Finding A Lost Child

What would we have sacrificed to find her son? Time was no object. If money would have helped, it would have been eagerly offered.

This mother's agony was very real to me. As I hugged my dear friend, I could feel her overwhelming fear. Was he hurt? Had he been kidnapped? Would she ever see her son again?

The boy was found riding his bicycle in the country. The path he had chosen was longer than expected and it grew dark before he realized the danger.

Every day children are involved in tragedies. We may shed tears for a child who has been kidnapped, murdered, abused or neglected. How often do we shed tears for the countless children who are not learning about Jesus?

A couple of years ago, I started sending my reproducible Bible lessons to children who couldn't be in my Bible class. Two girls visited class when they came to see their grandparents. They obviously loved Bible class, but their parents never took them.

A boy's parents fell away and they moved to a distant state. A girl's parents fell away. She came to class for a short time, then her parents discouraged her. One girl came to VBS. Two of my day care children moved away (they had gone with me to VBS). The list grew.

At times I wondered if I was wasting my time and postage. Then I received a heart-warming letter from the two girls. Two mothers sent stamps because their children loved the lessons so much. Just recently a mother told me her son has all the lessons I've sent him in a folder in his room.

1. Grandchildren who don't live close enough to go with you to class.
2. Former students who have moved away.
3. Neighborhood children who would love to go to class, but can't due to parental neglect (those who won't make sure they are up and ready to go) or scheduling conflict (such as activities on Wednesday night).
4. Nieces and nephews whose parents don't take them to Bible class.
5. Children of unfaithful members.
6. Children who visit VBS or Bible class.

1. Lessons should be written by a member(s) of the Lord's church.
2. They should include the printed lesson portion and at least one written activity. Since you won't be grading the lessons, be sure the Scriptures are offered so students may look for the answers in the Bible.
3. Lessons should be reproducible or printed on individual sheets. Do not plan to duplicate copyrighted sources unless they are reproducible. To do so is against the law.
4. Be sure the plan of salvation is covered thoroughly (preferably more than once).
5. Children should be taught how to worship God in spirit and truth.
6. The establishment of the church and God's plan for church organization should be covered.
7. In short, ask yourself, "Will the children who study this curriculum learn how to recognize the church of the New Testament?"

When you mail the first lesson, send an introductory letter telling what you plan to do. Do not ask the children to let you know if they want to receive the lessons. They may not have the means to contact you. Even if you send a SASE, some may not reply even though they would study the lessons. Do tell them they may let you know if they wish to have their names removed from the list.

Tell other Christians how you are reaching out to children. Members often lament that they aren't good at teaching people, so they can't help with evangelism. There are very few members who could not help with this project if they were so inclined. Christ's command to "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15) can be fulfilled to a much greater degree by reaching out to children. Those who are not old enough to be converted yet will be prepared and properly taught when the times is right.

Heed Ezekiel's warning: "But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand" (Ezekiel 33:6).

There are few who would not eagerly search for a lost child. Will you seek to teach a child, so he won't grow into a lost adult, and an eternally lost soul?