child evangelism 04 by Editorial Zone
Published Date: 27/03/08
Child evangelism is one of the most important issues that we in the Church have to face. Children evangelism is crucial to the success of any church, as well as the future of the community of believers. Bible study evangelism programs, youth groups, puppet shows, and anything else that you use to win the faith of children is some of the highest work that you can do for God. The problem is that child evangelism has to be handled with a delicate touch. Too much or too little and it does not work.
For example, as an adult you cannot preach the word of Christ to children who have not been saved. The legal risks are just too great. Never mind the fact that you are trying to save their immortal souls; if you try to undermine parental authority, you can be sued. This means that you can lose your job, your freedom, and even your rights to be a church.
One of the churches with which we have fellowship had this happen to them. One of their parishioners brought in some children from a neighboring family of atheists. When they tried some child evangelism on them, the children went home and told their parents. They were doing what they thought was right. They were scared by the new ideas, and thought that their parents should know. When the parents sued over the child evangelism, however, it cost the church thousands of dollars. The minister was practically chased out of town, and the church lost a lot of money that it could have used to set up ministries.
This is why church evangelism for children has to take more subtle forms. All evangelism is Jesus evangelism, but not all evangelism needs to preach the name of Jesus. Just by being involved in the community, giving children a healthy alternative to drugs, a church can provide child evangelism. Once the children understand how much the church cares about their welfare and well-being, they will be interested in what the ministers have to say.
Once you are approached by children, you can witness to them directly. However, it is important that they be the ones to broach the subject. Child evangelism can not be done on a soapbox. It requires tact as well as faith. The point is not to tear the children away from their parents or their communities. The point is to bring them into the church of God.
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