As we feature evangelism, it seems like a great time to involve kids in outreach efforts. This is their church, too, and we need to provide ways of sharing their faith in their schools, communities and neighborhoods.
In Matt. 28, Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This command includes our kids. They can share their faith alongside us adults.
Sharing your faith can be scary, so starting your kids young in outreach efforts is important. Sharing your faith doesn’t have to be difficult. It doesn’t mean they have to knock on doors or give Bible studies. It can be simple.
Here are four ways kids can share their faith through simple actions:
1. Pray for Others
Start your day with the kids in prayer. Encourage kids to pray for their teachers, friends and even classmates they might not get along with at school. Pray for the kids in your neighborhood and at your church. We like to pray together in the car on the way to school and church. We also like to end the day with prayer. This is a great time to connect with your kids.
Help your kids identify people who might be struggling and pray for them. Think about keeping a family prayer list so no one is forgotten. Remind your kids to ask for guidance from God in their daily lives and decisions. Model this behavior to your kids as well.
2. Help Others
Encourage kids to actively seek ways to help others, whether at school, home or in the community. There are people in your circle of influence who need help. Let them choose who and how they can help others.
Help them understand the importance of being a supportive and kind friend. Is there a classmate who has no one to sit with at lunch? Is there a classmate who is being picked on? Talk through any conflicts they might be having with friends. Disciple your kids on how to navigate friendships. Model healthy friendships for your kids as well.
Participate in activities that benefit others, such as volunteering or donating to charity. Encourage your child’s school or church to engage in community service. You can bring sack lunches to a local park to feed the homeless. You can also make blessing bags filled with small toiletries for those in need.
3. Live Out Your Faith
Let your actions reflect your faith — show kindness, compassion and honesty. Model these behaviors to your children. If your actions as parents are not reflecting your faith, then they might be hesitant to do so as well.
Share your faith naturally and respectfully, answering questions and explaining your beliefs. Help your kids write their testimony of what God has done in their lives. Practice with your kids, give them scripts and encourage them to share their faith in social situations.
If they get the chance to share the gospel message with their friends, teach them the ABCs of salvation. We have used this basic model for years in outreach.
Admit: Acknowledge that everyone has sinned and fallen short of God's glory, as stated in Rom. 3:23.
Believe: Trust in Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation, as He died on the cross for our sins and rose again.
Confess: Publicly declare your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, as stated in Rom. 10:9–10.
If your kids are older and online, encourage them to share positive and uplifting messages online and to be mindful of their online interactions. Sharing their faith online might be the easiest way to share when your kids are older. Being a positive impact in social media spaces is a great way for your kids to be digital missionaries. In a world of damaging social media, our kids have the opportunity to be radically different and share what an awesome God we serve.
4. Share Your Story
Help your children understand the core message of their faith, Jesus Christ and the gospel message, and how it relates to their lives. Encourage them to share how God has worked in their lives, both the good and the challenging times. God works in our kids' lives, and they have a story.
Encourage your children to invite non-church friends to church or faith-related events. Provide a ride for their friends who don’t attend church. We like to invite their non-church friends to youth night, video game night and other fun outings we have for the kids in our youth ministry.
What other ways can we help our kids share their faith? Visit us on social media and let us know. We are all on this faith journey together, even our children, and we must help them navigate this.
Philemon 1:6 tells us, “And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.” Let us help our kids share their faith with others in ways that are simple for them to do.
