Why Children's Ministry?

I have been asked this question quite a few times lately, and my answer has been someone short and along the lines of "I just really want kids to know the Lord." While that is true, the more I thought about it the more I realized it goes so much deeper than that. Part of one of my favorite songs says, "I see a generation rising up to take their place with selfless faith." That single line sums up my reason for children's ministry. Something needs to change in this world. We need God now more than ever. Sometimes I look around and I just don't see how so many people just don't get it, and that breaks my heart. While we all have the ability to make a difference, no matter how big or small we feel it may be, I believe it starts with our children. Someone once told me that it should be my goal that every child leaves the pre-school ministry knowing that Jesus will always love them and that He wants to be their best friend. At such a young age, that's all that they need to know. As they get older, they need to understand the concept of sin, their need for Jesus, and about how He can come into their heart. If they can truly grasp this, then they will be prepared for the youth ministry and be able to understand the relationship they can have. It all starts when they're young, and I don't want a single kid to leave my ministry without knowing Jesus. So many people think that they are too young, but Jesus did say, "Let the children come to me" and I want to make sure that they all have the chance to come to Him, here in America and in any other country God leads me to. As cliche as it is, they are our future, and they can't go unnoticed. They are that generation that will rise up.