-teen into middle school ministry is a critical time.  We must renew our efforts to see pre-teens owning their faith and building solid relationships with other believers.

Another big question is this - Who is responsible for influencing others to Christ before their teen years? 

• 50% were led to Christ by their parents

• 20% were lead to Christ by a friend

• 7% accepted Jesus because of a pastor's sermon 

• 1% accepted Christ because of media like Christian television

We see that the majority of people are lead to Jesus by an existing relationship in their life.  The two relationships?  Parents and friends.

This means, as children's ministry leaders, we should be equipping parents and kids with tools they can use to effectively share their faith.

For parents - one of the best strategies is to host a class for kids who are indicating they want to become a Christ-follower.  Parents must attend the class with their child.  The class is called Starting Point and has been used by God to lead thousands of kids and parents to Jesus.  You can get more info. at this link.

As we place this tool in the hands of parents, they will be much more likely to follow through with confidence and share their faith with their children.

For children - it's important to teach them about sharing their faith with others.  I have found that when kids share their faith, it takes their own faith to a deeper level.

If you want kids to share their faith, then you should emphasis this and place tools in their hands that they can use to share the Gospel.  That's why I created a 4-week series called "The Blab Lab" that focuses on placing evangelism tools in the hands  of children.

Each week, kids get another tool they can use to share their faith at home, in their neighborhood, on their sports team, during lunch break at school, etc.

The series features a quirky professor who, along his sidekick, Crum, invents tools and gadgets that kids can use to share their faith that week.

Kids respond to this and begin sharing their faith.  I had one girl who took one of the inventions to school and shared it with her entire public school class (including her teacher).

Below is a sample of a lesson and video clip from the series.

You can get the Blab Lab series at this link.

Click here to see a lesson sample.

Click here to see one of the inventions that kids can use to share their faith.

Below is a video clip from the series.
Place these tools in the hands of your young evangelists and watch how God uses them to share the Gospel.

Acts 1:8 says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This promise was written to children just as much as it was written to adults.  And if we can lay a foundation of evangelism in their life, we can see them become bold and confident in sharing their faith, now as kids and later as adults.

This line of thought leads to pantheism.  Pantheism is worship that admits or tolerates all gods.  So according to this, sharing your faith "infringes" on people's right to explore all gods on an equal level.  And it reflects the refusal to accept anything as absolute truth.

Here's the problem with that line of thought.  Jesus says He is "the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Him."

Throughout Scripture, we see clear instructions to go and share this Gospel with everyone.  You can't spell the Gospel without "Go."  2/3rd's of God's name is "Go." 

The Great Commission, Jesus' last instructions before He left, is found in Matthew 28.  It says

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me^.   Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

We are to share the Gospel with all nations.  Everyone.  Including those who are worshiping a false god or claim no god at all. 

Today's kids are growing up in this pressure to not "offend" anyone with their beliefs.  This pressure is the exact opposite of what we are commanded to do in Scripture.  So we must equip the next generation to take the Gospel to the world and ask God to empower them so they can share it boldly. 

With that in mind, I created a 4 week teaching series for kids entitled "The Blab Lab."  Professor Blab-a-Lot equips kids with simple tools they can use to share the Gospel.  I have seen kids use these tools to share the Gospel with their entire public school class.  I have seen kids share the Gospel even with their teachers using the tools. 

Here are the tools kids get.  They put them together during craft time.  

Week 1 - Bridgenator 2000 (shows that Jesus is the bridge to God)

Week 2 - Smelly Jeans Jelly Beans (shows that Jesus is the only way to be forgiven}

Week 3 - Spin to Win (a spinner that you can use to share the Gospel)

Week 4 - Jesus Bracelet (kids make a bracelet - the colors on the bracelet can be used to share the Gospel)

You can see a sample lesson at this link.

And below is a video segment from one of the weeks.

This 4 week series is available for your ministry at this link.  We must continue to equip kids to share the Gospel.  The Gospel is the hope for the world.  You can't share it with the wrong person. And Jesus has promised to be with us when we take the Gospel to others.  What an amazing way to encourage kids to walk with Jesus into the greatest mission ever!

Last week, I was picnicking with family at a local park.  Something caught my eye.  All across the park, at key places that would catch people's attention, were rocks that had been decorated with messages.  It was obvious it had been done by children from a ministry.

Wow!  What a great idea for a children's ministry to give kids an opportunity to share the Gospel and help fulfill the Great Commission.

Think about it.  All you need is a bag of rocks purchased from a local Lowes or Home Depot, craft paint, brushes, markers, etc.  You can then give kids a list of ideas, phrases, verses, messages, etc. they can put on the rocks.  The project could be done before service while kids are waiting or as an activity during the class.  You can then set up a group outing to take the kids to local parks where they can place the rocks or they could do it as an activity with their family.

Below are some pictures I took of the rocks at the park.  Have you seen this done before or have you tried it?  Any ideas you would add to it?  Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.