Children Evangelism is identical with other forms of evangelism, except the object here are children.
When we have won a child and he accepts Christ as his saviour, our task is not completed. In fact, it is just the beginning.
Matthew 28 : 19-20 says :
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
In this verse, Jesus told us to make disciples of all the nations. It includes children. The world children population is the largest portion ( 35 – 40 % ). If we do not evangelize children, it means we lost a large percentage of people.
Why do we evangelize children ?
1. God’s commandment
Evangelizing children is the desire of the Father himself. ( Matthew 18 : 10-14 )
When children were brought into Jesus, His disciples tried to send them away ( Mark 10 : 14-16) It is a typical adult response to children, because they think children are nuisance. But Jesus was angry. He rebuked His disciples and let the children come to Him.
Let every children come to Me
2. Ideal Age
In Matthew 18, Jesus asked : “ Who is the greatest in God’s Kingdom ? “ Jesus did not show directly who is the greatest one, but He did tell us that it is impossible for anybody to enter the kingdom of God except he becomes like a small child. Jesus showed us that a child has a quality of faith that an adult often doesn’t have. When someone grows up, he often becomes doubtful and get influenced by the world pressures.
There is no Christian work that produces sooner, bigger, and lasting results than children evangelism. It has much more advantages than any kind of efforts made.
a. Children are easier to lead to Christ than adults.
b. Their repentance is deeper when they got converted as children than when they have grown up.
c. They are easier to shape as a strong Christian, since there are not too many sins to leave than when an adult who is used to live in sin got converted.
d. They have longer time to serve Christ.
A man who is converted at 60 might only have 10 years to serve Christ, while a 10 years old child who is converted has 60 years to serve Him.
( Dr. R. A. Torrey )
The Hindrances to Child Evangelism
1. Are children sinless ?
Many people are blinded by the enemy to look at children as “ sinless, clean and innocent soul “. These people do not understand God’s truth.
We have to acknowledge that children have sinned since they are in their mother’s womb. (Romans 3 : 23, Psalms 51 : 5) They also sinned by choice since the early age. People who has small children can tell that their children show egoism and rebellion since they are babies.
2. Is it possible children lost ?
Jesus described in Matthew 18 that children may get lost and perish. He warned the disciples not to look down to the children. One of the strongest warning given by Jesus Christ is about the spiritual danger to children.
But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea ( Matthew 18 : 6 )
To look down means to underestimate children and their spiritual ability.
3. Do children understand ?
The salvation news is not based on understanding, but on faith.
Whoever believes in His name, shall be saved… ( John 3 : 16 )
It is whoever believes, not whoever understands…
Who is more ready to believe than a child ? They are in the perfect age to accept Christ through their simple faith.
4. Can children have a personal relationship with God ?
The Bible never gives us a definite age standard when a child can have a personal relationship with God. In fact, the Bible shows us that they worship God since very young. The Israelites include children in their worship gathering. Children also received the same punishment as adults when they do not look at Christ for salvation ( John 3 : 14 – 16 )
5. Do children realize their decision ?
Many people argue that children are not fully realizing their decision when they accept Christ as their saviour. According to them, children’s decision are not tested yet by the pressures and temptation of the world to prove their convictions are real.
If it is true, why do we find that children can be challenged to pay the “price” for following Jesus ?
90 % of God’s servants and missionaries including Billy Graham, D.L. Moody, David Livingstone and Reinhart Bonke born again when they were still children. Were their decisions real ?
Prevention is better than Treatment
The Church often places the spiritual ambulance at the bottom of a cliff. Actually it is better to build fences so that people won’t fall off it. It is also true in evangelism. If the Church takes action, and support the children evangelism so that many people are led to know the Lord since childhood ; the Church can save much energy, time, effort, tears to councell problematic adults.
Give me a child until they are 7, then anybody else may take him away ( and he won’t be lost )
( St. Francis Xavier )
Maybe we are not D.L. Moody, or Billy Graham. But we can become a channel of blessing in a child’s life so that one day he may be used by God like the great men of God.
Every child is precious in God's sight
