Online Edition June 2015 Volume 31 Issue 2. orizon. The importance of the Delmar State Missions Offering

Transcription

1 Youth Evangelism Conference 3 Online Edition June 2015 Volume 31 Issue 2 orizon H S The importance of the Delmar State Missions Offering Lynn Nikkel In these days of our transition to the new, more locally directed strategic ministry structure of the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention, the support from churches and individuals through the Delmar State Missions Offering is of increasing importance. From the funding of Regional Missionary support, to leadership development in our churches, for support of our Hispanic ministries, and our work on college campuses offerings through the Delmar Offering are so very important. Receipts from this offering also support camps at Mountain Top Baptist Assembly, help us minister to ministers and wives, as well as supporting other cooperative ministries in the state. Why is it called the Delmar State Missions Offering? This offering is named after one of the original ministers who brought Southern Baptist work to Wyoming Rev. Benny Delmar. See OFFERING on pg. 3 A unique and valuable church ministry By Members of Jackson Hole Baptist Church Jackson is the gateway to Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and the ski resort mountains of Snow King and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Diverse attractions bring tourist to Jackson from all over the world giving us opportunities for worldwide outreach. Some of the outreaches of Jackson Hole Baptist have included working with the Good Samaritan Mission to serve food to the homeless and facilitate Bible Studies, weekly or monthly Bible Studies at the Senior Assisted Living and Care Centers, discipleship and the sponsoring of a young man on a month-long mission trip to Nepal, simulcast conferences for men and women, and an ongoing online sermon ministry. In 2013, two of our members went to Kenya, Africa for three weeks to do Vacation Bible School, Computer Training Classes See CONFERENCE on pg. 2 photo provided Pastor and Mrs. Dyess.

2 2 news June 2015 A plea to pray for our missionaries Mark Porter I remember growing up that there were lots of times I had to say goodbye to my father as he would go and serve our country overseas. Some of the countries he served in were Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and France. Needless to say he would come home for a few months and then off he would go again. I really did not get to know my father until I was eleven. He finally retired with a silver star, two Porter bronze stars with valor, and a purple heart. I also remember watching my mother sit down in her chair and write letters to him every evening. Sometimes she would include something that my brother and I would have colored or she would have us write something personal. As kids we never connected how serious it was for him or we would never have written things like, Dear Dad, no fun, no mun, your sons. He did write back to us, Dear sons, too bad, so sad, your dad. So last Saturday I had to say goodbye again, only this time my youngest daughter and her husband who is in the Air Force. They will be going to Italy for four years. I did not think it would affect me all that much; after all it is only Italy, right! But to be honest I think there is a hole in my heart the size of Texas. Reflecting on this makes me wonder how many people there are that feel the way I do. It also reminds me that you do not have to be in the military to serve overseas. There are a lot of missionaries overseas serving apart from their families fighting the good fight in order to share the Good News. I was thinking about some missionaries I met that are serving in Saudi Arabia. I have their picture on my refrigerator and I pray for them each time I see them. Now I am going to start praying for their families as well. Please remember to pray for our missionaries and their families. Mark Porter serves as Mission Strategist & South Region Missionary CONFERENCE continued from pg. 1 for teachers, Young Adult Bible Studies, and to work with girls victimized by trafficking. Our 2014 highlights include: in our annual Christmas Candy Cane Campaign we gave out over 500 religious candy canes and over 1,000 religious themed stickers, mints, and skin decals by Mr. and Mrs. Santa and Crew! One of the members of our church went on a mission/relationship building trip to Spain for three weeks. Pastor Wayne and Mrs. Dyess attended the Sturgis Bike Rally partnering with the Dakota Baptist Convention in their annual Harley Davidson motorcycle giveaway. This resulted in 3,654 presentations of the gospel and 513 decisions for Christ! Jackson Hole Baptist has an ongoing ministry with J1 Work and Travel Students. We welcome these students into our homes and lives for meals, game nights, tourist explorations and Bible Study. There have been times when we had more J1 students in Bible Study from Muslim countries than we did Christian believers! The students from Muslim countries have been extremely receptive to hearing the gospel. They leave their homeland full of questions having stereotypes of Americans and Christians. When they arrive in America they have the opportunity to ask questions and get answers without any fear. This past summer, two of our church members were invited to attend a dinner during Ramadan, a special time of year for Muslims that has tremendous religious importance. At dinner, conversations were had about Why do Christians believe Isa ( Jesus) is God? Why do Christians say they serve only one God when they have God the Father, Isa and a Holy Spirit? and What does sin mean? Because of our long term friendships, we have been able to send Bibles into Muslim countries that have been translated into their heart language and we often have them sending us their prayer requests! In October we had two of our members go to Bulgaria and Turkey to continue developing the relationships with these students and meet new friends, some-of-which will be arriving in Jackson in June as J1 Students! Please pray with us as we look forward to the doors God will open for us as we serve and minister to the people He brings to our community! LEARNING Kenyan students from 8th and 10th grade gather for a photo. photo provided photo provided Friends Forever Ankara, Turkey reunion with J1 students from Jackson 2014

3 June NEWS Preacher school training event being planned for next year Don Whalen Impacting lostness in your community, in Wyoming and in the world begins with effectively sharing the Gospel in such a way that non-believers hear the Gospel truth and respond in faith. For this reason, training men, called of God, to proclaim the Gospel is of critical importance. Biblical preaching announces good news about Jesus Christ, and what he has done for the good of all humanity. Gospel preachers have a positive message to meet all the sorrows of a sin-filled world. May 1-2, 2015, men from across the state of Wyoming met at College Heights Baptist Church, Casper, Wyoming, to receive training in the practical skills of sermon preparation, development and delivery. 34 layman, 3 church planters and 7 pastors, developed their ability to communicate the only message that can truly change a person s life. Mike Palmer, Idaho Cowboy Church Pastor/ Planter and Dr. Scott Hanberry, Associate Pastor for Education and Outreach at Longview Heights Baptist Church, Olive Branch, Mississippi led the training, along with a team of layman from Longview Heights Baptist Church. Plans are already being developed for next year s Preacher School training event. The date will be May 6-7, 2016, so mark your calendar today and plan to attend. The location of the event is still to be determined. Look for more information in the near future at of support for cooperative Kingdom work in Wyoming knowing that 100% of this offering is applied toward work here in Wyoming. Thanks to all who give, who serve and who help us in our effort together to serve our churches in their mission and ministries as they fulfill the Great Commission, and for the expansion of the Kingdom of God by making disciples in our communities, in our state, and in our world. OFFERING continued from pg. 1 Benny started the first Southern Baptist church in Wyoming, First Southern in Casper. He was a catalyst for starting churches that are not only part of our work in Wyoming, but also in Montana and the two Dakotas. His ministry fingerprints are on literally hundreds of churches started in this Northern Plains area of the country, and so it is fitting that we are inspired by that spirit of ministry through an offering named for him. While much has happened in the starting of works across our state since the days of Benny Delmar s ministry, there is still much to be done. And as our Convention strives to continue to strengthen the work of existing churches, and to plant needed new congregations in many places, this offering also reminds us that the Kingdom work in Wyoming is OUR responsibility. And it is an opportunity for churches and individuals to support our cooperative work in this state. Please consider making the Delmar State Missions Offering a priority in your church life like never before. Promote this avenue 2015 WSBC Cooperative budget update

4 News 4 June 2015 Youth Evangelism Conference 2015: Stand up, speak out Dale Bascue One hundred and ninety two students and adults gathered at the Parkway Plaza Hotel in Casper on April 17 and 18 for the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention s Youth Evangelism Conference. The theme of the conference was Stand Up and Speak Out! It was based on I Corinthians 15:1 where Paul says he declares the gospel on which we stand. Every part of the program emphasized what the gospel is and how we can share it with our friends and families. Chris Sims, church planting pastor of The Way church in Casper was the main speaker. He brought two messages based on I Corinthians 15:1 making the foundation of the gospel clear to the students and encouraging them to commit to the gospel and personal evangelism. Compass Church Worship Team from Batesville, Arkansas provided music for the conference. The music was energetic and uplifting. Students were divided into four groups for breakout times. There were two breakout times devoted to explaining the gospel, led by Nate Schmeltzer from First Southern Baptist Church, Worland, and Justin Wollerman, youth minister at College Heights Baptist Church in Casper. The other two breakouts were times to encourage students to take the gospel and speak it. These breakouts were led by Shane Stone of the WSBC, and Seth Hoblit, youth minister of Grace Southern Baptist Church in Greybull. Adults who work as volunteers with youth in their churches also had a breakout. John Scudder, pastor of Warm Valley Baptist Church, Pavillion, shared with youth workers from his years of experience working with youth and singles. This year s youth conference also featured information on three summer camps intended for students. Summit Camp and Youth Encounter are two camps held at Mt. Top Baptist Assembly each summer. They were represented by camp directors Nate Gurtler of Summit Camp, and Buddy photo provided Worship Students gather for the annual Youth Evangelsim Conference that is held every spring. Hansen and Clay Alexander of Youth Encounter. Each camp had displays with free items, giveaways, and the Summit Store. RA Camp was also present. Director Matt Wilson invited older boys to come and help with the younger boys at RA Camp. The youth evangelism conference is held every spring. The cost for each attendee is minimal at $10 and is money well spent. There are always extra costs involved for churches, but if a church thinks ahead and plans it in their budget it shouldn t come as a surprise. The youth evangelism conference for 2016 will be April 8 and 9 at the Best Western Ramkota in Casper. Start making plans now to bring your students. WANTED: A few good eldhands to help with the Wyoming RODEO Ministry This Outreach Ministry will be conducted at: National High School Finals Rodeo, July 11-18, Rock Springs We are looking for... Volunteers to share a 3-minute testimony/witness (training will be provided) Volunteers to work on computer with data entry Volunteers to work the area around the booth engaging people Volunteers to help with booth set up for event, and tear down after event Prayer Partners for this new ministry Partners to help with funding to provide a new 4-Wheeler ATV to be given away at the rodeo Interested? Contact James Scott at hccjamess@yahoo.com or Dale Bascue at bascue@wyomingsbc.com A ministry of the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention, fueled by your contributions to the Wyoming SBC Cooperative Program Casper Mountain Rd., Casper, WY (307) * * 2015 SUMMER FUN!! For more information, please contact Lynda Roark, Executive Director-MTBA mountaintopba@gmail.com MOUNTAIN TOP BAPTIST CAMP SCHEDULE June June June 29 July 3 July 6 10 July July 20 Aug. 7 Aug Aug Sept Sept Youth Encounter Camp Hispanic Family Camp RA Camp Children s Camp Summit Youth Camp Good News Camps College Heights Men s Retreat Shepherds Men s Retreat Northeast Region Ladies Retreat BCM Retreat

5 June 2015 news 5 calendar of events JUNE SBC Crossover, Columbus, Ohio SBC Pastors Conference, Columbus Ohio WMU SBC Annual Meeting, Columbus, Ohio SBC Annual Meeting, Columbus Ohio, Denominational Leadership Meeting, Columbus Ohio 21 Father s Day Youth Encounter, Mt. Top Baptist Assembly Hispanic Family Camp, Mt. Top Baptist Assembly 29-7/3 RA Camp, Mt. Top Baptist Assembly JULY 4 Independence Day, WSBC Office Closed 6 WSBC Office Closed 6-10 Children s Camp, Mt. Top Baptist Assembly 7 LifeWay State Leaders Meeting, Nashville, TN National High School Finals Rodeo, Rock Springs WSBC STAFF IN OFFICE WEEK Summit Youth Camp, Mt. Top Baptist Assembly Cheyenne Frontier Days Ministries, Cheyenne WSBC Hosting Stewardship Development Association, Cody, WY 7/20-8/7 Good News Camps, Mt. Top Baptist Assembly AUGUST 2-7 Collegiate Week, Glorieta 3-4 Send North America, Nashville Basic Training, Casper, WSBC office 14 Foundation Board Conf Call, 3:00 p.m NAMB CPC Training Cowboy Church Planting Training, Casper SEPTEMBER 7 Labor Day, WSBC Office Closed 6-13 Week of Prayer for WSBC Missions / Delmar Missions Offering 10 Executive Board Administrative Team, WSBC office, 3:00 pm 11 Executive Board Meeting, WSBC office 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m WSBC STAFF IN OFFICE WEEK Hispanic Basic Training Journey, Casper, Principe De Paz SBC Executive Committee meeting, Nashville Amber Edwards graduates from SWBTS Amber Edwards, wife of WSBC Church Planter, Zach Edwards, graduated with her Master of Arts in Christian Education degree from Southwestern Seminary. Amber felt called by God to prepare herself for ministry leadership back in In 2001 she began working on this degree. Since then, Amber began a nursing career, married Zach, and gave birth to two kids, and partnered in planting a church in Cheyenne (Life Point Church)! Amber stopped her educational pursuit in 2006 to allow Zach to finish his degree. In 2012, Amber and Zach both felt God s leadership directing her to finish this degree. Finally, 14 years later, Amber graduated! God is using Amber to do great things for His church and the lost in Cheyenne. This degree is equipping her to be even more effective in what she does. Vacation Bible School: Ready for a great journey On April 24th & 25th the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention VBS Team conducted a Vacation Bible School Clinic at First Southern Baptist Church in Casper. There were 83 people who attended including 11 leadership. Churches were represented from all over Wyoming. Dr. Fred Creason, WSBC Leadership Strategist taught the group on Children and Conversion. Also offered were classes for leaders of all age levels as well as music, crafts and decorating ideas. The attenders left with great ideas and excitement for their upcoming VBS as they Journey of the Map. Remember, after your church VBS to complete your report form!

6 6 news June 2015 Is our society structurally deficient? Dale Bascue Inspections had been done every year since Reports had been submitted and everyone knew the results structurally deficient. The findings of the reports were the same from 1993 to For thirteen years the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Minnesota Department of Transportation knew the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis was structurally deficient, but nobody did anything about it. At 6:05 p.m. on Wednesday, Bascue Aug. 1, 2007, it happened. The bridge collapsed. 60 cars fell into the Mississippi River, 145 people were injured and 13 were killed. The deadly collapse came from within. After decades of heavy use the metal supports slowly became fatigued and the bridge could no longer bear the weight of 140,000 cars and trucks a day. I find that amazing. Everyone knew the bridge was in poor shape. Everyone knew it needed to be repaired or replaced, but no one did anything to change things. Even though the bridge had been declared deficient, the serious work of repairing it was never prioritized. Fixing the bridge would have required shutting down the highway and rerouting traffic. It would involve months of inconvenience and thousands of dollars. Doing what it took to address the real issue was deemed too difficult, too time consuming, and too expensive. No one was willing to make the necessary adjustments to do what was needed to avoid a disaster. I m afraid the same thing is true for our society today. Studies have been done and the reports are submitted showing that America is structurally deficient. Daily stress has fatigued the very fabric of our society, and we are balancing on the edge of a great disaster. To avert the disaster would make us uncomfortable. It would be an inconvenience to our routine. It may even cost us things we are not willing to give, but to continue on with business as usual will have an even worse result. The Inspector says, Fix it! How will we respond? We may say, It s too expensive. It s too inconvenient. It will interfere with what I ve got going. Or we may say, I can t fix it. I m weak. I m sinful. I m part of the problem. I call out to you so you can fix me. It s only as I get fixed and you get fixed that our nation will be fixed. To do that, though, requires that we make the repair the revision the revival a priority. I m comforted by the Word of God. If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned (Jeremiah 18:7,8). There is still hope. Hope is not found in a political party, a presidential candidate, or an ideology. It is found in the mercy and grace of God. We need revival. The structure of society is weakening and fraying. Only God can repair it. Dale Bascue serves as Evangelism Strategist and West Region Missionary Churches on mission Saratoga First Baptist Church held a special Ice Fishing Derby outreach January Over 800 fishermen from Wyoming and Colorado participated. Free food and beverages along with activities for the children were offered. Morris Anderson with Manna Ministries was the featured guest speaker, along with many volunteers visiting and praying with fishermen all weekend. Johnathon Moore is pastor. Mountain View Heart of the Valley Baptist Church would like to announce the arrival of their new Youth Pastor Butch Hansen, wife Cindy, son Tristan, and daughter Tynnille. The Hansen family has been actively serving in Pavillion and Riverton area for several years before accepting the call to Heart of the Valley. Joe Reynolds is pastor. Kemmerer Pastor Al Bella of Living Water Community Church reports that they had a 7 year old girl get saved recently. Her dad was recently saved; the whole family will soon be getting baptized. Cheyenne Amber Edwards, wife of pastor Zachary Edwards graduated from Southwestern Seminary with a Master of Arts in Christian Education degree in May. This degree has been in the process for several years. Zach and Amber serve in Cheyenne as Church Planters of Life Point Church. For three years they have worshiped Jesus at the Kiwanis Community House in Lion s Park. Recently they were able to move into a more permanent facility. Casper Principe de Paz hosted the Hispanic Laborers Conference with 147 people attending, representing 5 churches. During the conference four people were baptized. Richard Lugo is pastor. The Way have relocated their worship services to the Casper Recreation Center on Sunday afternoons. One of the men that they have been ministering to was baptized in the river recently. Chris Sims is pastor. Rock Springs Emmanuel Baptist Church has called David Brown to be pastor. David and his wife Debbie began serving in April. Douglas Pastor John Thomason recently retired from serving at First Southern Baptist Church. John and wife Eleanor have served in Douglas for 11 years. Green River Hilltop Baptist Church dedicated the new addition to the church on Sunday May 3. Mark Hensley is pastor.

7 June 2015 news 7 Fremont County First Responders appreciation banquet takes place Dale Bascue The Southern Baptist churches of Fremont County, Wyoming, held an appreciation for law enforcement officers, firemen, emergency medical personnel and other first responders in the county on Saturday, March 21, The event was free of charge for the first responders and their families. 79 registered at the event but there were several present who didn t register, with the total present estimated at about 100 to 120. Pastor Shannon Arnold of Lander Valley Baptist Church did a great job of contacting all the county agencies and promoting the banquet among the first responders. Since the event the EMT station in Lander has asked Pastor Arnold to serve as their chaplain. High Mountain Cowboy Church of Lander and Set Free Church of Riverton were responsible for acquiring gifts as door prizes from a variety of Fremont County businesses. There were enough door prizes that everyone who registered received at least one prize. Special Bibles were purchased by the West Region of the WSBC and made available to anyone who wanted one. Of 144 Bibles, only two Bibles were left after the event. United Baptist Church of Riverton put together gift baskets for the spouses of first responders. The baskets included lotions, candles, potpourri, and various other items. Hudson Baptist Church in Hudson helped provide flowers and decorations for the event. Hillcrest Baptist Church, Riverton, and Warm Valley Baptist Church, Pavillion, had members present to serve tables. Wilderness Baptist Church, Dubois, helped to provide publicity for the event. This was a great example of cooperative missions in action as seven churches contributed and took part in taking care of even the smallest detail. Shane Stone, Criminal Justice professor for UW was the featured speaker, who also serves as a WSBC consultant. Shane spoke of his experiences as a law enforcement officer and how his faith in Christ was such an important element in dealing with the stress of the job. His message was well received. Music was provided by Lander Mayor Del McOmie and his brother Bill. They performed a couple of patriotic songs. The highlight of the evening was the Van Dijk family from Lander. The Van Dijk s lost two children in a house fire in 2014 and had been looking for a way to thank the first responders for their compassionate assistance. They spoke of their experience and thanked those present. This banquet was a wonderful expression of appreciation and service for those who selflessly serve in Fremont County. One Fireman remarked that he had been involved in being a first responder for 38 years and he had never seen anything like this. Now that the churches of Fremont County have touched the first responders with kind words and actions of thankfulness the next step is to follow up on prayer requests that were shared at registration. A door of service has been opened and Southern Baptists will walk through it in obedience PRAY for the harvest Pray for churches seeking God s direction for a new pastor. Mark Porter South Region North Cheyenne Baptist Church, Cheyenne** Golden Prairie Baptist Church, Burns Fred Creason Northeast Region Antelope Valley Baptist Church** Wright Baptist Church, Wright** Westside Baptist Church, Gillette First Southern Baptist Church, Moorcroft First Southern Baptist Church, Douglas **Served by transitional pastor. Patricia Sue Blackmon passes away at 76 Lynn Nikkel Patricia Sue Blackmon, 76, passed away Monday, April 27, 2015 in St. Louis, Missouri. Funeral services were held at the Chapel of Mount Hope Hudson s Funeral Home on Monday, May 4th at 2:00pm. Patricia, and her husband Curtis, were long time ministers in Wyoming. They ministered together in churches in the Black Mountain area, in Thermopolis, and for over 18 years in Jeffrey City. Patricia was a resilient and faithful pastor s wife who had a wonderful sense of humor, and a tenacious spirit in the face of challenges and struggles. Together, she and Curtis persevered in following the Lord s call and stood firm in commitment to serving him in difficult places and circumstances. Patricia was preceded in death by her loving husband, Curtis, in She is survived by their daughter, Tamra; and two sons, Bobby and Jonathan, both of these sons active in ministry. The boys testify that their parents always challenged them to study and stand on God s Word as the foundation for all of life, and they both carry on that challenge to their children. On a personal note, I met the Blackmon s when I moved to Wyoming in 1994, and got to know them well over the years of our service together in Wyoming. Their commitment to the Lord and his Word were such a blessing and challenge to my heart. Curtis and Patricia Blackmon stand as two of my heroes of faith and ministry. The work of God s Kingdom in Wyoming is better for having known these two saints, and for their ministry among us.

8 8 news June 2015 Tips for witnessing to children in a VBS setting Fred Creason Matthew 19:13-14 is a remarkable passage: Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. The message is clear: (1) Jesus loves little children; (2) Jesus reaches out to little children; (3) Jesus desires that little children come to him. The statistics are staggering: ages 5-13 have a 32% creason probability of becoming Christians; ages have a 4% probability of becoming Christians; ages 19 and above have a 6% probability of becoming Christians. If you were saved after age 13, you are truly a miracle. Most people come to Jesus when they are young. I grew up in a pastor s home. I heard the gospel repeatedly, from the time I was born. I was saved as a little boy, about 5 years of age. Jesus came into my life, changed my life, and assured me that he had a purpose for my life. But I ve come to understand that witnessing to children can be tough, especially to children who do not grow up in church. The Wyoming church I pastored focused on Vacation Bible School. We had lots of volunteers, and lots of children. But for several years we struggled with how to share the gospel in VBS. Like most churches, we had conflicting age groups. The younger children were too excitable: they had short attention spans; they were constantly raising their hands and jumping up and down; they laughed and giggled at serious moments, and responded to any kind of invitation. The older children were laid back. They were put off by the juvenile environment, and were slow to respond in any way. I read a lot about witnessing to children. I attended some workshops, where we discussed the dynamics of VBS. As a church we began to implement some changes changes that made us much more effective in sharing the gospel in a VBS setting. The following tips should have a positive impact on your church as well. (1) Remember that every child is unique. Some understand the gospel. Some do not. We should never discourage those who understand. We should never pressure those who don t. If the kids are laughing or giggling, send them on, and encourage them to come back another time. (2) Remember that children come to understand the gospel through a gradual process. As they grasp the bits and pieces, they are better prepared for the big event, when the Holy Spirit opens their eyes to their sin, and their need of a Savior. (3) Don t confuse questions about church, Jesus loves the little children; Jesus reaches out to the little children; Jesus desires that little children come to him. Jesus, baptism, or communion with a readiness to get saved. Children may be curious even fascinated. They may be processing the bits and pieces of the gospel. But they may not be ready to trust Jesus as their Savior. (4) Don t hold a general invitation, with all the children, and all the age groups present. There are just too many distractions, especially for the older kids. (5) Hold a separate invitation for each age group. Schedule an evangelism night, perhaps on Wednesday night, during the missions time. Share the gospel with each age group; offer an invitation with each age group; make it easy for the children to leave, if they want to leave. (6) Give the child an opportunity to walk away, if they want to walk away. Offer something fun like snacks or recreation after the invitation. The serious kids will stay behind; the other kids will move on. (7) Meet with a child, one-on-one. Make sure you have enough trained counselors. It is difficult to share with children in a group setting. (8) Use a visual aid like a children s tract. Make sure the tract has pictures that illustrate the gospel message. Most children are picture learners. They grasp things better when they can see them. (9) Don t ask yes or no questions. Too often we say things like, Who wants to be saved? Who wants to trust Jesus? Who wants to ask Jesus to come into their hearts? Who wants to receive Jesus as their Savior? Who wants to become a Christian? Many children are people pleasers. They will say, Yes, just to make their counselor happy. (10) Ask open-ended questions, questions that force the child to share what he or she is really thinking. Why did you respond to the invitation? What have you been thinking about this week? Why do you want to become a Christian? What do you feel that God wants you to do? What is sin? Who is Jesus? What is salvation? Why did Jesus die on the cross? (11) Don t direct the conversation. It is easy to put words in a child s mouth. We want children to get saved. We are so tempted to tell them what to say. (12) Let children express themselves. Let them tell you what they are thinking, and what they want to do. Our goal is not get a Yes answer. Our goal is to help them do business with God. Encourage them. But don t force them to say what you want them to say. (13) Share a simple message, a message of sin and judgment, grace and forgiveness. A child must admit that he or she is a sinner. A child - fred creason must seek God s forgiveness. A child must believe that Jesus died for his/her sin. A child must ask Jesus to save him/her. A child must commit his/her life to Jesus, confessing Jesus as Savior and Lord. (14) Be attentive to the child s concept of sin. A child should be able to describe sin, as something that God doesn t want them to do, or something that parents don t want them to do. Children who don t understand sin will struggle to understand salvation from sin. Most likely, they won t be ready to trust Jesus as their Savior. (15) Be attentive to the child s concept of Jesus. We shouldn t expect mature doctrinal statements from children. But to be saved, children should have some idea of who Jesus is, why Jesus came to earth, and why Jesus died on the cross. (16) Be alert to group pressures. Some children will walk an aisle, because their friends are walking an aisle. Some children will seek baptism, because their friends are seeking baptism. We should listen carefully. Does the child want to get saved? Or are they seeking attention or affirmation? (17) Be alert to the Holy Spirit s work. We should praise children for seeking God, even if they don t understand what they are doing. We should encourage children to come back any time, to talk about Jesus again. (18) Help the child anchor his/her decision in memory. Many children who were saved at an early age struggle with assurance later in life (often in their late teens or early twenties). Soul searching is good at times. But doubts can be debilitating. A certificate of some kind will help the child remember the date of his/her salvation experience. Many years ago now, I received a phone call that one of our church teens had drowned. A sense of grief filled my soul. But a sense of thanksgiving set in as well. I had shared the gospel with this boy a few years earlier, during Vacation Bible School. He had trusted Jesus as his Savior. We mourned his passing. But we knew where he was with Jesus, in a far, far better place. VBS is a wonderful time to share the gospel. God brings children to our churches, children who need Jesus. We should thank God for the children. We should be prepared to share the gospel with them, in a clear and effective way. Fred Creason serves as Leadership Strategist & Northeast Region Missionary