Touching Children For Jesus

By Gail Beagin

Recently we were shocked to hear of children in a third-grade class who plotted to harm their teacher because they felt a student had been unjustly punished. So detailed were their plans, that one of the nine in the group was assigned to “wipe up the blood” and another to “cover the windows.” The children had brought duct tape, handcuffs, a knife, a crystal paperweight and various other things to use in carrying out their plan.

How can this happen you ask?

Very easily, especially when you consider what the Bible tells us about the heart of man. In Jeremiah 17:9 we read: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked…” and in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

This is the nature we are born with, and without the intervention of a loving God, we would be punished for all of eternity.

“Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” Matthew 18:14 God tells us that children can perish – be separated from Him for all eternity.

There are approximately 32,000 (U.S. Census 2006) elementary-aged children in Jackson County. We are only reaching a little over 3% of these children. How do we more effectively share with them the hope we have in Jesus Christ?

God has opened the door for Christians to do this through the ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship. Each week from October through April, classes are held in our public schools during release time and/or after school. These are called Good News Clubs. Children learn about God and His love for them; Jesus who died for them and rose again; and the Holy Spirit who will help them live the Christian life after receiving Jesus as their Savior.

How do they learn this? Through Bible verses, lessons, songs, lesson activities, games, and exciting missionary stories about people who have been used by God to reach the lost.

Who teaches them? Christians who love the Lord and feel a call to reach the unsaved children and to disciple saved children. Volunteers receive training, and prayer support as they step forward to serve the Lord in Good News Club. Each volunteer in this ministry has been screened with a background search and references are checked.

Last year (Oct. 2007 – April 2008) in this county, 993 children heard the good news about Jesus and His gift of salvation, with 356 responding to accept His invitation.

God has given us this harvest field. Are we doing all we can do to be a part of the reaping by being obedient witnesses?

There are 28 elementary schools in this area. If we had a club in each one, we would need 28+ teachers. We also need helpers to assist in checking children in, collecting permission slips, keeping an account of the children enrolled in the club, periodically calling children who have not attended, hearing memorized verses, leading song time and games, counseling children who respond to the invitation, substituting for the main teacher and just loving the children as the lesson is taught.

If you have felt God’s tug on your heart or know someone who may want to hear this, please respond and share! I would gladly present this ministry to your Sunday School class, home fellowship, youth group or church body.

Training will take place in the latter part of August. Please contact CEF of Oregon, Jackson County at 772-8520 and ask to speak with Gail.

Gail writes from the Rogue Valley.