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I know this may sound radical, but we are suggesting that all young people should be raised with the conviction that they are to be Our calling is to join churches today by equipping leaders to reach, disciple, and equip children to minister in the body of Christ and to fulfill the Great Commission. We believe churches must embrace four important biblical principles to do so. Family (Deuteronomy 6:1-8): Parents are the number one spiritual influence on the spiritual life of their children. Parents have an average of 3,000 hours each year with their children, whereas churches have approximately 300. Parents have a calling to teach and train their children at home. We are committed to training and providing resources for families so that they can successfully disciple their children at home and participate in the Great Commission. Discipleship (Matthew 28:19-20): Churches are called to full the Great Commission by making disciples. Through proper training, teachers move from teaching knowledge of Scripture to being disciple-makers. “The role of discipleship is for the mentee, the one being discipled, to become a mentor; to multiply—make other disciples. In essence, the discipleship is designed for the player to become a coach.”[2] (Robby Gallaty) Ministry Involvement (Ephesians 4:11-13): Churches are called to equip the saints—including children— for ministry. The Holy Spirit has gifted every believer in the body of Christ, and these gifts bring purpose and identity, especially to children as they begin to grow in their faith. Through proper training, churches moves children from being spectators to fully engaging them in the church’s ministry and the Great Commission. Missions (Acts 1:8): Seventy percent of those who trust Christ internationally do so between the ages of 4 and 14 years. The most effective agents in reaching this age group are 4- to 14-year-olds. Through proper training, churches embrace the Acts 1:8 model for training children and students to be missionaries. Churches develop a strategic plan to reach their community and commission their kids to take part in sharing the Gospel message with a lost world through evangelistic events and mission trips.
[1] Ken Hemphill and Richard Ross, Parenting with Kingdom Purpose (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2005. Kindle Edition.), 14. [2] Robby Gallaty, Growing Up: How to Be a Disciple Who Makes Disciples (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2013. Kindle Edition.), 13.
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missionaries and that their primary goal is to use their gifts and resources to advance God's kingdom so that every tribe, nation, and people group have the opportunity to respond to their rightful king.”