Forgotten by many, ignored by others, belittled by some. Unable to vote in business meetings, unable to raise funds for their new building, and quietly forgotten in some pew.
Sometimes loud, sometimes obnoxious, and generally hard to keep up with. That is what a child faces today in our churches. Oh yes, we love children and we love those who help children, but is there really a pounding heartbeat that says, “If we don’t reach them TODAY, we probably won’t reach them at all”?
And therein lies my dilemma. Child Evangelism Fellowship says 85% of everyone who comes to Christ does so by the age of 14. What if they are off? What if it is only 80%? What if it is only 75%? Or worse yet, what if it is only 70%?
The dilemma is: we SAY children are important but what are we DOING about it?
AIM LOWER
Aim lower does not mean we are doing babysitting. We cannot hold on to children until “big church” is out.
Like, would it be unreasonable if the adults waited on the children to finish their lesson a little late? It is not entertainment. Many feel like they need a “dog and pony show” so that kids will be interested.
After all, if we cannot “wow” them, they won’t want to come back. It is not just doing something religious with a willing volunteer. Many pastors go to Bible college and some go to seminary, primarily to lead adults and sometimes youth, rarely children.
What if children’s workers were recruited, trained, and led by a pastor … a pastor of children?
SERVE YOUNGER
Serve younger is Biblical. Look seriously at the greatest commandment, ALL TIME EVER. It is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. We are told to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and soul. Context: CHILDREN!! “Impress them on your children” (v.7). Talk about them all the time to CHILDREN (vv. 8-9).
DA! • It is a serious commitment. Teachers ought to stay with their class because they love each child. A serious commitment to children requires time, energy, and finances. It ought to be done by godly men and women who have a heart for God and are seeking God daily. If the kids don’t say thanks or if their parents don’t bring them next week because of a soccer match 200 miles away, don’t sweat it.
Get through to the children! We may not be able to influence them tomorrow. The stakes are very high. I know the entertainment industry is just dying to sell your children the next Playstation 3 or X Box.
They are itching to get them hooked on “stuff” that does not promote godliness. And we wonder why our teens don’t turn out right.
The slogan for Awana is: “Because they need us TODAY”. I think Awana knows their stuff. They are right on. We don’t have tomorrow! We can’t put it off for a better day! The battle for the hearts and minds of children will not get easier and it won’t go away. We can’t sit around singing “Kum Ba Ya” and wait on our everlastings for children to get their hearts right. NOW!
It is now that we must go! It is now that we must teach! It is now that we must raise the budget for children! It is now that we must build a building for children! It is now that our leaders must get seriously involved in the lives of children! It is now that we do for children what we put off yesterday because we were too busy. And it is now that we must vigorously teach our children that Jesus Christ is the only hope they have.
