In a world filled with distractions and competing influences, the task of nurturing young hearts in faith has never been more critical. The statistics are clear: a staggering 85% of Christians come to know the Lord between the ages of 4 and 14 .This fact underscores the immense urgency of reaching children with the Gospel, shaping their beliefs, and grounding them in a lifelong relationship with Christ.
Children are not just the future of the Church; they are an integral part of its present. As the Bible reminds us, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6, ESV). The responsibility of guiding young souls toward a deep, personal understanding of their faith is both a privilege and a profound mission.
With this in mind, it can be easy to feel stuck. How do we reach the next generation in what feels like a post-Christian society? How do we compete with what the world is telling them about God? What if they don't listen? What if I am not relevant enough?
Take a deep breath...and remember YOU are not saving them; Jesus is. All we have to do is be obedient to the Word of God and set the table for the Holy Spirit to minister to the children in our communities. At CEF Manasota we share this burden with you and want to equip you with 3 ways you can share God's love with children.
1. Start Volunteering in Children's Church or Youth Group
A significant need within our church community is the support of volunteers for our children's and youth ministries. While various reasons may contribute to individuals not being able to volunteer, it's worth reflecting on the statistics that show many believers find their faith during their youth. The call to connect with young hearts is profound, and it's essential to recognize the importance of not overlooking the needs of the next generation.
Here are a few amazing things about serving in children's ministry that you may not have known:
You become a consistent example of God's love in the lives of the kids you minister to.
You get to disciple the students in the Word of God.
You get to watch young souls light up when they understand how loved they are by God.
You get a front-row seat to their lives as they grow in faith and character.
You get to be there for them when life has unexpected ups and downs.
You might be the only kindness or love they see all week.
You might give them the only hug they will receive all week.
God might just use you to lead those young hearts to Him.
You get to watch them be baptized.
You get a beautiful sense of fulfillment as you make disciples and share the Gospel with the next generation.
You might be reading this thinking, "I am too old...too young...not qualified...my past is too messed up...." I want to remind you that children don't need perfection, they just need you. Romans 8:30 says, "And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."
Jesus has redeemed you and sanctified you. He will carry you and justify you as you walk in obedience to what He has called you to. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill in any gaps you might have as you walk in confidence that if God has called you to serve in the next generation ministries, He will equip you to do so.
We want to encourage you to ask your pastor how you can start serving in the children's or youth ministries at your church today.
2. Volunteer in a Good News Club
If you have a heart for the lost children in our community, starting a Good News Club® (GNC) or serving in one is a great place to share God's love with the next generation! Good News Clubs are an incredible way to share the Gospel with children in our public school system. These are free after-school programs where kids come to play games, do crafts, learn an engaging Bible lesson, Scripture memory, and so much more.
The goal of a Good News Club is to evangelize boys and girls, disciple them in the Word of God, and establish them in the local church for Christian living. Each Good News Club is sponsored by a local church and members of the Church Partner often serve in the Good News Clubs.
There are a few different ways you can volunteer in a Good News Club:
Team Leader: A Team Leader serves as the primary contact between the team, school, and the CEF Manasota office team. They also recruit volunteers, oversee the GNC team, lead meetings, and plan the club. If you love building teams and leading people, this is a great role for you.
Team Admin: The Team Admin assists the CEF Ministry Coordinator with Team paperwork, develops club records, prepares name tags for children, prepares and maintains club materials, communicates with parents, and submits monthly reports to CEF Office. If you are highly administrative and organized, you would be a great Team Admin!
Small Group Leader: Small Group Leaders meet with different grade levels and build relationships with the students.
Songs: The Good News Club songs are so fun and have amazing dance moves! If you love to dance and like to have fun, you would be great at leading songs during the club.
Bible Lesson Teacher: CEF Press writes engaging Bible lessons that share stories from the Bible in a way that is easy for students to understand. If you have a knack for teaching and a love for the Word of God, this is the role for you.
Scripture Memory Teacher: One of the best things we can do for our students is teach them Scripture to memorize and hide in their hearts. If you have a passion for teaching Scripture in a fun and exciting way, you would love this role.
Games: A very important piece of club is making it exciting and fun for the students! We do this through interactive games. If you love coming up with creative ways for kids to play and build relationships with each other, leading games is the right spot for you.
Watch this video to see how attending a Good News Club led an entire family to follow Jesus!
CEF Manasota will train and equip you with everything you need to serve in a Good News Club. If you are open to helping us reach students with the Gospel through our Good News Clubs, click here to fill out a volunteer interest form.
3. Practice Biblical Principles With Your Kids
The third way to share the Gospel with the next generation is to openly practice Biblical principles with your kids or the kids around you. Children soak up their environment and follow the example set before them. These endeavors serve not only as building blocks for a strong family bond but also as opportunities to deepen your connection with God and cultivate a shared spiritual journey with the children in your life.
Memorize Scripture With Your Family
The Word of God says in Deuteronomy 6:5-9 "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes."
This shared endeavor not only instills a deep understanding of biblical principles in our children but also equips them for life's challenges, as the Holy Spirit recalls the stored words in their hearts, guiding them in truth.
Participate in Outreach Opportunities
Many churches have outreach ministries where they invite volunteers to help meet physical and spiritual needs in the community. Engaging in community outreach provides tangible experiences of being the hands and feet of Jesus, illustrating God's love through action.
In 1 John 3:16-18 it says, "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
Discovering local opportunities to volunteer with your family allows you to actively demonstrate love, compassion, and service to those in need.
Pray With Your Children
Praying with your children or children in your extended family is a simple way to share God's love and set an example for how to pray. From praying before meals to lifting up concerns about tests or life events, incorporating prayer into daily life fosters a connection with God that extends to both the significant and mundane aspects of our lives. Encouraging your children to share their prayer requests not only teaches them to cast their worries upon the Lord but also reinforces the idea that God is present in both the big and small moments.
Expressing gratitude to the Lord as a family is also an easy and fun way to connect with the Lord. You can start by asking your children to pray out loud and thank God for 10 things. This is a great daily practice no matter your age and develops a heart posture of praise and thankfulness.
Prayer is a simple and beautiful way to connect with the children in your life and show them how to connect with God personally.
Closing Thoughts
CEF Manasota is passionate about sharing God's love with children in our community. With the majority of Christians coming to know the Lord between the ages of 4 and 14, we must be intentional about sharing God's love. Whether through volunteering in your church's children's ministry, Good News Clubs, or practicing biblical principles at home, you play a crucial role in shaping the faith of the next generation. May you find fulfillment and joy in making disciples and sharing the Gospel, trusting in God's redemptive and equipping power.
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