ntroduction
The world
population is growing at astronomical rate. The world population growth rate
from 1850 is as follows
Year
Figure
1850 –
1930
2 billion people
1930 –
1960
3 billion people
1960 – 1975
4 billion people
1975 –
1986
5 billion people
1986 –
2006
over 6 billion people
2009
6.77 billion people
As the population of the world continue to grow the challenges of evangelizing
the world grows greater everyday.
About one third of the population of every continent consist of children most
of them are not saved, the vast majority have been evangelised while some
children are far more privileged than others, they have Christian parents or
attend a Christian Church. Yet they too need to be evangelised. Every child
need to hear the gospel.
Children are powerful tools in evangelism and missions and they have important
roles to play to win their fellow children and even adults to come to the
knowledge of Christ. Before children can successfully perform this role of
evangelist they need to be taught and trained in the act of evangelism. These
are the essential training ground for children to be effective Evangelists and
Missionaries.
Children
could be Evangelised
1.
In the
Christian Home
Deut.
6:7-9, Ephessians 6:4
Children
should be taught and be exposed to the law of the Lord. Christian parents are
responsible for the upbringing and teaching of their children. This
responsibility to evangelise children by parents could be by example, answering
questions, careful instructions, being available to them on a personal level.
2.
In the
Church
In the
church services
In the
Sunday school
In the
Holiday Bible School
3.
Outside
the Home and the Church
I
Corinthian 9:22
Through:
Tract
distribution
Bible
Club
Why
Children Should be involved in Evangelism and Missions
Some children have developed habits that are anti-Christ e.g stealing, lying,
cheating in examinations, smoking, drinking alcohol, fornication, Secret cult
members, ( familiar spirits, water spirits, witches, wizards etc )
With boldness and the power of the Holy Spirit, some born again children who
knows that their mates are in these habits can confront them with the gospel of
Jesus Christ and prayer. They even go ahead to follow their converts up and in
some cases they make referrals to their Pastors or mature Christian teachers
for further counselling and prayers that will help the new converts to be
steadfast in the Lord. Colour witnessing is a simple method that can be
used by children to reach thier unbeliever mates and adults.
Strategies
for Training
Songs: Teach
them songs which have clear accurate true teaching of some aspect of the gospel
message. A song might reinforce a gospel truth or teach other gospel
truth which will supplement and help explain the gospel truth taught in Bible
Lesson. This can further help to win the unsaved children and adults to Christ.
Memory
Verses: Is very
important part of the evangelism of children. Well taught Bible verses will
remain with them forever. Bible verses which teach an important gospel truth
help children understand the gospel message. Explain the verses, encourage the
children to learn and memorise it.
Doctrine
Lessons: In
addition to weekly Bible lessons, Bible doctrines could be taught in a
systematic and logical manner. In teaching Children every of these doctrinal
lessons evangelism should be emphasised.
Missionary
Stories: From
time to time it is good to relate examples of how God saved, called and used
missionaries. The biographies of these missionaries can be interesting for
unsaved Children and can help them come to a clear understanding of salvation
through hearing of the missionaries conversion or the conversion of others
through their ministries.
Bible
Lesson: This
avenue provide opportunity to do thorough teaching of the message of salvation.
One central truth should be taught in every Bible lesson and applying that
truth to the unsaved children.
Review: Is an
important part of teaching the gospel truth you have previously taught to help
the children remember, understand and see how they all fit together. This can
be done through quizzes,Praying,Teaching,Music,Chorography,Phonecalls,Text
messages ,Diagrams or picture Illustrations,Bible games,Questions and
answers,Tract distributions,Drama, Letter writing, Visitation, Quizzes, Debate.
Colour Witnessing
Black
-
Darkness
Red
-
Blood of
Jesus
White
-
Holiness
Green
-
Growth
Yellow/Gold
-
Heaven
Having received teaching and training to evangelise and serve as missionaries
in order to reach the unreached, these strategies, if employed properly will
make the impact of children felt positively in Mission and Evangelism.
Identifying
Evangelism and Mission Field for Children
Above all, Children can do evangelism and mission work, reach where adults can
not reach win souls that adult may not be able to win and do greater exploits
for God among their peers and even adults. Children can evangelise their
classmates, their hostelmates, their agemates in the Communities and in the Church,
their club members in the School or in the Church and their Moslem friends.
They can do the work of evangelists and missionaries in:
-
Mission
fields
-
Motherless
homes
-
Children
camp meetings
-
Holiday
Children outreach
-
Before,
during and after Church crusades
-
Refugee
camps
-
Disaster
Victims rehabilitation centres
-
By
praying for families and friends who are yet to know about the gospel
-
Distribute
tracts in the Schools, Streeets, Motorparks, Hospitals etc.
CONCLUSION
Teach the
children to posses these essential characteristics:
Holy
Spirit Act 1:8
The word
of God Joshua 17:12
The name
of Jesus Rev. 12:11
Vision
Romans 3:1,
12
Compassion
Mathew 9:36
Prayer
Romans 10:1
Wisdom
James 1:5
Passion
II
Corinthians 5:20
Power
I Corinthians 2:45
Perseverance
II Timothy
4:2
REFERENCES
Adeloye
Tunde;Evangelism Our Christian Heritage, Somolu; Nigeria, Awoye Art
Publicity,
2010.
Ademosun
Peter, Winning Your World: Soul winning at its best, Abeokuta; Nigeria.
Christ
Total Books, 1998.
Doherty
Sam, How to Evangelise Children, Northern Ireland, UK, Child Evangelism
Fellowship Inc, 2003.
Katter
Calvin,Soul Wining Made Easy, Minneapolis, USA, International Christian
Literature
Distributiors, Inc. 2000.
Acts
International Magazine, Soul Winning Out Where the people are volume
25/Number 3
1997, 19.
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