Let me start with a word of thanksgiving to our God, the creator of heaven and earth, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us all from sin and its condemnation.
I count it a real privilege and honour to God who has used his men to bring this magazine to what it is today. May I use this medium to declare that Jesus Christ is the Lord of everyone. Everyone includes children of all cultures the born and unborn ones.
We are talking about reaching the 21st century children and we believe by doing this, we will achieve a lot in the third world.
We are to engage in leading the little ones into the knowledge and fullness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even though the kingdom of God belongs to children (Mark 10:14) they can make a shift into the kingdom of Satan if they are not well directed to stay where they belong.
It has to be noted that many forces are influencing the child to day, talkless of the twenty-first century child. Some of these forces include spiritual, social, economic and psychological; just to mention, but a few. I reminding all of us the needs and the problems facing the twenty-first century child. By twenty-first century child I mean human beings who were born by the year 2000 and beyond or those who are already born but whose childhood period will extend to the twenty-first century.
-Without being told we know that the century we are in is the period of technological advancement, known as computer or jet age. If our own children and children of other cultures will be trained in the way they should go, teachers, parents and the entire society should not overlook the environment they live in.-
Things are changing; methods of teaching are changing too. -It takes therefore a wise parent and teacher to grasp the new educational technocracy and use it to or in reaching children of this century-.
There is a worldwide anticipation that this generation and century will be quite significant. As a result, individuals organizations, nations and world bodies set goals(to be attained before or by the year 2001). The church was not left out. The church was not left out. The church world-wide is seriously thinking and planning on how to reach every one with the Gospel in this twenty-first century.
If Africa is to be full evangelised in this 21st century, it can only be done when children are put in the program. Children Ministries involves two things at least, namely: ministering to children and equipping children to minister to other children.
-We have heard so much about AD 2000 and beyond. We have also heard about Education for all by the year 2000 and beyond, health for all by the year 2001; etc. These visions cannot be achieved if children are not include in the program. A child today is the adult of tomorrow.-
The gospel cannot reach everyone if our children are excluded from the plan to reach the world with the world with the gospel. It is possible to reach the whole world in our generation, probably in this 21st century or beyond. This however, depends on our commitment to the task. The gospel cannot reach everyone if our children are excluded from the plan to reach the world with the gospel. It is possible to reach the whole world in our generation, probably in this 21st century or beyond. This however, depends on single individual, denomination, or organization will do this work alone. This therefore, calls for network and partnership. Each person has to know where the Lord needs him in this service.
My trips to some countries in west Africa and other parts of the world have opened my eyes. Many Pentecostal and Evangelical denominations are yet to include children.
If we hope to raise children that will hold the banner of our Lord Jesus Christ when we retire, there is a need for children’s church. By children’s church I meant a program geared to the child’s level so he can truly worship the Lord with understanding and has opportunity to actively participate.
Children’s Ministries is not a ministry that should be relegated to the background. Therefore, every person, whether clergy or non-clergy, should be up and doing to see that this ministry is not neglected. Whoever ministers to children should not think that children are little people who should be treated anyhow.
-They are full human beings who are developing. Every effort and care should be taken to ensure that they know all they supposed to know in life as early as possible.-
Whoever desires to minister to children must first of all ask oneself a question whether he loves them or not. One who does not have likeness on children should not try or attempt to minister to them. Compassion should be the first step to ministering to children.
During Jesus’ministery, His motivating factor was compassion on the harassed multitude. Before Jesus performed any miracle, he was always moved by compassion. In fact, one should sympathize with children.
In most cases in our society, children have been abused both in the hands of believers and unbelievers talkless of the ones they receives from being maids and the receives from being maids and they are looking for who will help them out of their predicaments.
Cross-cultural Ministry to children focuses on how to reach children with the gospel in another culture. This demands hard work and dedication. One who is into this task should yield himself completely to the holy Spirit the one who is able to guide us to all truth. Children in other culture are in need of the gospel. They are hungry of the word of God. The vision of reaching the 21st century child cannot come to fulfilment without giving each child a chance to hear the Gospel of our Lord Christ.
-Let us be realistic, some are only doing the work of God just to satisfy their personal aggrandizement. Such people are not for the good of the Gospel. They are only working for their own stomach. We need workers for children’s ministry both within and across our culture. The harvest is plentiful, but laborers are few. We are asking the Lord of harvest to send more laborers into the field. You may be one of them. Children are among the people to be won into God’s kingdom even though they may be of very tender age. There is a need to minister to them while they are still young.-
Any one who is interested in having a society made of responsible group of people should engage in the business of ministering to children of this present generation.
-Therefore allow God to use you in any way he sees you fit especially whether clergy, non-clergy, and our governments should join hands and help for the up bringing of our children for better tomorrow.-
God bless you
-Evangelist CHIMA KALU-