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This is part 6 in a 12 part Series on D.I.S.C.I.P.L.E.S.H.I.P. - Twelve Tips to help you become a more effective discipler of children.

Prayer is one of those things we often talk about more than we actually do! Just to make sure we don’t do that right now, lets both STOP, RIGHT NOW, and pray before going forward. Go for it. Ask God to open your heart to how Prayer could transform and empower your discipling!

(Pssst! you should be praying right now!)

O.K., welcome back! Few Christians, if any, would argue the point that the most important thing we can do for our children is to pray for them… but does our action match our words? If you devotion to children and the cause of Christ were measured ONLY by your prayer life - what would the conclusion be? My goal is not to motivate by guilt, but to challenge you to evaluate how important prayer is in practise in your ministry to children.

When it comes to praying for our disciples - those kids who we are intentionally investing in spiritually - there are two important aspects to praying for them. Obviously, we ought to be praying FOR them, but we also should pray WITH them. Let’s look at both and why they are important.

PRAYING FOR YOUR STUDENTS.

While I could provide a long list of verses about prayer, let me focus on just one and make a few points.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phil. 4:6

This concise verse contains some of the best teaching on prayer and it is very applicable to praying for the children we are ministering too.

1. “Do not be anxious.” There is a lot that can worry us about children in today’s world. The dangers to both the minds, bodies, and souls can be terrifying to us who love them. There is great spiritual warfare for their hearts and minds, and without spiritual power and intervenion, most kids will end up chooseing the “broad road” that leads to destruction. But here God tells us, the answer is not to be anxious, it is to pray! If we truly care about the children in our lives, we ought to be praying for them, and often! It is the single most powerful thing we can do to prevent the things that make us anxious for them. Make a list of the kids you care about, and prayer for them by name. Ask God to protect them, to challenge them, to draw them to Himself and to give them a curiousity for the Word of God and a hunger for righteousness. Pray for courage to withstand temptation and patience in the midst of trails. Pray that they would choose friends who draw them closer to God and not away. And prayer for their parents who have such a challenging God. A prayer for parents is a blessing to their children!
2. “By prayer and petition.” I’ve always found it facinating that in this verse God separates “prayer” and “petition.” To many people, prayer = petition. All they ever do when they pray is ask for stuff. God desires for us to make requests of Him, as a Father, he delights in giving good things to His children, but notice “petition” is mentioned secondary to “prayer” - which is simply communication and fellowship with God. Make sure that you are spending time getting to know the heart of God, not just asking Him for things you want - even good things. The first thing God wants is YOU!
3. “With Thanksgiving.” This is a powerful key to prayer! Too often we pray and “hope” God will answer. That isn’t faith. When we pray “with thanksgiving” we are asking in anticipation of what God will do. Are we manipulating God? Far from it! But we are demonstating faith that He will do that is best in the situation. When a child gives a list of Christmas Wishes to a parent, they don’t think for a second they won’t get something - or that they will be disappointed on that morning - but they don’t always get what they ask for. They DO get what Mom and Dad decide is best for them at that age, and probably what they can afford. The good thing with God is, He can afford anything! So ask with thanksgiving! You can even say in your prayer of petition, “God I thank you already for how you are going to answer this prayer because I know your love for this child is perfect and exceeds even what I can imagine. Thank you for loving me, for hearing me, and for answering my prayer!” No need to wait around and see “if” God answers - if you pray according to His Will - He WILL answer! So thank Him in advance!
4. “Present your requests to God.” We do need to actually present them to God! This may seem like pointing out the obvious. But I know as a father, there are many things I am willing to do with or for my son that I only do if he actually asks me. Part of it is that God doesn’t force Himself on us, but it is also that He wants to see what we would like to see Him do. If we don’t ask, we are likely not to notice or thank Him even if He does it. But when we ask, we’ll see it when it happens! I can’t help wondering what things I’ve missed out on in life from both my earthly and heavenly fathers simply because I didn’t bother to ask! So present your requests to God TODAY! What are you waiting for?

PRAYING WITH YOUR STUDENTS

It is also important to pray WITH your students, and I don’t mean just opening in prayer. Skip that if it is nothing but a formality! Don’t be flipant with God. Remember Who it is you are talking to! When you pray with your students, it helps teach them how to prayer. It humbles us as we acknowledge Who we are following. It shows we care as we pray for them. And you can rejoice together when God answers prayer.

A few tips:

• Ask your students for prayer requests. Your job is not just to teach them biblical knowledge, it is to transform them into a disciple of Jesus.
• WRITE THEM DOWN. Keep a journal, use a note card in your Bible, your PDA, something so that you are reminded to prayer later.
• Pray for them throughout the week, you may want to call or e-mail to check in on them. It will surprise them and show you truly are concerned for them.
• Follow up by asking about them later - this proves you really prayed and really care! If you say you will pray about a sick grandma and never ask how she is doing, did you really prayer? Did you really care? How could you still be praying if you don’t even know if she is alive still?
• Share your own concerns with them, so they see you are real. You don’t need to share your deepest struggles, but demonstrate your own dependance on God by sharing the things you are currently praying about. As they see God answer your prayers, they will share in the rejoicing and be all the more eager to make prayer a part of their life.
• Pray for others besides yourselves. Pray for their parents. Ask them how you can pray for their parents. Kids who are upset with their parents will be forced to see their parents in a new light - as other people with problems, worries, concerns and struggles. If they talk about kids they are having issues with, what a perfect opportunity to demonstrate “praying for our enemies!”

Don’t just give prayer lip service - make it an essential part of your discipling and you will see God work because he loves to answer prayer!

Looking for a fun way to remind kids what to pray about?

Check out A Hand in Prayer on Kidology.org. It is a “handy” way to teach young children to remember what to pray for by using each finger on their hand to represent something.

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This is part 5 in a 12 part Series on D.I.S.C.I.P.L.E.S.H.I.P. - Twelve Tips to help you become a more effective discipler of children.

Investing in the spiritual development of children is the best investment possible on this earth. There is no greater way to see a return on your investment of time and resources. I used this theme in a recruiting brochure once (available on Kidology.org for your use!) that openned with the following:

The purpose of that recruiting campaign was to encourage adults to see volunteering in the same light as they view their financial investment.  It asked:

Our goal was to guide individuals toward thinking strategically about children’s ministry (aka “investment”), volunteering in several areas (aka “diversified”) and to consider the long range benefits of thier service (aka “portfolio”). Instead of the mind-set, “I already serve in nursery, I’m covered” we asked them to consider “in what other way can I invest in kids.” This doesn’t mean we over work our volunteers - it means there is more than one way to invest in kids, many aren’t in the classroom! One of the options on the response form, oops, excuse me, the “Investment Response Form” was to inquire about being a discipler of children.

Let me tell you - please hear me - the BEST investment you can make in children’s ministry is to become a discipler of children. Whether you are the children’s pastor/director or voluneer in the trenches of weekly ministry, there is nothing that will be as fulfilling or as effective as discipling individual kids. Nothing.

I’ve planned and pulled off countless Vacation Bible Schools, Kids Crusades, Backyard Bible Blasts, Fun Fairs, Water Wars, Overnighters and taught well over 1000 Kids Church services (conservative estimate!) not to mention special events I’ve been hired to do at other churches or on the mission field. I’ve been to many more meetings, outings, and done more than my fair share of “child care” situations I redeemed by making them more than mere child care. But where do I see the most fruit in over thirty years of ministry (only half of which was as a vocational minister)? In the children I discipled.

The kids I intentionally discipled are the ones in Bible college. The children I discipled are the ones I see getting baptised (one just this past Sunday, now a senior in high school). The boys I spent time with one on one are now camp counselors, dating Christian girls, serving the Lord on mission trips (I get their support raising letters every year) and by far more “on fire” for God than most young people.

Let me be clear - I am NOT taking credit for any of these kids spiritual passion, much is owed to the parents and others who invested in them, and they deserve a lot of credit too for their choices. But I do find it encouraging and telling that so many of the kids I discipled are the ones I see the most fruit in. It has been demostrated in several studies that the #1 common denominator in children who stay committed to their Christian faith as adults are those who had an adult, other than a parent, show an interest in their spiritual development as a young person. So it doesn’t surprise me that the kids I discipled are doing so well now that they are no longer kids.

But I also see the most fruit from those Jesus discipled. Perhaps He was on to something.

Like Jesus, we must minister to the masses - but don’t miss out on the power of focusing on individuals while you’re at it. If you aren’t focusing on any individual kids, you are robing yourself of some of the most fulfilling experiences in ministry, and you are robbing those kids of a great advantage in their spiritual journey.

HOW DO YOU INVEST IN KIDS?

1. The most important thing you can invest is your TIME! Talking to kids one on one is critical. They will remember those conversations for years - and especially when they are struggling as teenagers. Take kids out to eat and on outings and talk about spiritual things. The common thought that just hanging out is enough is wrong. You don’t need to preach at them, but talk about things that matter.
2. Write kids letters where you give advice, share what you see in them you admire. Complilment them, describe your hopes for their future with gentle encouragement to keep walking with the Lord.
3. Invest in resources for the kids you are discipling or focusing on. When you get a discipling book to go through, like Awesome Adventure, you are communicating their value to you. (My wife and I wrote Awesome Adventure for discipling kids and used it our ‘home made’ version for years before DiscipleLand published it and made it the attractive tool it is now.)
4. You can also buy kids a helpful Bible. “Kids Bibles” are great, but it may surprise you that the Bible I have bought for most of the kids I disciple is a Thomas Chain Reference Bible. When I recieved mine from my dad I was told it was “for adults” but that he could tell I was ready for a serious Bible. It inspirted me to get serious about studying the Bible, not just reading it. When you give a child a study Bible you honor them as well as equip them.
5. Invest in kids in little ways - treating them out to eat. Getting them little gifts to reward them along the way. (I am not talking about bribes, I’m referring to gifts when they do a good job, there is a difference!) Showing you care by investing in their life communicates more than you can imagine. I bought a kid a new basketball, a new jacket, or a toy they collected. Spending my money to say “I love you” and “I know your world” is money well spent.
6. You can also in vest in kids by helping them in other areas of struggle besides just the “spiritual” because all of life is spiritual! I have a study system I learned in college that can take any struggling student and turn them into a successful student in one quarter. I have helped so many student first with their school work and then with their walk with God.

Consider the kids in your life who need some focused attention, and ask yourself, “How can I invest in this child?” God will give you the answer. Your job, then, is to put your money, your time, or your effort where His heart is.

The results will become the highlight of your ministry.

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This is part 4 in a 12 part Series on D.I.S.C.I.P.L.E.S.H.I.P. - Twelve Tips to help you become a more effective discipler of children.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

The purpose of discipleship is not to merely pass on spiritual or biblical information. It is to guide and stimulate spiritual GROWTH in those you disciple. What you know is not as important as what you do, and what you do is not as important as who you are. As a discipler, one of the most critical aspects of your job is to challenge your disciplee to the next level in their walk with Christ.

And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. - 1 Thessalonians 5:14

You are not asking them to be a Super Christian, or to be perfect - but you are challenging them to move ahead, to progress from where they currently are. How do you do that?

The first key is knowing where they are currently and then challenge them to move to the next realistic level. How often do they read their Bible, honestly? If it is once or twice a week - encouraging daily devotions may be the worst thing you can do. It may lead to a sense of failure or discouragement. But if you can encourage them to one extra day a week than they are currently doing, you have progress. Offer to use a phone call, email or text message to remind them. And let them hold you accountable too!

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. - 2 Timothy 4:2

If they have not memorized much scripture, some I’ve already stated is critical, then work on something together. A psalm perhaps. If they have memorized a lot, then challenge them to memorize a book! I would have never memorized the book of James if my discipler hadn’t said, “I think you are ready to discover the power of memorizing an entire book.” So I did, and have led many others in memorizing books since then.

What about witnessing? We all know we should be witnessing to the lost - it’s tough! So we need to be challenged. Ask who their unsaved friends are. Help them think of ways to witness, starting with little ways. Encourage some cold turkey witnessing to strangers. I know that had a profound impact on me early in my Christian walk.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. - Proverbs 27:17

There are many aspects to the Christian faith. Whatever your lesson is on - make it personal. Get out of the theory and into real life. Ask them to tell you how they are REALLY doing in that area. If it is sensitive, then ask them to write it privately and seal it in an envelop. Then challge them to think of somethin they need to do or change to see improvement. Have them open the envelope in a month or year and see how things have improved.

One of the things I like to do with the guys I am in a discipling relationship with, or more often, a mutual accountability relationship with, is to ask the guys how they are doing with the Three W’s:

• Walk - their walk with God
• Wife - their marriage and family
• Work - their job and/or ministry

We give each other a number from 1 to 10, one being terrible and ten being perfect. As you might guess, no one ever gives a ten! This enables us to be honest without giving any personal or private info, though as we explain our “3″ or “6.5″ often we find ourselves willing and able to share what is going on in our walk, with our wife, or in our work and how it is impacting our life.

With kids, you can ask the same 1-10 question at a child’s level. How is your relationship with your parents? Your friends? How’s it going at school?

BUT HERE IS THE KEY: You have to ask, “What would it take to see that number go up?” Press for specific action steps they could take to see improvement. Things they can do, not things they hope will change. Then follow up to encourage them to succeed and to celebrate improvements and success.

It is a fact of our nature that we don’t improve unless we are challenged and then held accountable. The good news you can provide that critical help to those you disciple and even those you just care about.

So don’t just teach, become an encouager, in fact, a challenger. God will use you to help others in your life go to the Next Level in their spiritual journey.

…But let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:25

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This is part 3 in a 12 part Series on D.I.S.C.I.P.L.E.S.H.I.P. - Twelve Tips to help you become a more effective discipler of children.

Scripture Memory is out of style these days. Perhaps it is because its hard and we are a culture that likes everything easy. Maybe we are just too busy to memorize. Some even try to discard it as rote repitition that is considered less effective than comprehension and perhaps even harmful. Many today contend that scripture memory is not effective because it doesn’t encourage thinking and therefore doesn’t impact the heart.

I agree! I agree that if ALL we did was rote memory, we’d be bad off! But to dismiss scripture memory on the basis that if ALL we did was rote memory is to push a beneficial spiritual discipline to its extreme and then reject it as though the extreme is all it offers.

Let me suggest three reasons I believe Scripture Memory is essential to discipleship:

1) Let’s start with the biblical basis of scripture memory. (source)

• Jesus knew the word of God and was able to drive away Satan when tempted. MT 4:1-11
• King David clearly saw that knowing the word of God was the key to purity. PS 119:9-11
• Paul says that the word is a sword in your amour against the devil’s schemes. EP 6:13-18
• God’s word in your heart keeps your feet from slipping. Ps 37:28-31

Scripture is FILLED with the benefits of God’s Word and value of knowing it deeply. Did you know that in the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119, every single one of the 176 verses is about God’s Word? That ought to tell us something!

2) I can also offer personal experience. As a child, I memorized a LOT of scripture. Did I understand it all? Of course not. But it gave to such a broad and rich understanding of scripture that deepened as I got older. I have memorized hundreds of verses, many chapters and two books of the Bible and can personally attest to the way God uses that knowledge to help me walk with Him, understand His Word, prepare to teach, witness and just know how to think and reflect on God. It impacts my prayers constantly. I can’t tell you how many times when praying the Word of God just flows and helps me express my love for God and awe at who He is.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

I Chronicles 29:11

3) Lastly, I’d like to offer an explanation that I often use when people are critical of scripture memory or try to explain it away as a waste of time, or as something only for children, or even pointless for kids. I call it “The Alphabet Argument.”

I have a two year old son who is learning the alphabet. He is learning to recognize and say the letters of the alphabet. Do they have much meaning to him? No. Does he truly understand what they are and how they are to be used? Of course not. Should I not have him memorize the letters until he can truly appreciate them, understand them, and use them properly? Absolutely not! I would actually stunt his mental growth and handicap his future use of the English language and hinder his ability to creatively express himself in our language. So he learned meaningless LETTERS for now. But soon that knowledge will help him recognize and use WORDS. Those words, before I know it, will enable him to read SENTENCES and then (and I can’t wait!) he will be able to CREATE HIS OWN stories.

QUESTION: If I asked you to close your eyes and tell me the LETTERS I have been using, could you? No. You are not reading “letters.” You aren’t even reading “words” or “sentences.” You are reading THOUGHTS and the sentences, words and letters are just the vehicle to communicate them to you.

The SAME is true of God’s Word!

God’s Word is alive and active! (recognize the verse?) God’s word is not the sum of sentences, words or letters - it is the Power of God! But it is communicated via words.

You see? When kids (or adults!) memorize scripture - they are getting the “spiritual alphabet” by which they will form broader spiritual thoughts and ideas. If I only taught my little boy half of the alphabet - imagine the impact it would have on him? He needs all the letters! Imagine the impact when you only know a little of the Bible from memory? You are limited and will be spiritually frustrated just as my little boy would be if he didn’t first learn the alphabet.

All this to say - you do your disciples a disservice if you don’t lead them and encourage them to memorize scripture. Should it all be rote memory? Of course not. Try to explain and help them understand, but ultimately the Holy Spirit will do that, and a lot better than you ever could.

Scripture memory ought to be a regular part of your spiritual journey and a vital part of your discipling process. Years later these kids will be thankful to you, just as I am to Helen Reed, Margret Bramble, Charlie Hann and the other adults in my childhood who challenged and encouraged me to memorize God’s Word!

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This is part 2 in a 12 part Series on D.I.S.C.I.P.L.E.S.H.I.P. - Twelve Tips to help you become a more effective discipler of children.

D = Identify Potential Disciples

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4:19

Have you ever invited someone to be discipled? If you truly want to be a discipler, you must understand that discipleship is not something that happens by accident. Your disciples are not hidden throughout the kids you minister to, they are children you can name. Yes, a true discipler can name their disciples. They have intentionally chosen to disciple someone as a follower of Christ.

The way I discovered this is almost embarrassing.

To explain I have to back up a bit - all the way to high school. (OK, maybe more than just a bit!) But on a Sunday evening in high school I heard a missionary preach who, unbeknownst  to me at the time, would one day be my father-in-law! But during his slide show I saw a picture of his daughter and was inspired to write her an encouraging letter. She was encouraged, and encouraged me by her letter back. Soon we were “pen pals” until I became so encouraged I desired to come meet her in person!

Upon graduation from high school, and after writing back and forth with this “MK” for two years I asked her father, via mail, if I could come to the Philippines during the summer for a mission trip. Perhaps he saw through my ulterior motive, but at any rate, he asked me to get a year of Bible college first. I figured this was better than working for him for seven years and getting her sister. So I agreed.

A year later, never wavering in my quest to come to the Philippines and meet my pen-pal, I wrote him again and since I met his requirement, he allowed me to come.

So what does this romantic love story have to do with Discipleship? I thought you’d never ask!

I’d been there only a few days when I had my first meeting with my supervising pastor. (My pen-pals dad, who, by the way, is over six feet tall) Perhaps he was just challenging me, or testing me, or starting my eight weeks tough as “missionary training” but he asked me:

“So, you’ve been here nearly a week, how many young men are you discipling?”

I was stunned and confused. But, of course, I couldn’t admit it, not to the man whose daughter I had a growing affection for, so I stuttered and answered, “Well, none yet, but I hope to soon.” He answered, “Good, by next week I’d like you to be discipling at least three young men.” I agreed. Except I had no idea what he was talking about!

Here I was, a pastor’s son, and a student at one of the leading Bible colleges in the world, but when asked if I was discipling I was at a loss! So I ran to my “girlfriend” (though not officially so yet) and said, “Your dad wants me to be discipling three boys by next week! What do I do?” She was no help. She simply answered, “Well, just do it.” Again, I couldn’t admit that I had no idea what they were talking about! How did I tell this girl I was hoping to woo that I didn’t knowing what “discipleship” meant?

I was stuck. Discipleship was a word I heard and used a lot, but when confronted with being asked to actually do it I was stumped.

Well, while perhaps not the most noble of motivations, my desire to impress both a girl and her dad gave me the courage to walk up to a pair of young men after a mid-week service and blurt out the words, “Would you like to be discipled?” I was scared they would ask me what I meant! But instead, they simply said “Yes!” Then they led me to the bookstore at the back of the sanctuary and asked me to help them choose a study book to go through. (Another time I will write about the “How To Grow” book that church used that Awesome Adventure was actualy developed from as a kids version.) Next they asked me when would be a good time to meet. (They were unknowingly teaching me how to be a discipler!)

Soon we were meeting regularly, and once I was with them and reading the Bible and discussing, I was fine! My years of experience as a Christian and my knowledge as Bible student made the job easy - all I was missing was the intentionality. I had all the experience and knowledge I needed to be a discipler, but I had never actually put it to work in another individuals life!

There are many Christians who are ready to be disciplers who never take that step to become one by simply asking someone if they would like to be discipled.

How do you choose kids to disciple? I like to say, “look to the edges of spiritual development.”

On one end are kids who you aren’t sure are genuinely followers of Christ yet, or at best are “saved” but not really that active or enthusiastic about their faith. By discipling them YOU could make the difference on whether they go through life as merely a Chrisian or a devoted follower of Christ!

On the other end are the kids who seem to have everything going for them spiritually. They come from strong Christian homes and may even have parents in the ministry. (Yes! Disciple PK’s!!) They actually are key disciples because they need what they are hearing in the home to be confirmed and validated outside the home. Just because dad is the pastor doesn’t mean they will be on-fire for God. In fact, as you may know, often the opposite is true because it is either expected of them, or because they see their dad’s human and failing side, they can have doubts. You can be an intramental part of firming up and strengthening an already strong foundation.

But also look for kids in tough situations. Kids in a single-parent home. Kids who are ill, or have some other family challenges. I’ve discipled kids whose parents were going through a divorce, or who had a parent dying of cancer. Or who is getting in trouble at school. Discipling allows you to meet with them with another reason - but the issues they are facing will come up, but in a safer more comfortable way than saying, “lets go out and talk about your mom’s cancer” or “lets talk about your parents divorce.”

Discipleship allows you to focus on the basics of the Christian life and allows the child to bring up the other issues in their life as they feel comfortable and as they relate to the topics of prayer, trust, obedience, etc.

SO NOW WHAT?

Prayerfully try to identify a child you could disciple. Is there a child you know that is going through a hard time? That shows great potential for God? Who seems to lack serious interest in their faith? Who you would like to have an impact on?

I promise you - if you pray and ask God to show you a child He would like you to disciple, that is a prayer request HE WILL ANSWER! Then you have to take that next step - asking the parents and then the child, if you can disciple them.

You will feel weird and awkward and silly, but please know - that is spiritual warfare! No parent has ever told me “no” and no chid has ever not enjoyed getting together and talking about the Bible, God and their faith.

So what are you waiting for? Who are YOU going to disciple?

Let me warn you - discipling children will become the most rewarding part of your ministry and will have the longest lasting results. It worked for Jesus, it will work for you too!

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This is part 1 in a 12 part Series on D.I.S.C.I.P.L.E.S.H.I.P. - Twelve Tips to help you become a more effective discipler of children.

D = Develop a Relationship

“And He walks with me and He talks with me;
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there;
None other has ever known.”

Every notice that Jesus’ primary method of discipleship was based upon relationships? Jesus didn’t establish schools, write curriculum, or host seminars. While He certainly did teach the masses - he discipled in relationship with those who were close to Him, and it was THOSE disciples who turned the world upside down after He left them.

As I look back over some fifteen plus years of professional children’s ministry and many more years of just life ministry, it is those I discipled relationally who I see producing the greatest fruit. They are ones in Bible college, becoming missionaries, and going into ministry. While I am NOT assuming any credit for their godly choices, I am saying that being discipled prayed a part in their spiritual formation.

If you want to be a discipler of children, it is no secret that I recommend DiscipleLand if you are a church leader and would be delighted if you used Awesome Adventure as a tool for one on one studies, but the first thing you need is NOT curriculum - it is to build some relationships with kids that are deeper than the educational or “fun” level.

It may just be that some of your best disciples you never formally “discipled” through printed lessons - you just walked with them and became a part of their spiritual journey.

Whether you lead an entire children’s ministry with hundreds of children or teach a small class or volunteer in a club with a small group - pray through your kids and ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU A CHILD YOU CAN HAVE A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH. And become their friend, not just their leader or teacher.

Jesus is my Master, my Lord, my Redeemer, my Savior, my Creator and my Guide, but best of all He is my Friend - and it is that relationship that spurs on my spiritual growth. Yoy may be many things to the kids in your ministry, but when you become their friend, you begin to truly impact their spiritual walk.

What does a friendship with a child look like?

• You know their name
• You know about their family
• You have some common interests
• You pray for them
• You look for them
• You ask them relational questions
• You get together with them
• You remember their important dates
• You love them unconditionally

Take some time and think through the kids God has brought into your life - is there one or two that you could pour your life in to? A few you could become a friend to? That you could disciple intentionally? The impact on their life is indescribable!

GO FOR IT! What are you waiting for?

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