Boys Need Adventure

It’s New Years Day and I am staying at my Mom’s house in Baden, Pennsylvania. It is the house where I grew up located about twenty miles outside of Pittsburgh. Urban sprawl never made it here since the steel mills closed in the early 80’s. Woods and hills surround the communities. I needed some exercise after over indulging in good western PA Christmas “eatin”. I decided to head toward the woods instead of the normal walk around the old neighborhood. As I started down the old logging road through the grown up cow pasture memories of boyhood adventures flooded my mind. Memories of sled riding down the old pasture hills. Slip sliding down the icy creek. Remembering that same small creek as we would build rock and mud dams to make it waist deep for summer swimming. I thought of my first rabbit hunt in those woods. I climbed the oak hills to the place where I would go after school in the fall and wait for the squirrels to come out. I thought of all the deer that I missed (I loved deer hunting but I was a terrible shot) while I also remembered all the deer my cousin did not miss. We would spend mornings until dark in those woods. Sometimes we even spent nights camping there. Volumes of books could be written of the adventures we created in those wooded hills and creeks.
My thoughts shifted to a deep contrast as I just left the house where two of my grand-nephews spent the night at my mom’s with us. They brought along their XBox and I spent time with them on high tech adventures shooting enemies as we wiped them out from one level to the next. I wondered how many boys never get the chance or never take advantage of the chance to climb the wooded hills to build real life adventures. Boys need adventure. Unfortunately most of their adventures are artificially simulated on computers and machines filled with violence.
We played army in the same woods in which we had to mimic the sounds of rattling machine guns. If we heard “I got you!” we would roll down a hill only to revive quickly to shoot back. Unless we scraped a knee there was no blood involved. The video games today are getting more graphic and violent with every new release. I worry and I pray. I am not against responsible ownership of guns. I think every boy should get a chance to get on a rifle range or a monitored hunt to shoot a real gun and feel it power and see the damage it can cause. The first time I shot a twelve gauge shotgun it knocked me down and that gave a respect for firearms. Busy lives and fatherless homes are presenting less and less opportunities for boys. Boys need adventure.
I have three daughters so I never got the opportunity to take my kids hunting or on such adventures. My cousin, Jerry, raised two boys and spent many hours beside them as they learned to shoot and hunt. He often shares stories of the teachable moments that present themselves during their adventures. Much of his boys character were shaped during these times. They have grown up to be great young men of great character. I believe the adventures shared with their father helped to shape and mold them. Boys need adventure.
I am a children’s pastor who has spent most of the last twenty-five years ministering to children from all walks of life. I have met many young boys who never got to experience such adventures. I am not talking just about shooting a gun, but also taking a hike, swimming in a creek, or catching a fish. Most of the time is because of an absentee father. I am praying to extend our ministry this year to create opportunities for boys to experience outdoor adventures. I hope to tie these opportunities to Godly character building moments. Pray for us as we begin this new endeavor. Boys need adventures.

It Doesn't Take Much

During the 1990's I visited five times and ministered at the Mendies Haven Children's Home in Nepal. The home was founded by "Mummy" Elizabeth Mendies. Mummy was an awesome woman of God from Canada. She went on to be with Jesus this past fall at ninety years old. She took in children for over forty years and raised hundreds of children during that time. The home is still operating and you can visit the website at www.mendieshaven.org.

Twenty-two wonderful children were being raised at the home during our visits. The children had devotion time every morning and evening. We would join them during our visits and teach the children fun songs about Jesus. They loved the songs! We also taught Bible stories in our usual fun and relevant ways. It did not seem like much at the time, but it was fun and the children were loving.

This past Saturday I was able to get with two of the boys from the home, Rajaram and Krisna, in Washington D.C. They were brought to the States to visit supporters of the home, complete internships with Christian politicians and learn leadership skills to take back to Nepal. The boys were now young men at twenty-five and twenty-four years old. It was so awesome to be with them again and hear about their lives and the lives of the other children from the home. I was overjoyed to hear that twenty of the children were now serving the Lord. The other two they were not sure of as they had lost touch with them.

Rajaram and Krisna sang all the songs that we had taught them. I was amazed that they remembered them! They excitedly shared that the reason they were Christians and walking with Jesus today is because of our devotion times with them. They shared how many people visited but we were some of the only ones that spent the time sharing Jesus with them in ways kids like to learn.

I was overwhelmed with emotion. I told the boys that I was so happy to have a small part in where they were. They objected and said "No Ka Ka B (Uncle B, my title in Nepal), It is because of you and the teams that you brought that helped us follow Jesus!"

I continually pray for lasting fruit from our ministry. I look back and it really did not take much to impact twenty-two of most wonderful kids I ever met!

Just Be Ben

I love this quote from James Farrior when asked what were you thinking after Larry Fitzgerald scored the touchdown as the Cardinals took the lead? "All I was thinking was, "Just be Ben". James Farrior's hope was that if Ben Roethlisberger just did what he had done all year, if he just played his game, if he would just "Be Ben" the Steelers would win their sixth superbowl.

Only a born and raised "Younzer" who grew up with watching Franco Harris, Terry Bradshaw and Lynn Swann could relate this to Jesus, so here goes!

I believe we are in the fourth quarter in the reality of life. The game is almost over and it appears the other team is winning. My hope and my faith is that when all is said and done, we win!!! All I am thinking as the clock ticks down is "Just Be Jesus!"

Missional Churches (Part Two)

What does it mean to be a church in this time? Are we the "come to" model or are we crossing over and becoming churches that are missional, relational and incarnational? I believe to be effective in the coming days the church has to be actively engaged in the life of its communities and neighborhoods. To be "incarnational" we have to declare to our neighborhoods that we are here for you. Our values have to stay shaped by the Gospel but we have to come out of our walls and let God work through us in our communities. This is not going to be easy for the church who for the last decade has developed programs and attractions to bring them in. Not that this was wrong, it was what it needed to be for the season we were in. But it is a new day, we have crossed over. The past season had it's successes and people came to Christ and the Church grew. We also learned how to make the Gospel relevant to our changing cultures. But in this current day we must see our neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces as places for us to bring an incarnational presence, Bringing Jesus into our everyday lives.

My reflections are being influenced by a book called "Borderland Churches' by Gary Nelson. I highly recommend the book especially to pastors and leaders of churches.

We 'Crossed Over" Today

There is a Hebrew word in the Old Testament of the Bible, 'abar'. The word means to crossover, or to go across and not be able to go back. The first time it is used is when Joshua and the children of Israel stand of the bank of the swollen Jordan River. The have been wondering through the wilderness for forty years under Moses' leadership. Moses is gone and Joshua is appointed to lead Israel to 'abar' the Jordan River and enter into the Promised land. Once they cross there is no going back. It is unfamiliar. It is unknown. The only thing they can rely on is that God goes on before them.

Today, we have had an 'abar' experience thrust upon us. We have crossed over and we cannot go back. The path in front of us is not clear. Some believe it is the Promise Land. Others believer we are heading into a wilderness experience. The comforting thought to me is that God goes before us and is with us. Faith is required at every 'abar' in our lives.

Inauguration And The Need For A Father

With the inauguration happening tomorrow I am hoping with the rest of the country that President Elect Obama will be what he said he will be for our nation. My greatest hope is that he will remain to be the good father that he showed forth during the campaign. There has been a war against families for decades now, more specifically fathers. My prayer for President Elect Obama is that the pressures of leading the greatest nation on earth will not distract him from who he needs to be as a dad and husband.

The lack of fathers in our inner city neighborhoods is overwhelming. I ministered to over 200 children in an inner city in Hampton, Virginia. We visited the children in their homes extensively. It was a shock when I realized that only two fathers were present in the homes amongst all those children! John Elderedge writes in his book "Wild at Heart", "Every boy in his journey to become a man, takes an arrow in his heart, in the place of his strength. Because the wound is rarely discussed and even more rarely healed, every man carries a wound. And the would is nearly always given by his father."

Multitudes of young men from urban and suburban streets of our cities and towns are walking wounded. They need an example of strong father. President Obama, please above all else speak to these walking wounded, give them a deep voice and a Godly example to follow. You are in my prayers.

Missional Churches

I am reading a book called "Borderland Churches" by Gary Nelson. It is confirming ideas and feelings that I have had about the Church (The worldwide Body of Christ) for some years now.

In the introduction the author says, "...it is impossible to be effective as the church without crossing boundaries of comfort, culture, and convenience." I believe those who have been ministering and laboring in inner city communities have learned this truth long before this recent awareness by churches seeking to be relevant in these changing times. It has been my observation that most people today are brought to faith in Jesus Christ through relationships nurtured outside the walls of the church. Seeking and developing these relationships require a commitment to cross those boundaries of comfort, culture and convenience.

It brings us back to what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2 Cor 5:20

"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God."

In these changing times we must come to that realization we are ambassadors in a time and place where people are asking questions and seeking answers. Every believer is being called to be a missionary to their world.

The January Fast

Every January since 1998 I fast. It started when I was on staff at a church and it was required of all pastoral staff to fast through January. My rebellious nature resisted being forced to fast but I was submissive, even though I fussed everyday. Three years later I left the staff position and January came. I looked back and reflected about the past three years of fasting January and started to really value the physical and spiritual benefits. I have kept the January fast ever since and most of my family have joined in.

We spent New Year and the first week of January with my daughter and her family in Oceanside, California. My son-in-law, Shannon Kapp, is a pastor and he is encouraging his church to fast for the first twenty-one days of January. Chandler, my ten year old grandson has voluntarily decided to fast lunch and video games! Lunch for any ten year old is a sacrifice, but video games!

A spiritual principle we live by is "Whatever you give up for Jesus, He always gives back something better." I have witnessed the incredible results in my life of this time set apart for God. I can not wait to see what happens to this incredible grandson of mine as he sets himself apart for those twenty-one days.

Bible Lessons, Telling His Stories (Part Two)

I have written a blog and have a sermon series on “Keys Ingredients to Successful Ministry.” The three keys are: 1. Keep it relevant. 2. Keep it relational. 3. Keep it reverent. I believe if we use these keys in telling and teaching the Bible stories to children we will keep their interest, challenge their behavior and minister to their soul.

Let’s start off with keeping it relevant. As you share the stories of the Bible, the children need to be able to visualize it. It helps to be somewhat dramatic in the presentation but the key is bringing the situations in the stories up to date with what the children will relate to. Apart from maybe Shaquille Oneal or other NBA centers, the children have never seen a giant. So now we have Goliath against little David. “Alright kids, who is the biggest person you ever saw?” Allow interaction as you teach. In urban settings most kids know who Shaq is. Other kids may give you answers like a football player, their dad, a neighborhood bully. “Now kids, imagine someone this much bigger than that person. (Your hands are stretched to another three feet) That is how big this giant Goliath was that David went out to fight.

So, David killed this giant with the Lord’s help. How does that relate to me, little kid in 2009 suburb of America? Explain to the children that we all have giants in our lives that we have fight with the Lord’s help. Have you ever fought the giant called, “Afraid of the dark?” How about the giant called “Bad Report Card”? All of us have things in our lives that we struggle or fight with, but if we trust Jesus to help us like David did we can overcome these giants.

Keys to keeping it relevant are: be dramatic, bring the stories up to date and relate them to situations that are current in the children’s lives.

Three Steps To Building His Kingdom In Your Community

1. Build A Door
2. Build A Relationship
3. Build A Life

We busy trying to do Jesus' Job, building His church.
Small thinking = Looking at our congregation, denomination as His Church.
If every indvidual Christian in every church would be about building His Kingdom, it would build the foundation that Jesus can build His Church upon. Upon this Rock I will build my church, The Rock is the revelation that Jesus is the messiah who came to build His kingdom, here on earth as it is in heaven.

Bible Lessons, Telling His Stories

When I get ready to teach a Bible lesson to children I interact with them in this way; "Is the Lion King true or not? Of course it is not! Have you ever seen a lion talk? Is Toy Story true or not? You're right! Most toys do not talk without batteries or pulling a string. How about the movie Iron man? Right again! These are just stories. They are fun to watch but they are not true. Today we are going to tell you a story that is absolutely true! It is from the Bible and the Bible is one hundred percent true all the time."

Media has become a huge part of how children learn. How many generations have grown up learning from Sesame Street? Puppets and Dramas are used worldwide to help us communicate the Bible stories. Many of our adults services are now driven by media. What happens when there is no technology available, your drama team slept in, the puppets were left at your last outreach, and the DVD player bit the dust? It is time to tell His stories!

Teaching Bible lessons by simply telling the stories is becoming lost in the variety of media options available. Most of us would cancel our Children's service if the above situation happened.

Oral communication has become buried in most of our everyday lives. Emails and text messages have become a huge form of communication, especially among young people. Most families have eliminated "dinner time", a place where communication happened and the stories were told. Through all of this we are losing the essential key to most cultures, oral communication. My children are grown now and we live spread out across the country. When we gather at holidays or other events they ask "Pap Pap" (that's me) to tell the grandkids my stories. I have lived an amazing and eventful life and I have a way of seeing humor in almost any situation. I have had many funny things happen to me that my family loves to hear me talk about. The Bible says laughter is medicine to the bones and my family is blessed to be very healthy. We laugh alot!
I have been ministering to children for twenty-some years. I have used every gadget, object lesson, drama, puppet skit, and video throughout the years to teach children the Bible. I still think all of it is necessary and helpful to illustrate the lessons, but these days I try to use the lost art of story telling to teach the main Bible lesson. In this series of blogs I will share some of my reflections, techniques, and styles that I use to tell His stories. Do not go recycle Jumble Jeffrey the puppet! Keep your drama costumes! Keep an open mind and perspective and let us learn again how tell the stories and once again become preachers to the children.

Ingredients To Successful Ministry Part Three

We are talking about the three ingredients for successful ministry. They are being relevant, being relational and being reverent. The last blog focused on the challenge of being relevant without compromising our being reverent. Can we ever be too reverent towards the Lord? Of course not! In our best effort to revere Him we come way short. So perhaps the third “R” in our three ingredients should be called “Religious”. Now let me ask you, can we be too religious? I would call being too religious being to “Churchy”. I remember in the zeal of first being saved I adopted a full blown Christianeze language (I am not speaking about tongues). “Praise the Lord this!” “Hallelujah to that!” “Glory to God!” The zeal of a new Christian is often refreshing to other Christians cheering them on as they pass from death to life, but to the unbelievers, the unchurched and unsaved it is like nails on a chalkboard. It usually does nothing to draw them in and often pushes them further away. I was and often still am very religious in my talk. These days I try to be aware of who I am conversing with and be careful not add too much of this ingredient of Religion. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel's sake…” I do not believe Paul is saying that he took on the ways and language of the world. I do believe He was saying that we should be aware of the lost folks around us and be careful not to push them away with our religion. In today’s world we will push them away with religion. They do not need religion; they need to know a relevant, relational and reverent Jesus.

Workers, Open Doors, Provision, Lasting Fruit

Five years ago we started Power Hour Sidewalk Sunday Schools in an inner city neighborhood called Lincoln Park in Hampton, Virginia. We believe the Lord told us to give Him five years in this community. We began a labor of love reaching the children. It expanded to a mentoring ministry for eleven to thirteen year olds. From there we were able touch the lives of the children's parents. We have ministered faithfully for those five years.

Pastor Mark Geppert (www.seapc.us)discipled and mentored us in our early years of ministry. Mark's main ministry focuses on prayer. He taught us a long time ago that when praying for ministries, cities and nations to focus the prayer in four areas. Those areas are workers, open doors, provision and lasting fruit.

On most Thursdays over the last five years I spent time on Buckroe Beach walking and praying for the Lincoln Park ministry. One fourth of that time I have asked the Lord of the harvest for laborers. I have cried out for workers to help our small group of volunteers who faithfully showed up to reach the children of Lincoln Park. The next quarter of my time on the beach was spent asking God for "Open Doors". We needed open doors in the community. We needed open doors in the hearts of the children and the adults. We asked for open doors with the local government and the housing authority. The next fourth of my prayer was for provision. Someone once said, "Salvation is free, the delivery system is expensive." Our popsicles and snacks cost $40 each week. We needed prizes, balloons, object lesson materials, and sound equipment. We never lacked in the provision for the Power Hour each week. The last fourth of my prayer time was spent asking God for lasting fruit in the lives of the children we ministered to. Some of those prayer journeys on the beach were with my wife, Debra, or ministry interns. Most of the time it was me and Jesus.

Debra and I attended a commissioning service for three churches who are taking over in Lincoln Park. I was approached about a month ago by the leader of this endeavor who asked what our future plans were in Lincoln Park. I informed him that we were finishing our work there but we were concerned about just concluding without a plan for the future ministry there. He shouted "Hallelujah!" as he informed me of the plans of these three churches. At the end of the service this evening, the pastor leading the service asked for all the workers who were going to be involved in the Lincoln Park ministry to come forward. Most of the people in the service proceeded forward for prayer. It looked like a hundred or more. Debra and I wept. In my mind I saw every step made on those prayer walks. I thought of how I cried out for workers! This was beyond what I was asking for or imagining.

Do not give up! God hears every prayer and He answers them above and beyond what we could ever ask of think.

The Shepherd

We were coming down the narrow trail in the Nepal mountains from elevations of twelve thousand feet. This was the fifth and last day of our trek. We were exhausted. My 17 year old daughter's feet were blistered terribly. We longed for a western meal. As tired as we were, the trip was worth it as we were able to distribute all of our Gospel literature and Bibles to unreached Nepalis who lived in villages high in the mountains.

For most of the trip down from the mountains, the trail was only wide enough for one person and a passing donkey as they carried supplies up and down the mountain. I was helping my daughter limp down the mountain as she anguished in pain. She moaned often but never complained. She had been attacked by a dog, chased by a water buffalo, and awakened at night by rats running across the rafters. She was a trooper but I was beginning to wonder how much more she could take.

The trail opened up to a green grassy area covered by a huge tree that gave much welcomed shade. We unloaded our backpacks and layed down in the midst of some feeding goats. Our Nepali friend and guide conversed with the young boy tending the goats. The young shepherd was fascinated with us and also concerned with the condition of my daughters feet. We were out of Gospel material and all of us Westerners were hoping that Ashok, our guide and friend, was sharing the Good News about Jesus with this young boy.

As they were sharing we noticed a small goat bent forward on it's front legs feeding on the grass. It ate as much grass as it could reach without moving its bent front legs. It seemed to want more but refused to move to get it.

Ashok finished his conversation and the young shepherd boy prepared to go on his way up the mountain trail. He strapped on his pouch and then moved toward the little goat. It was then that we realized that the little goat was crippled! It's front legs were permanently bent backward. The shepherd boy gently reached down and picked the goat up. He slung the little goat over his shoulder so the goat rode on the back of his neck being carred to the next place of rest and nourishment. Off they went up to higher elevations.

As we pushed our tired and sore bodies up to start again, my thoughts went immediately to the famous "Footprints" poem. None of us said anything but we knew the Lord spoke strength and encouragement to us through the little crippled goat. It gave us the strength and stamina to push on to finish the trek and go on to the comfort of the Mendies Haven Orphanage, where we were staying while on our mission to Nepal.

Perhaps you feel crippled by the pressures of life. Your soul's feet are blistered from the wonderings of the world. All mankind has been left crippled by the ravages of sin. Be encouraged today that there is a Good Shepherd who knows your pain. He is aware of your exhaustion and the pull to give up. If you let Him, He will carry you to your next place of refreshing and nourishment.

We were coming down the narrow trail in the Nepal mountains from elevations of twelve thousand feet. This was the fifth and last day of our trek. We were exhausted. My 16 year old daughter's feet were blistered terribly. We longed for a western meal. As tired as we were the trip was worth it as we were able to distribute all of our Gospel literature and bibles to unreached Nepalis who lived in the higher elevated villages.

For most of the trip down from the mountains the trail was only wide enough for one person and the a passing donkey as they carried supplies up and down the mountain. I was helping my daughter limp down the mountain as she anguished in pain. She moaned often but never complained. She had been attacked by a dog, chased by a water buffalo, and awakened at night by rats running across the rafters. She was a trooper but I was beginning to wonder how much more she could take.

The trail opened up to a green grassy area covered by a huge tree that gave welcome shade. We unloaded our backpacks and layed down in the midst of some feeding goats. Our Nepali friend and guide conversed with the young boy tending the goats. The young shepherd was fascinated with us and also concerned with the condition of my daughters feet. We were out of Gospel material and all of us westerners were hoping that Ashok, our guide and friend, was sharing the Good News about Jesus with this young boy.

As they were sharing we noticed a small goat bent forward on it's front legs feeding on the grass. It ate as much grass as it could reach without moving its bent front legs. It seemed to want more but refused to move to get it.

Ashok finished his conversation and the young shepherd boy prepared to go on his way up the mountain trail. He strapped on his pouch and then moved toward the little goat. It was then that we realized that the little goat was crippled! It's front legs were permanently bent backward. The shepherd boy gently reached down and picked the goat up. He slung the little goat over his should so the goat rode on the back of his neck. Off they went up to higher elevations.

As we pushed out tired and sore bodies up to start again, my thoughts went immediately to the famous "Footprints" poem. None of us said anything but we knew the Lord spoke strength and encouragement to us through the little crippled goat. It gave us the strength and stamina to push on to finish the trek and head to the comfort of the Mendies Haven Orphanage, where we were staying while on our mission to Nepal.

Perhaps you feel crippled by the pressures of life. Your soul's feet are blistered from the wonderings of the world. All mankind has been left crippled by the ravages of sin. Be encouraged today that there is a Good Shepherd who knows your pain. He is aware of your exhaustion and the pull to give up. If you let Him, He will carry you to your next place of refreshing.


"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:11-12

Ingredients To Successful Ministry Part Two

Almost all growing ministries are using media to illustrate their teaching and preaching. It is almost necessary in this media driven culture to communicate using videos, music, movie clips, etc. to convey our Biblical messages. Computers and video projection have become a vital part of our communication within the churches and ministries. It is part of being "relevant". Jesus was relevant to his hearers. He used seeds, harvest, and sowing to communicate to the agricultural culture of his listeners. He spoke of nets, fish, and spoke from boats to the fishing communities. The challenge is staying relevant without crossing the line of being irreverent. We must be careful that in our effort to be relevant we do not compromise our Christian values.

A number of years ago my family moved into a new area. We were church hunting. Many people were talking of a new church that was meeting in a local YMCA. It was the fastest growing church in an area that had an abundance of churches. We decided to give a try on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. As we drove in the parking lot we were warmly directed to a parking space by the parking ministry. We were greeted at the door with a strong handshake, a smile, and directions to the Starbucks coffee and donuts (Yea!!!). So far this church was doing great in the second "R", being relational. I was even allowed to take my precious Starbucks coffee into the sanctuary! Awesome! The service began without a prayer, Hmmm? An acoustical group came forth and opened with a song made popular at that time by the Dixie Chic’s, "Landslide". I have used secular songs and changed the words to convey a Christian message to reach kids. I heard that "Amazing Grace" was once a bar song and the writer changed the words. No words were changed in this song, but I thought that the pastor was going encourage us on how life's challenges can come land sliding down on us but Jesus can pull us out of the rubble. I was trying to stay open. The liturgy was not what I was accustomed to as I thought praise and worship was next, but the pastor followed up the song with an introduction to a video clip on the big screen. The clipped rolled and the popular characters from the show "Friends" came to the big screen. I am not too pious to say that I have not watched and enjoyed the show, but there were parts of the show that sometimes I got convicted for watching and enjoying. On this clip all the characters were sitting around a table trying to celebrate Thanksgiving. Someone had forgotten the turkey and they were sharing a grilled cheese sandwich, each making a comment as they passed it around. The last one to get the sandwich and make a comment was Chandler. His comment was "This s__cks!" The line of being relevant and reverent had been crossed for me. I half heartedly tried to stay open thinking, "I would not have used that clip but surely the pastor will redeem this as he used the clip to illustrate his message. He preached a good message about the memorial stones that Joshua pulled from the Jordan River. He never used the "Landslide" song or the video clip as part of the illustrations to his sermon. They were there just because they were relevant to the culture of that time. Did he cross the line? Was being reverent compromised to be relevant?

In my first blog I used the illustration of a cake recipe. Too many eggs and the cake is no good. Too much sugar and only we sugarholics will like it. We must always measure and evaluate our ministries. In our zeal to communicate relevantly we must be careful to not compromise our being reverent towards Jesus. I believe this is one of the greatest challenges to those called to teach and preach today. How far can we go to illustrate our messages before we compromise our Christian values? Please, preachers and teachers, do not stop in your efforts to relevantly communicate. I personally enjoy a good object lesson or video clip when you communicate. We need to just prayerfully evaluate our efforts and ask the Holy Spirit to help us communicate so we do not bring an offense to our Lord or others.

In my next blog I hope to reverse this thinking and see that we can be so reverent (religious) that we can become irrelevant.

Ingredients To Successful Ministry

There is an object lesson that I have done in children’s ministry to illustrate how God uses many things to develop our character. The object lesson uses a cake mix. Each separate ingredient i.e. eggs, flour, cocoa etc. is offered to a child to taste by itself. Of course the child cringes at even the thought of a raw egg by itself. The lesson goes on to show the kids that the ingredients mixed and measured appropriately turn out to be a delicious chocolate cake. I like to use this same illustration to illustrate the three necessary ingredients that make up successful ministry. Just as in any recipe these ingredients must be used in proper measure. I first received this from the Lord to teach in Singapore where they enjoy acrostics and the first letters of each ingredient begins with “R”. They are being Relevant, Relational and Reverent. I believe you can evaluate any ministry, personal or church, by understanding the balance of all three ingredients. Is my ministry or church relevant to the culture and the people we are called to reach? Are we relational? Do we embrace Christ and embrace others? Does our expression and communication honor (revere) Jesus?
I will continue with the “Three R’s” of ministry on future blogs

Leading A Child To Christ

Leading a child to Christ is the greatest thing you can do as a teacher, children’s pastor or most important a parent. Beyond all the gadgets, magic illusions, and puppets lies the real reason we do what we do. All of these are tools to help us bring the children to the point of decision of asking Jesus to come into their hearts. The younger we can reach the children for Jesus the better. A child has their whole life ahead of them to do as God wills and to live a life obedient to Jesus. I remember a young child and a dad responding to a salvation call from our pastor. When they approached the altar my pastor said, “Here comes one and one half lives to Jesus.” The congregation laughed as they assumed the pastor meant the child was the half of a life and the adult being the whole life. The pastor realizing the presumption of the congregation brought correction. He then said to the church, “You assumed the adult was the whole life but if you think about it, this man has lived half his life with only half left to live for Jesus. The child on the other hand has a full life that he can live walking with Jesus.”
You can never tell what the final outcome will be when you lead a child to Jesus Christ. That child could become a strong influence in your church, a future elder, deacon, or possibly even the senior pastor. That same child may influence their whole family to come to Christ.
This reminds me of my dear friend and co-worker in Singapore, Sammy Watt. Sammy is a Chinese born into a Buddhist home. His parents owned a shop that sold all the items needed to offer worship in the Chinese Buddhist Temples. (Actually Chinese Buddhism is a mix of Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucism, superstition and Black Magic) The store sold oil, incense sticks, fruit, and such that were designed to be offered in worship at the temple. Needless to say his family was staunch Buddhists.
When Sammy was ten years old a friend invited him to a Sunday School class at a church. Sammy went with his friend and continued to go every week. Through that class Sammy gave his heart to Jesus. Every Sunday morning Sammy would get up, get dressed and head off to Sunday School. His Buddhist mother would stand at the door and try to discourage little Sammy from going, but each week Sammy would be persistent and off he went.
I met Sammy when he was in his mid twenties. At this point none of his family members (four brothers and three sisters) had come to Christ. Sammy started to bring his nieces and nephews to the Kids church we were pastoring at the time. The parents, still being Buddhist, allowed them to come so we could “Baby Sit” them on Sunday mornings so they could have a morning alone having breakfast and shopping. The nieces and nephews gave their hearts to Jesus at the Kids Church. We had prepared a special presentation by the children to be performed in the adult church on Sunday.
Sammy invited his Buddhist mom to come see her grandchildren sing and perform and she accepted the invitation. The Saturday evening before we had a birthday party and Sammy was there. We talked about the next day when his mom would come to church. Sammy said to me, “Pastor Tim, if my mom ever comes to Christ it would be at least five years from now.” I responded out of my spirit and said, “Sammy, trust the Holy Spirit.”
The next day his mom came to church and at the end of the service our pastor gave a salvation call, and guess who responded? That’s right, Sammy’s mom! In a Chinese home, reaching the head of the family is a key. Sammy’s dad had died some years before so his mom was the head. We have watched as one by one Sammy’s brothers and sisters are convert to being Christians since his mother made that decision. All of his little nieces and nephews who performed that crucial Sunday morning are teenagers and serving in leadership in their churches.
Never underestimate what could happen when you lead a child to Jesus. The most important thing is that child will end up in heaven, but during their time on earth they could go on and change their world for Jesus.
One of my favorite movies is “It’s a Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart. Probably most of you have seen the movie and remember the beginning of the movie when George (Jimmy Stewart) and his younger brother were sled riding down a hill and onto a frozen lake. George’s brother slid too far onto the ice and hit a thin spot and fell in. George ends up rescuing his brother. The movie goes on to George’s adult life where he dreams of traveling someday. The family business prevents that from happening and a series of unfortunate events makes George cry out, “I wish I was never born!”
God answers his desire through an angel who grants George his wish and shows him his life without him ever being born. Nothing is the same. The next part of the movie impressed me. George was reading the newspaper headlines. The headlines read that a Navy ship was hit by a Kamikaze plane and sunk. George recognizes that this was his brother’s ship and when George was alive his brother shot down that Kamikaze plane, became a war hero and saved the ship. Since George was not alive he was not there to save his brother when he went through the ice. His brother drowned and then later on in life was not there to shoot down the plane. As a result the whole ship sunk and every sailor died.
The power of one life lived for Jesus! The child you lead to Christ today could be the next Billy Graham or lead their friend to Christ who is the next Billy Graham.
There are many opinions of when children are ready to receive Christ. It is said that ages eight years old to eleven years old are the easiest years. The true answer to that question is any age is the right age. If children are old enough to understand doing wrong, which is sin, then they are old enough to understand a Savior. One of the advantages and dangers of teaching children is that they are without suspicions. They will believe exactly what we tell them the Bible says. Children more naturally accept Christ because they have not been hurt or disillusioned by a sin filled world. They are still innocent. Their innocence is what the world and the devil is constantly trying to steal at a younger age all the time.
In my experience of ministering to children over the years, I have seen children respond to a salvation call many times throughout their childhood years. I once heard a young adult give testimony of when he came to Christ. He shared how at 4 years old he asked Jesus into his heart at Sunday School. Later on when he was nine years old he got saved again in Kids Church. At 12 years old at a youth group he responded to an altar call and received Jesus. Then at 15 years old he went to a youth camp and went down front to be born again and it stuck!
I have seen children’s workers discourage children responding when they have seen them respond at an earlier time. I believe it is healthy and exposes the openness of the child’s heart to spiritual things. We never need to question the validity of a child’s acceptance of Jesus. Our responsibility is to share the Gospel and present the opportunity to respond. The Holy Spirit has a unique ability to move on the children’s hearts. Only God knows the heart.
I will give some counseling guidelines (notice I said guidelines not rules) for leading children to Jesus in a church or Sunday School setting. As children’s ministers we have many opportunities to give the salvation call to a group of children and this is wonderful, but the best way to minister to a child is one on one or with a small group.
To reach a child’s heart for Jesus, present the Love of God. Romans 2:4 tells us that it is “the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” That goodness stems from His unconditional love for us. Children need to know that Jesus loves them very much. There is no need to scare the children or try to convince them to respond to Jesus by sharing sad stories. If presented sincerely and truthfully the children will respond naturally and without fear. God has put eternity in the hearts of every human being with no respect of age. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) The God-shaped hole that only Jesus can fill is in the heart of every boy and girl.
Choose words that are clear, simple, and without double meaning in your presentation. Avoid abstract terms and phrases. Avoid difficult or confusing words. Children take every word literally. When you tell them to ask Jesus into their hearts, they see Jesus living in their physical, beating heart. A child might not understand the word “sin” but they can understand doing things wrong like, stealing, lying, disobeying parents, cussing, etc. The Gospel is very simple and easy to understand, even for a child if presented simply.
When the Holy Spirit has prepared the way and you sense He wants you to offer a call to salvation for the children, have everyone bow their heads and close their eyes. Ask how many boys and girls have Jesus in their hearts or lives. Have them raise their hands. Start with the positive. Many children at this time will realize that they need Jesus. Reinforce how wonderful it is that so many have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Celebrate the decision these children have made and then tell them to lower their hands. After this ask how many children do not have Jesus in their hearts, but would like to have Him there. Have them raise their hands.
You now have three choices. (1) If you have enough workers, invite them to work personally with the children who respond. (2) If it is a large group, lead them in a prayer of acceptance and commitment while they are still in their seats. (3) Bring the children forward and minister to them with the other children witnessing.
If you have enough workers the best way to ensure a strong conversion is by working with the children on a one-on-one basis. Workers should be those who you know and are trained to work with the children. NEVER ALLOW A STRANGER TO MINISTER IN YOUR CLASS OR SERVICE. Take the children who respond to another area or room and minister to them.
In a large group situation you may ask for a salvation response and then lead the children who respond in a prayer of salvation while at their seats. Make sure you tell them to get with a pastor, Sunday school teacher, a "saved" parent, etc. and tell them of their new commitment to Christ.
The most traditional way is to have the children who respond to the salvation call come to the front while the other children witness. Build the children up who come forward, letting them know that this is the most important decision they have ever made. Have the children sitting, clap for the children who come up. Let them know that they were very courageous for coming up and Jesus is proud of them.
Now it is time to counsel the children and lead them in a prayer to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The first thing to remember is to take control. Do not allow the children to become unruly. Praise the children once again for their brave decision to come up to receive Jesus. Explain to the children that you will ask everyone a question: "Why did you come?" You are trying to make sure they know what they are doing. The question is: "Have you ever asked Jesus into your heart?" We explain that once Jesus has come into their heart, He will never leave them. Sometimes children are convicted by an act of disobedience. They need to know they just have to ask for forgiveness. If we have enough workers it would be good if we minister to them individually and make sure they ask for forgiveness of any sins and give them assurance of their salvation. As we said earlier, some children respond many times to a salvation call. The good thing is that they are responding and feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit.
It is time to explain to the children how we can accept Christ. There are some key points that we must try to make relevant to the children. (1) First they must realize that they have done wrong. ROMANS 3:23 Let them know that everyone including you, their parents, their pastor, their Sunday school teacher, etc. have sinned. Explain that sin anything we have done wrong, such as lying, cheating, cussing disobeying parents, hating, etc. Make sure they know ONLY JESUS NEVER SINNED. (2) They must realize that there is a punishment for doing wrong. ROMANS 6:23 Explain to them that true death is separation from God forever, Hell! Sometimes instead of frightening them with the threat of Hell is to give them the hope of heaven. I always explain to the children that there is a place called heaven that they will go to if they have Jesus in their hearts. I also explain that everyone will die. Someday when they get really, really, really old, they will die and go to heaven where Jesus is! (3) They must realize that Jesus took our punishment and He will forgive them of anything wrong they have ever done if they are sorry. The children need to know that they must want to change the bad stuff they were doing. (4) They must realize that if we invite Jesus into our lives, He truly comes in and is there forever and ever. Explain that they will probably sin again, but Jesus does not leave, they just need to ask Him for forgiveness when they sin again. I JOHN 1:9 These are the four essential truths that you must make relevant to the children.
After you have communicated to the children the Gospel truths you get the privilege of leading the children in a prayer. Include all of the above in the prayer. Make sure you use terms that are easy to understand. Many of us who have been in the Lord for some years develop a “Christian-ese”. Choose words that are clear and simple.
After praying with them, be silent and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to them. I look forward to services and moments in services where I feel God’s presence but every time I take the time and wait after praying a salvation prayer with the children His presence is so evident. Sometimes it is a matter of 30 seconds or so but it feels like eternity. If you watch the children closely you can literally see the Holy Spirit ministering to them in that short time. After this special time pray out loud for the children and ask God to fill them and seal them by the Holy Spirit.
When you have finished praying for the children build the children up again and tell them what a special thing they just did. Now you need to explain that there are certain things they should do now that they are Christians: (1) Read the Bible everyday. It is God's way of talking to us. Encourage them to start with the Gospels. Provide a Bible to anyone who does not have one. (2) Pray everyday. It is our way to talk to Jesus. Jesus is now there for them and is their friend to help them. They need to know that Jesus will help them in any problem or trouble. They should also be told to tell Jesus about the good things that happen and thank Him. (3) They should continue to attend Sunday School and Church. This is where they will grow spiritually and learn more about Jesus. (4) They should tell somebody about their decision they just made. ROMANS 10:9-10
All of the above information is just a guideline. We must always trust the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. God’s ways are above our ways and sometimes He will move differently than what we expect Him to do. Be prayed up and sensitive to whatever He directs you to do.