The Value of Children's Ministry

Charles Spurgeon, the great English preacher, once said,
"It is assuredly a noble part of benevolence to deliver the gospel to the sons of men;
and, if possible, this benevolence is of a still higher kind when you deliver the truth
of God to children,
for as prevention is better than a cure, so is it better to prevent a
life of vice than to rescue from it; and as the earlier a soul has light the shorter is its
night of darkness, so the earlier in life salvation comes to the heart the better, and
greater is the benediction."
When we do children's ministry we are in the privileged and responsible position to deliver the gospel and see children saved from the beginning of their life. It is also implied that we must make sure we do call children to repentance and faith in the gospel. We must make it very clear to them that they need to respond, and also set out how they are to respond. Throughout the course of the time they are with us, we should prayerfully plan particular times when we do this, as well as always being ready to do so, should the conversation or opportunity arise. We can fit it in with our stories, especially when we focus on Jesus, or tell stories of faith. We can explain the need to repent when we teach about God's law or the Christian life. A simple prayer of faith they can repeat after us, is a good way to lead them. Inviting them express their decision by telling you, or the other children, is a wonderful way of confirming it. It will always be done in ways appropriate to their age, and never with compulsion, although we can be urgent.
Spurgeon also said, "Capacity for believing lies more in the child than in the man."
Our privilege, by God's grace is to make the most of it.
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