While I was the assistant missions director at my childhood church, I grew and developed a passion and love for street side ministry which was done on Sundays. There were four locations that I visited in the inner-city communities, adjacent to the church, and the response was phenomenal. The church Sunday school grew exponentially.
I had realized, prior to starting this ministry, that only the children of the saints were attending our Sunday school.
I also observed, however, that there were more young children in these communities around the church. We started setting up classrooms on the sidewalk and in the lanes. Once per month we invited these children (with parental consent of course) into the sanctuary and they participated. We used bible verses, songs, drama and dance to engage the children. The church grew a whole lot, and the children looked forward to these roadside Sunday schools.
Though I didn't realize it at the time, the seed was being sown and these youngsters' lives were positively influenced by Christ.
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
The Word of Jesus Christ puts a high priority on children.
Jesus said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."
(Matthew 19:14)
Children are near to God's heart.
Jesus says that these little ones are represented in heaven by their angels. Their angels are always before the face of Jesus's Father and have His full attention. Nothing that happens to these little ones, including whenever someone treats them unkindly, does not go unnoticed or unrequited by God.
“Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10)
children’s brains develop connections faster in the first 5 years than at any other time in their lives. Studies suggest that children become susceptible to social influence around age 12.
Therefore to be effective and efficient in molding children we must start in the early years.
Perhaps God is leading you to become more involved in the lives of children, for His kingdom’s building. I am convinced that there is great work to be done in the lives of children in this generation.
It is imperative that we invest in the spiritual lives of children, not only in Sunday school, but beyond the four corners of the church wall into the four corners of the world.
Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, whether they are black or white all are precious in his sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Marcel and Jackie Bruff
@walkgoodinchrist
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