Ask any Christian parent if they want their children to be concerned about lost people, and most will answer, “Yes!” To encourage our children to grow in this area, what can we do as parents to influence them? How do we model evangelism to our children?
As a family, ask, “How often do we pray for the salvation of a particular lost person?” Few things impact a child more than when the consistent prayers on behalf of others are answered. If you want your children to talk to the lost about God, as a family you need to talk to God about the lost: an unbelieving neighbor, a relative, or even one of their own non-Christian classmates. As God answers those prayers, the impact is beyond measure.
We can also invite those we are praying for into our homes, share a meal together, or perhaps an evening around the table playing games. By having non-Christians in frequently, and you announce you are having guests, you are providing an opportunity for your kids to ask an important question, “Are they a believer or a non-believer?” By having non-Christians into our homes, we are increasing the likelihood they are going to be on our children’s hearts.
You can also do business with non-Christians. Select a hairdresser who is lost, a mechanic who doesn’t know the Lord, or a plumber who needs Christ. Let your children know why – so there might be opportunity for the gospel. Let them see you be a “friend of sinners.”
Look at your family devotions and choose an evangelism topic. One family Bible study topic could be, “How does God feel about lost people?” Memorize verses together such as Matthew 4:19, “Then he said to them, ‘Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.’”
Another way to train in evangelism is to role-play. Think about questions non-Christians might have and teach your children how they can respond. Most importantly, teach them a method of sharing the gospel, something easy for them to recall. Remember, they are just like you – scared.
Now let them watch you in action as you witness to a lost neighbor, hand a tract to a department store employee, choose a non-Christian mechanic with the view of leading them to Christ, or turn the conversation to spiritual things as you visit with the home repairman. If the conversation about the lost does not result in conversation with the lost, few things will happen.
Implement these ideas and watch what occurs. You will know you have impacted your child forever whenever she runs into the house one day and says, “Mom, guess what I saw dad do at the store? He spoke to this man about Christ, and he was really interested in what dad was telling him about Jesus. They are going to have coffee tomorrow.”
