Over the last few years, God has given me several opportunities to minister to various churches on the subject of "Developing Your Vision for Children's Ministry". One of the frustrations we who have worked as Children's Pastors and Children’s Ministers have is that many times parents get all excited about the "vision" we have to minister to their children, but they have no vision to minister to their own children. In all honesty I believe it not only hinders your children's spiritual growth, it hinders the parent’s spiritual growth as well.
!! "Where there is no vision, the people perish..."
Proverbs 29:18
We've all heard Proverbs 29:18 taught in every kind of way. We've heard it in the context of: We have a building fund that we need to raise money for. We've heard it in the context of: getting a vision for missions, or in the context of: getting the vision of the church (usually the church that we're in), and possibly some of you have heard it in the context of: getting a vision for children's ministry, but I'm going to say something to you that might seem kind of bold: When you read this verse and the verses just prior to it, you will see that it this verse was meant for child training.
Look at Proverbs 29:15-18 you'll see that the proper context of this passage of scripture is child related. Proverbs 29:15-18:
"The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bring
his mother to shame. When the wicked are multiplied, transgression
increase: but the righteous shall see their fall. Correct thy son, and
he shall give thee rest; yes, he shall give delight unto thy soul. Where
there is no vision, the people perish...".
While talking about this with a friend of mine who is the Children's Pastor at a
large local church. He was telling me that the word "vision" referred to guidelines, direction, laying out a definite plan. As he told me that, I thought, “I know that, but I hadn't really thought of it in those words.”
We are supposed to be the body of Christ, the body that carries God's power to the lost and dieing world. If we don't have a set of guidelines, a specific direction, or a definite plan we will raise a generation of spiritual underachievers. As parents we must do everything possible to prepare our children not just to be "good people" with good morals and high ethical standards, we must prepare them to walk with God in submission to Him as Father after they have left of house. If we fail to have a vision as we train our children, then our children are left to find their own way. This would seriously hinder the development of character, emotional and spiritual growth. leaving them emotionally and spiritually bankrupt. As a parent you can guarantee your child’s spiritual success or failure (Proverbs 22:6). Train them to spend time getting to know the voice of the spirit of God, so that they can spend their life in fellowship with God... I imagine some of you saying to yourselves right now, "I don't buy that, my parents never trained me spiritually". That's where the grace of God comes is sufficient. Maybe your parents were spiritually ignorant, but your not!. I'll be even bolder; one of the main reasons many people die and go to hell is greatly because of a lack of spiritual vision on the part of the parents.
What led me into the children's ministry was that God allowed me to see a hole in the children's ministry of our church. There was a hole from age 5 to age 13 that except for V.B.S., and Easter cantatas wasn't being met. It's sad to say that it, but that "whole" exists in many homes as well as churches. I'm going to say some things to you that you've heard me say before.
It has been said that by age five we have learned 75% of everything we will ever learn. Now, that to me is absolutely mind boggling. They call it the "formative years" and I think that if you take the time to think about it, you'd agree with me that to call them the formative years is a gross understatement. I don't think that we take the time to think about just how much information is being absorbed into the heart and mind of a child during those years. If you are not laying the spiritual, emotional, and ethical foundation during these years there could be a problem in the future. Of course you can't stop after age 5 because there is still 25% that they will learn from age 6 to the time they leave this
earth.
Billy Graham's ministry did a survey in which they determined that 87% of all salvation decisions are made by age 18. Between 18 and 21 another 6% make that decision. After age 21 only 7% will ever make the decision to serve our Lord Jesus. God's Word says that if you hide the Word of God in their heart while they are children they will never be able to get away from it. In fact God promises you your children.
I'm telling you revival in the church usually starts in the children/youth. It did in Florida, it has throughout the world; it starts in the children. Do you know why? Because they are not as well trained in doubt and unbelief as we are. They don't know how to believe that the Word of God is anything but totally, absolutely true. If you as parents tell them, this Bible is the Word of God, and it's the truth, then they say well Mom and Dad said it, so it must be true. So, if you don't tell them, who knows what they'll believe.
I believe Godly on fire children will be a major tool that God will use to bring in the prophetic "last days harvest". John 4:35 says:
"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest?
Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields;
for they are white already to harvest."
The children are ready to be harvested. It doesn't matter the age of the child. I was saved when I was five years old at Vacation Bible School. The time is NOW! Not next week or next year, the time is now!!
I once asked a group of 150 children in an affluent school district “Raise your hand if your parents sit down and do devotions with you on a regular basis. It can be once a week, once a month, even every other month, but you know mom and dad are going to teach you from God’s word.” To my surprise only one child raised his hand that his parents did devotions with him on a regular basis.
When you get a flu shot, the doctors actually give you a small dose of the flu to inoculate you. When you are inconsistent in teaching God’s word to your children that’s what your doing: inoculating them. We don’t want the inculcated: we want them infected.
Be consistent in teaching the word, in helping them develop a relationship with Jesus for themselves. Be consistent with your own relationship with Jesus. One thing is certain: They are watching you! Wouldn’t it be great if you could say to your child, “If you want to have a great relationship with Jesus, do what I do?” You take a child who not only was taught about God’s vision for their life, but CAUGHT it from their parents…The result will be a truly Godly child.
