IT IS an inspiring sight to see a church with a large number of children in it. "Less time and effort are necessary for the winning of twenty children to Christ than one adult," declares Dr. George Bailey in the Vacation Bible School Manual. Turning the telescope around and looking through the other end, we see that a class of five children is as promising as an audience of one hundred adults. What preacher would not be delighted to have an average attendance of five hundred adults in his evangelistic meetings? Twenty-five children would offer just as bright a prospect, according to Dr. Bailey's statement. And fifty children—what a challenge!
Childhood is the age of conversion. Far more children give their hearts to God at the age of twelve than at any other period in life. Practically everyone who is ever converted makes the decision sometime between the ages of eight and sixteen. Ask for a show of hands in any congregation and note the difference between the number who were converted before sixteen and those who were converted after. "A careful investigation discloses that of those who reach the age of twenty-three years, having never made any profession of Christ, only-two out of one hundred will ever do so, leaving ninety-eight who never will."— Clarence C. Benson, The Sunday School in Action, p. 177. Seldom indeed does an adult convert ever become a minister or an active worker in the cause of God.
The vast majority of our adult converts were members of a church before learning the doctrines of the Adventist faith. The most productive field in which any evangelist can work is with the children of the church and the next most productive territory is the children of the neighborhood. The messenger of the Lord says, "We may bring hundreds and thousands of children to Christ if we will work for them."— Counsels to Parents and Teachers, p. 172.
The Junior Sermon
The good shepherd feeds his lambs as regularly as he feeds his sheep. Every Sabbath he has a story, or an object lesson, or a Bible drill for the children. One pastor I know was called to a certain church that was showing very little signs of life o£ any kind. The meetings were dull, the attendance poor, and the soul winning—-well, the membership was dwindling steadily. The situation was enough to dishearten any newcomer. But he began working for the children—what few remained in the church—and that sleepy church woke up. More children came and more parents came with them and still more children and more parents. Every Sabbath without fail he had an interesting, inspiring, thought-provoking story for the children. Of course, it took time. He spent as much preparation on his junior lesson as he did on his adult sermon, but it paid. It paid in increased attendance, in attention, and in results. Today that same church building is taxed to capacity to hold the crowds.
Different preachers have different methods of conducting these junior sermons. Some invite all the children to come forward and sit on the carpet in front of the pulpit for their story. This has the advantage of giving some of the restless ones an opportunity to move about and also enables the minister to remind the children to sit with their parents after the story. One has to watch, however, that small children do not try to race to the front and then fight over choice positions. This confusion can be avoided if some of the older children are appointed as monitors and if the pastor, when inviting them to the front, suggests that they come quietly and slowly. Some pastors in small churches have had very good success in maintaining proper order and in developing excellent relationships with the children in this manner.
Many ministers allow the juniors to remain with their parents but have a special service for them before the senior sermon. This junior story is listed right in the church bulletin and is a definite part of the service.
Other preachers announce at the beginning, "I have a story for the children in my sermon, but I am not going to tell you when it is coming. It may be the first thing, it may be the last, or it could be somewhere in between. But at the close of the sermon, I am going to ask all the children who heard the story to raise their hands and tell me something about it." If the preacher is at all interesting, this helps to hold the attention fairly well all through the sermon. However, this method can become stale very quickly if used too often or if not handled skillfully.
But whatever method is used reserve a little corner in every sermon for the children. It will pay rich dividends. The children will feel that they are wanted by the church and that their pastor expects them to be there. He has planned something special just for them. One thing is certain, when the children get the lesson, the adults will have it too. Another thing, a story is remembered longer than the sermon. Suppose it does take twice as long to get the story ready to tell as it does to outline the sermon—it will be remembered longer. If you doubt it, try this little experiment. Next Sabbath give the same sermon you preached ten weeks ago and see how many people remember it. Then tell the same story you told ten weeks ago and see how many remember that.
A Personal Interest
The minister who is friendly to the children usually has their attention when he preaches. They have to become acquainted with the messenger before they can become acquainted with the message. The pastor who shows his face in the Sabbath school divisions, who drops in on the Pathfinders, and who visits the church school is in reality preparing the children to join the baptismal class. Children like to be noticed. Calling a child by his name, greeting him with a smile, shaking his hand at the door, mean as much to a child as to an adult.
One minister made it a rule that wherever he was pastor he would conduct one xiTorship period every week in the church school. In localities where the church building was near the school, he would take the children right into the sanctuary for this little religious service. Naturally, he baptized a number of children every spring.
True, the infant does not see the necessity for a mother's room or understand the meaning of the baby dedication service, but the parents are benefited. They are more likely to realize their sacred responsibility and join parent study groups when the church shows a definite interest in the child from the very start.
The Teen-agers
A teen-ager likes to be where he feels he is needed. Many young people leave the church never more to return because they feel that they are not wanted. Somehow, somewhere they get the impression that they are more trouble than they are worth and therefore they lose interest. The church needs its young people and the young people need the church. Neither can succeed without the other. The wise pastor gives special thought and study to this important group, and knowing that the teen-ager's religion calls for action, he seeks ways and means of using the talents of all. Some may be organized into a junior choir or orchestra that will in deed and in truth greatly enhance the worship period. If the number of musicians is too small, the teenagers can join the regular choir or orchestra.
Some well-trained pages or ushers could add dignity and decorum to some of the services of the church. Instead of the pastor and other church officers having to locate various ones, alert pages could make these contacts much quicker and better. A page in the pastor's study, another in the choir room, and one in the main foyer could keep the church machinery running smoothly.
What a favorable impression could be made on a visitor if, after being greeted by a senior host or hostess, he should be escorted by a courteous teen-ager to a seat. Even the regular members of the church would appreciate being shown to a seat by a gallant usher or a graceful usherette. Having ushers might forestall latecomers from stalking in while the special music is being given or at other inappropriate times.
There are many ways in wThich teenagers can assist the church officers to do their work more effectively and smoothly. One or two might assist the Home and School librarian with the lending and receiving of the books at the home and school booth. One or two might assist the treasurer in passing out the receipts. And some may help in the arranging of the flowers. A mother with several small children could certainly use some help in the mother's room. What motorist wouldn't like to be shown to a place to park?
Certainly it would not be advisable to appoint a teen-ager to a certain responsibility and then leave him to grope his way around, or give him a task that would keep him from attending the service or deny him the privilege of hearing the sermon. All of these posts should be before- or after-sermon duties. Each boy and girl should be given work suitable to his talents and then trained for his post of service. Of course, the choir and orchestra will meet regularly for practice, but why not have an Ushers' Club or something like it? This is a golden opportunity to impress upon these young people the solemnity of church responsibilities. No work for God should be done carelessly or indifferently. Those who perform services in the sanctuary should practice their roles until they can move about in a graceful, dignified manner. Awkwardness does not add to one's spiritual attainment. Even one's clothes tell for or against the church. If one is neat and properly dressed, his influence will be on the side of right. If one is slovenly clothed or gaudily attired, he will witness against the message. In the days of the children of Israel the Lord was very particular about the dress of those who ministered before Him.
These teen-agers should understand that their conduct during the week, as well as on Sabbath, was a factor in determining whether they should assist with church services or not. The carrying of responsibility calls for correctness of action.
Let us remember that "the greatest asset of the church is its children. They are of more value to the church than all its beautiful buildings and its great institutions, because they are the real lifeblood of the church. They are its future active members, its church officers, its Sabbath school leaders and teachers, its doctors and medical workers, its administrators, its ministers, and foreign missionaries."— R. R. Breitigam, The Challenge of Child Evangelism, p. 33.
