One kidmin workshop I often present is called “Leading Children to a Life-Changing Relationship With Jesus.” I love doing this workshop because it’s at the core of what we should be all about. Yet sometimes I feel as if children’s ministry programs are failing our core mission, essentially telling kids to go to hell. Let me explain…
Because I’ve been immersed in the world of Children’s & Family Ministry for almost 30 years, I get to see much of what’s happening up close and personal. I see the events, the resources, the curriculum, the products and the people. It’s how I fulfill my calling. I love it and do everything I can to help equip others to successfully reach kids for Christ.
And there’s the rub.
Too many of us are too concerned about too many things other than reaching children for Christ.
The Gospel vs. Go to Hell
The good news of Jesus Christ, our Savior, why we do what we do. The Gospel message should be the core of everything we do and infused into every element of our children’s ministries. How to share Jesus with kids ought to be a core element of our training & equipping plan.
But too often it’s not.
Other things are important. Various tasks are relevant. Critical issues and problems rightfully demand our attention.
But too often I encounter leaders and ministries who relegate the Gospel to the back burner. Or worse, it goes completely out the back door instead of remaining the top priority.
It seems to me that, when we fail to have an adequate focus on the Gospel, we might as well be telling our kids to…go to hell.
This article originally appeared at Children’s Ministry Leader.
