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Children's Resource: Small Giants

by Captain Pamela Maynor, USA Eastern Territory

Is it possible for a small child to be a spiritual giant?

'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger' (Psalm 8:2 NIV). If the praises of children have the spiritual power to silence our enemy, what are we doing to nurture a child's understanding of this available power?

This is a question I wrestle with in my ministry. What influence do we have as we teach children biblical stories without application? Do we teach them to boldly evangelise friends at school, or do we just present stories? Are we starving the children God has entrusted to us by reserving deep truth for mature adults while giving only baby food to young people?

These questions should be at the heart of our ministry to children. I wish to give the children within my reach the resources they need to spend quality time with the Lord. I am challenged to ask them, How is your prayer life? Would you like to own a Bible and a devotional book? I want children to love their time with the Lord.

When children discover creative and interactive methods of praying, their mouths can be filled with praises and supernatural power! God works and speaks through children who love him. Biblical history is filled with Gods young spokespeople: Samuel, David and the servant of Naaman's wife, to name a few. Think of what he can do through the children that you teach!

Although only a child, my sister led me to the Lord. Each night I looked forward to hearing her read a bedtime story from the Bible to me. The night she led me to Christ was different from the others. The pages of the book weren't painted with laughing children or men happy to have been healed the colours were dark and dismal. In the centre of the page I saw a rough, wooden cross. As my sister read the story to me, she began to cry. The thought of Jesus pain and suffering moved her nine-year-old heart.

My little fingers kept grabbing for tissues. At age four, I understood how Jesus demonstrated his love for me. My sister asked me if I would like to ask Jesus into my life. We knelt beside the bed and prayed a simple, but heart-felt prayer. On that night, I accepted the Lord into my life. God used a child to lead me to him.

Our challenge is to view children as the spiritual giants they can become. Imagine what your church ministry would look like with children praying for the healing of unwell adults, or children leading their parents to Christ. Pray that God will help the children's workers in your corps to notice children who are offering the loaves and fish to others in the community. As children's workers, our challenge is to disciple and equip children with the tools they need to be miracle-workers.

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