It is an inspiring sight to see a church with a large number of children in it. "Less time and effort are necessary for the winning of twenty children to Christ than one adult," declared Dr. George Bailey in the Vacation Bible School Manual.
Childhood is the age of conversion. Far more children give their hearts to God at the age of twelve than at any other period in life Practically everyone who is ever converted makes the decision sometime between the ages of eight and sixteen. Ask for a show of hands in any congregation and note the difference between the number who were converted before sixteen and those who were converted after "A careful investigation discloses that of those who reach the age of twenty-three years, having never made any profession of Christ, only two out of one hundred will ever do so, leaving ninetyeight who never will" (Clarence C. Benson, The Sunday School in Action, p. 177). Seldom indeed does an adult convert ever become a minister or an active worker in the cause of God.
The vast majority of our adult converts were members of a church before learning the doctrines of the Adventist faith. The most productive field in which any evangelist can work is with the children of the church and the next most productive territory is the children of the neighborhood The messenger of the Lord says, We may bring hundreds and thousands of children to Christ if we will work for them" (Counsels to Parents and Teachers, p. 172).
The Children Sermon
The good shepherd feeds his lambs as regularly as he feeds his sheep. Every Sabbath he has a story, or an object lesson or a Bible drill for the children. One pastor I know was called to certain church that was showing very little signs of life of any kind. The meetings were dull, the attendance poor, and the soul winning well, the membership was dwindling steadily. The situation was enough to dishearten any newcomer. But he began working with the children—what few remained in the church—and that sleepy church woke up. More children came and more parents came with them and still more children and more parents. Every Sabbath without fail he had an interesting, inspiring, thought-provoking story for the children. Of course, it took time. He spent as much preparation on his junior lesson as he did on his adult sermon, but it paid. It paid in increased attendance, in attention, and in results. Today that same church building is taxed to capacity to hold the crowds.
Different preachers have different methods of conducting these children sermons. Some invite all the children to come forward and sit on the carpet in front of the pulpit for their story. This has the advantage of giving some of the restless ones an opportunity to move about and also enables the minister to remind the children to sit with their parents after the story. One has to watch, however, that small children do not try to race to go to the front and then fight over choice positions. This confusion can be avoided if some of the older children are appointed as monitors and if the pastor, when inviting them to the front, suggests that they come quietly and slowly. Some pastors in small churches have had very good success in maintaining proper order and in developing excellent relationships with the children in this manner.
Many ministers allow the juniors to remain with their parents but have a special service for them before the senior sermon. This junior story is listed right in the church bulletin and is a definite part of the service.
But whatever method is used reserve a little corner in every sermon for the children. It will pay rich dividends.
Archa O. Dart was assistant secretary of the former Home and Parent Education at the General Conference.
