Reaching children with Scripture …
Opening the 4/14 Window.
A friend recently introduced me to the 4/14 Global Missions Movement. When I visited the 4/14 website, I was struck by the fact that nearly 50% of the world’s population is under 20 years of age, which indicates that children are the largest people group in the world yet to be connected with Christ!
In Canada, 65% of Canadian Christian adults came to faith in Christ before they were 12, and 80% came to faith in Christ before they were 19 (Child Evangelism Fellowship). Worldwide, 71% of Christians commit their lives to Christ before age 15 and an additional 10% before age 19. Only 19% of Christians come to faith in Christ as adults (Based on a study by the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1996).
Rethinking church priorities.
With these statistics in mind, one would think that most of the efforts to connect people with Christ would be child-focused. But they’re not. Most of what we do is geared to adults. Look at any local church budget, and you’ll see that pastor’s salaries (those ministering to adults), buildings (where the largest and “most important” space with the best audio-visual system is where the adults meet), and adult-related programs are the big ticket items.
Our priorities are back to front. A new focus is needed for a new era. How long will it be until we wake up to the fact that each successive generation in the Western world has fewer Christians than the previous generation? And what will it take for us to hear Christ, really hear Him, saying, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” Matthew 19:14 (NIV).
It’s time to act. For those who would move forward, consideration must be given to how we can “reach, rescue, root, and release children into relationship with Jesus Christ …” (the goal of the Global Missions Movement).
Of course, Bible engagement should be an essential component of any missional strategies to connect children and youth with Jesus. If children are going to have a relationship with Christ that matters deeply, then we must do everything we can to help them acquire a deep commitment to the Scriptures. But that’s easier said than done. From the vantage point of a CEO/Executive Director charged with leading an organization that works to connect Canadians with Jesus and His Story, I’m keenly aware that we have a long way to go.
Restructuring and investing in children.
So, I have a question for my colleagues in the Bible agency world. How should the 4/14 Window figure into our plans? Historically, most Bible agencies, translators, publishers and distributors have invested the lion’s share of operating capital into developing resources for adults. Maybe it’s time to take stock. Do we need more English versions of the Bible for adults? Isn’t 800+ versions more than enough? Why, like the Titanic, do we continue full steam ahead with developing new Bible Apps, resources and delivery systems for adults? Especially when we know that “women’s Bibles, men’s Bibles, student Bibles, even software Bibles or the Bible online have not increased the numbers of people reading (the Bible).” (cf. Barna).
Opening the 4/14 window. There are 3 billion children and youth. Can we reach them together? Developmentally speaking, children between 8-12 years old are more inclined to matters of faith than any other life stage. Imagine what could be done if the budgets of all the entities producing Bibles or Bible-related resources were restructured to develop resources that would significantly help “reach, rescue, root, and release children into relationship with Jesus Christ.”
What strategies for reaching children with Scripture would you suggest? Please share in the comments below.
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Helping Children Read the Bible
Summary
Reaching children with Scripture: The 4/14 Global Missions Movement highlights the urgent need to focus on children, as nearly 50% of the world’s population is under 20. Statistics show that most people come to faith in Christ before age 19, making children the most receptive group for faith development. Despite this, church efforts and resources are predominantly aimed at adults, with insufficient focus on children. To address this, Bible agencies should prioritize creating resources that engage children and help them develop a deep relationship with Scripture, aligning to “reach, rescue, root, and release children into a relationship with Jesus Christ.”
© Scripture Union Canada
