Pointing Kids to the Cross

Teach Children to Reach Children —The Evangelism Lifestyle

By Harlene Hill

July 10, 2011

Children love to show off! When they learn something new, their immediate response is, “Hey, watch this!” When they make something with their own hands, they want to show everyone. When children make a decision for Christ, many are ready and willing to share Jesus with their friends. As adults, we need to remember that evangelism is not just forgrown-ups. God will use a child’s experiences and boldness to turn hearts toward Jesus! In our role with children, whether as a parent, teacher, mentor, or childcare worker, it is our job to cultivate a child’s natural desire to evangelize their world. This means we should be teaching them early, often, and by example.

Teach Them Early

As children start to develop relationships in their neighborhood and school, encourage them to invite friends to church. A very young child may not be able to verbalize the gospel to others, but inviting others to church is something they can do. Bringing their friends to church is often a first step in teaching children how to share the knowledge of Jesus with others.

Teach Them Often

Don’t just leave all the teaching to the church. Listening to Christian music and watching Christian movies will saturate a child’s heart and mind with God’s word. Pray with them every day and have them take turns praying out loud. Participate in ministry projects in your community. By doing so, your child will soon come to understand that evangelism is a lifestyle, not just something you do once in a while.

Teach Them by Example

As the saying goes, more is caught than taught. In other words, children will do what they see more often than what they hear. When your child sees the joy and confidence you have in sharing the gospel with others, they will often look for opportunities to imitate that same experience. Leave gospel tracts at restaurants, wear Christian T-shirts that proclaim God’s love, and say “God bless you” to the grocery store cashier. Show your child how even the smallest acts of kindness can help spread the gospel. Help them understand that their own experiences and background, even though they are still young, can be used to help others understand God’s love and forgiveness. Teach your child now, while they are young, to share the gospel of Christ. It will become an invaluable tool as they grow up to serve the Lord in all they do!