In the summer of 2002, I accepted a new children’s ministry position at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Right from the start, the Lord quickly moved me out of my ministry box into a new paradigm.

The Lord began to lead me down a new path to train and equip preteens in my church for ministry.

He turned my whole life and ministry upside down because of what I witnessed.

We called this new preteen ministry L.I.T. (Leaders In Training).

That first summer, we taught preteens how to share their faith, and then we took them outside the church to minister.

We did what is often called a backyard Bible club.

At the time, I allowed the kids to do everything except teach the Bible studies.

We trained them to minister with puppets, lead worship, and run our sound system. Our plan was for them to do everything.

As we moved through the week of our Bible club, I watched the excitement in the preteens rise as they ministered to the children that attended.

On Wednesday, I taught the Bible study and gave an invitation for children to respond to the Gospel.

Three children raised their hands and wanted to talk with someone about accepting Christ.

This was exactly what we were there to do.

I asked three of our preteens to counsel the children that came forward.

They took the children aside, sat down with them, and started talking with them about the Gospel.

They read through the Counseling Card we had provided for them, and then, one-by-one, the preteens bowed their heads and prayed with the children they had counseled.

I had my doubts and was unsure if the preteens really could have done it.

However, when I sat down and spoke with the three children that had been counseled by the preteens, I was convinced they had made genuine professions of faith in Christ.  

In His still, small voice, the Lord asked me a question: “Clint, is the abundant life I give for children, too? Or is it just for youth and adults?”

The answer I found in the days to come was—YES, it is for children, too!

He has a wonderful plan for them to be the Church today—now!

If you are looking for a way to disciple and equip preteens in your church, click here to learn more about preteen L.I.T.