Witnessing tools go ‘Over the Top’

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–Florida Baptists are taking the Southern Baptist Convention “Everyone Can” challenge to new heights through a one-day event focused on reaching children for Christ and equipping them to share the Gospel.

The National Children’s Evangelism Conference: “Encourage, Equip, Evangelize” (CE3) April 7-8 at North Jacksonville Baptist Church will center on the theme, “Over the Top” and will be a time of evangelistic training for anyone interested in seeing children come to know the Lord, said Don McCutcheon, director of the Florida Baptist Convention Evangelism Strategy Department.

“This generation of children has been the most detached from the Gospel message in the history of our nation,” McCutcheon said. “We need to take the Gospel to our children, helping them to become disciples at an early age so that in giving their entire lives to Christ they can base life choices on biblical teaching.”

Citing statistics from the California-based Barna Research Group, McCutcheon emphasized the importance of reaching young people today for the church of tomorrow.

A 2004 study found that nearly half, or 43 percent, of Americans who accept Jesus Christ as their savior do so before the age of 13.

Sue Johns, associate in the Convention’s Women’s Missions and Ministries Department and member of the CE3 planning committee echoed McCutcheon’s urgency for an event that provides training in winning children to Christ.

“Many experts tell us that if children do not accept Christ before age 13, the chances of them ever becoming Christians are lessened significantly,” Johns said.

“The faith of a child is a precious thing and learning to plant seeds of faith and nurturing those seeds as children grow in their understanding of God is a privilege and a responsibility that adults cannot take lightly,” she added.

Conference leaders include Skip Arnhart, North American Mission Board (NAMB) Children’s Evangelism Associate, and David Burton, the Convention’s evangelism director.

Arnhart will discuss effective methods found in an in-depth NAMB study that help lead children to salvation in Christ and to experience baptism.

Participants can attend a variety of conferences designed to address their individual needs and interests in children’s evangelism.

Break-out session topics include evangelism in children’s church; VBS evangelism and teaching children to pray evangelistically. Other issues will be how to follow up after conversion of faith and discipling new converts.

The CE3 conference will also provide exposure to a host of evangelistic tools like “The Net for Children,” “Flipper Flapper” and “Upward Sports.”

Worship during the conference will be led by Jeff Slaughter, a singer/ songwriter and worship leader from Nashville, Tenn. Slaughter has written and arranged LifeWay's VBS music since 1997 and is the featured worship leader at Lifeway’s Centri-Kid camp.

“A community impact component to this national conference teaches participants to make a community intentionally evangelistic through sports leagues, family projects, Vacation Bible School and more,” said Johns.

Offering the hope of Christ to children and teaching them to share the message of the Gospel, provides an opportunity to touch the lives of the spiritually lost adults they interact with, McCutcheon added.

“Children can and do make significant spiritual decisions for Christ and today many of our missionaries and ministers came to know Christ at an early age,” McCutcheon said.

The CE3 inference is for all individuals interested in learning to share the Gospel with children. Cost to attend is $75 before March 7 and includes two meals. A $10 late fee applies.

For more information or to register for the event contact the Evangelism Strategy Department at 800-226-8584, ext. 3094.