Lesson Eleven
Child Evangelism

 The Importance of Child Evangelism: 
•	"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:14).
•	The importance of Child Evangelism cannot be overestimated. 
•	By Child Evangelism we simply mean that type of special ministry needed to win the heart of a child for Jesus. 
•	The child is saved in exactly the same way an adult is saved, by being born again.
•	A child must repent, be baptized in the Name of Jesus, and receive the Holy Ghost, exactly the same as an adult. 
•	However, we must understand how to reach children, gain their attention, hold their special interest, and win them for Jesus. 
•	1. Many children die the same as adults. 
•	In fact although the average life expectancy is getting longer, yet only a small percentage reach old age. 
•	Out of 100,000 children at the age of three years only 59,000 are alive at fifty years of age or a little more than half.
•	2. As a rule children are more easily led to Christ than adults.
•	3. They are likelier to stay converted than those converted later in life.
•	4. They make better Christians since there is not so much to unlearn.
•	5. Their lives are before them; they may devote their entire lives in the service of the Lord.
•	 An elderly person may be saved but he has nothing to offer the Lord except a wasted life.
•	6. There is untold potential in the life of a child for - good or for bad.
•	 It staggers the imagination to think what this world would be like if everyone were converted as a child.
•	7. The importance of Child Evangelism becomes especially significant when we consider the present day trend in the secular school system. 
•	The mind of the average child is constantly bombarded and brain washed with the false theories of evolution. 
•	If children are not reached with the Gospel, there is little hope for the future. 
•	The reason for so much crime and violence is that we are raising a generation of agnostics.

Who May Become A Child Evangelist?
•	The answer to this question is that almost everyone may be a Child Evangelist. 
•	The qualifications are few for certainly a person does not have to have many talents to win the soul of a child for the Savior.
•	There is no age limit here. 
•	He may be a child himself or he may be a grandfather and restricted to a wheel chair. 
•	Let us list a few necessary requirements: (1) He must be filled with the Holy Ghost; (2) He must love children; (3) He must know God's Word; and (4) He must be able to identify himself with children.
•	This last point simply means that he must be able to get down to the child's level and express himself in simple but plain language. 
•	This is not "baby talk" affection, for these children can quickly discern and will resent.
•	Children desire to be loved, be accepted and understood. 

How Old Must A Child Be Before He Can Be Saved?
•	A child may be saved as soon as he reaches the "Age of Accountability." 
•	This is the age when he understands right from wrong, when he receives the knowledge of sin, and is old enough to accept Jesus Christ as a personal Savior.
•	Naturally this age will vary from child to child. 
•	There is no possible way of setting a definite age. 
•	The writer has known of children, three and four years of age, filled with the Holy Ghost.
•	Frequently children six and seven years of age are baptized in water.
•	Moody was converted when he was fourteen years old.
•	 Fanny Crosby was converted at eleven years of age. 
•	Jonathan Edwards at age seven. Ninety percent of all Christians before the age of eighteen years are converted.
•	The problem arises concerning the age of a child to be baptized in water. 
•	The writer used the following rule to guide him: Wait until the child strongly requests it himself, and then make certain the child understand fully what it means. 
•	A child should never be pressed into water baptism and at the same time the child should never be refused for this is a matter of Salvation. 
•	The parents should always be included.

Where May Child Evangelism Take Place?
•	Children may be won for the Lord almost everywhere. 
•	Wherever children are found they may be won for the Lord. 
•	Child Evangelism may be carried on, (1) In the home; (2) In the schools; (3) At church and Sunday School; (4) Outdoors, in the parks, etc. and (5) At summer camps.
•	1. A Revival Crusade:
•	The evangelists who give no attention to children are sadly failing. 
•	He should give them special attention by: (a) Having a special feature during the service for children; (b) Having a special "Family Night" service one each week during the crusade; (c) Having some of the children participate once in awhile in some of the services.
•	2. Sunday School:
•	The Sunday School is the Bible School of the church, the educational department.
•	The goal of the Sunday School should be to win every child for the Lord. 
•	Children can receive the Holy Ghost in the Sunday School classroom.
•	3. Children's Church:
•	Children's Church is very effective for it gives plenty of opportunity for child participation. 
•	They can be encouraged to testify, to pray, to sing solos, to read the Bible lesson.
•	4. Daily Vacation Bible School:
•	A DVBS is very profitable and generally has results in the salvation of souls. 
•	However, a DVBS must be well planned and preparation should start months in advance.
•	5. Summer And Vacation Camps:
•	These are generally district projects and the number of children is generally quite large. 
•	Discipline and finance are generally the most difficult problems, although it also may be difficult to get the right kind of workers, suitable teachers and supervisors.

A Word of Caution:
•	The Child Evangelist must never lose sight of his goal, that of the salvation of the child. 
•	It is so easy to allow sincere efforts to degenerate to the level of entertaining the child rather than winning him for Christ.
•	The child evangelist is more than a baby sitter; he is a soul winner. 
•	This he must never forget.

Lesson Eleven
Self Help Test

A.	Write a paragraph on the importance of Child Evangelism.
B.	How old must a child be before he may be saved?
C.	State the qualifications of a Child Evangelist.
D.	How may Child Evangelism be conducted in the Sunday School?