Children's Ministry

Pastor Mark Conner shared this about children's ministry on his blog

"This week I spoke to 800 children's ministry leaders at the Kidshaper Conference in Melbourne. What a buzz! I so appreciate those who minister to children in our local churches. Children's ministry is so vital.

Consider the research:
85% of those who become Christians do so before the age of 15.
Only 1 in 10,000 people come to Christ after the age of 30.
Only 1 in 750,000 come to Christ after the age of 75.

Obviously, no one is unreachable but there is no doubt that people are more open and tender during the early stages of their life.

Missiologists refer to the '10/40 window', that section of our planet where the most unreached people live. We could also refer to the '5/13 window', the ages when people are most receptive to the gospel . Almost 50% of the world's 6 billion+ population are in that window right now. What a mission field we have right here in our local communities.

Well-known evangelist, D.L. Moody was once asked how his evangelistic meeting went. He was reported to have said, "Two and a half people came to Christ tonight." He was asked, "Do you mean two adults and one child?" "No", he replied. "Two children and one adult. The adult's life is half over while the children have their entire life ahead of them."

What a perspective!

Children's ministry is important - to the children, to the family and to the church. I have observed that any healthy growing church is doing children and youth ministry well. Any declining church is usually not.Let's join together to reach out to all generations but especially to the children. After all, Jesus himself loves children and said, "Let the children come!" He also commissioned the Apostle Peter to "feed my ... lambs" ... not just the "sheep".

Our priorities for ministering to children should be: leading them into a relationship with Jesus Christ, helping them discover their purpose in life, and teaching them God's principles for living life to the full.Hug a kid today!"