What would you say to this child?

One of the classes I taught this summer at Summer Missionary Training School was on counseling a child when he or she responds to an invitation to receive Christ. Most times this class is taught it covers a lot on what to do if a child says "I want to receive Christ" and a few minutes on what to do if a child says anything else. After seeing many people, regardless of age, struggle the first time they get in a counseling situation, decided to talk a new approach. I researched my files and developed a list of actual responses I've received to the question "What did you want to talk to me about?" I thought you might enjoy trying your hand at this exercise too. So, what would you say to this child?

Actual Responses from children

1. If I pray hard enough, can I do the signs of Moses?

2. My grandma died several years ago.

3. How do I get baptized?

4. My brother doesn’t believe Jesus is real ….But I believe Abraham Lincoln was real and I never seen him!

5. I want to know more about God.

6. How did God create the world?

7. How did Jesus know when He was to come back to life?

8. Is it true that everyone who says that they are saved is?

9. I’m having a problem with a friend at school.

10. I want to stay and talk with kids who come back. I want to tell them what it is like to live for the Lord

11. I have always seen people come back to talk to you about God, but I never have. Now I am here

12. How do I know what God wants me to do?

13. I want God in my life.

14. I know that just being good is not good enough to go to heaven.

15. On his second trip to counseling. “ I really want to become God’s child. I didn’t really mean it last time.”

16. If I already know the Bible, why do I have to read it

17. Why do some people worship on Saturday, the Sabbath, and Sunday, the Lord's Day?"

18. Why does God want me to be His child?

19. I am God’s child and I have cancer.

20. After a lesson on Elijah “Did King Ahab and Queen Jezebel ever pray to receive Christ as Savior?”

21. Two weeks ago when I was here, I became God's child and I want to get to know more about Him.

22. My mom taught me how to lie, cheat, and steal.

23. I have three Bibles at home. You have inspired me to read them.

24. it's easy to love those who are mean to you because "Jesus was nice to me when I was mean to Him"

25. I just love God and I have sinned a lot."

26. My 21 year old brother who smokes and sleeps on the basement floor. My father and brother are always yelling at each other.

27. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross to forgive sin? Why could he not just say, your sins are forgiven?"

28. Why did they have to use nails? Why couldn’t they just use duct tape?

29. Will God still love me even if I sin? I did ten bad things.

30. I think my house is haunted.

31. My stepdad’s short on money and we can’t pay the rent this month.

32. I hear a voice in my head telling me to not go to church.

33. I’ve never made a decision 2 believe in Jesus. I love Jesus and my friends make fun of me for it. I want to become God’s child so I can tell them too.

"I never knew learning about Jesus could be so much fun"

The phone rang at the 5-Day Club host's home. It was still several hours before Wednesday's 5-Day Club would begin. A mom of several of the children in the club called and told the host. "My kids just love 5-Day Club. They get up early in the morning asking if it is time yet to go to club. When they come home after each day, the kids are filled with excitement ready to tell me everything that happened. I never knew learning about Jesus could be so much fun!"


When the host told me this story, I was blown away. This story is proof positive that the more we get out there and share HIS story in a FUN way the more kids and their parents will see the true character and heart of Jesus and not some pre-conceived, negative idea about Him. Praise God!

"My son really said that!"

Isaiah. I first met him three years ago at a 5-Day Club a local Christian Day Care Center in our chapter area. Isaiah is one of those kids you just never forget. That first year he came, he was so interested in everything we were sharing about the Bible. Isaiah never missed a meeting those first few years. He was always the first one to say good bye after each meeting. As enthusiastic as Isaiah was, he never made a decision to receive Christ as Savior. Isaiah came to come the following year and still nothing regarding a decision to follow Christ.

This summer, when we arrived at the day care center, I instantly remembered Isaiah. He was listening carefully as I shared the story of Zaacheaus with the class. At the end of my Bible lesson, I gave the invitation to receive Christ. As I walked to the back of the room and waited for any children to come back to talk with me. I was thrilled when I saw Isaiah walk back to talk with me. I asked him why he came back to talk with me. He replied " I want to become God's child!" I was overjoyed as I reviewed the Gospel with Isaiah and as he prayed to receive Christ as Savior.

The next day at 5-Day Club the owner of the day care center introduced me to Isaiah's mom. I was pleased to meet her. I explained to her what happened with Isaiah the previous day. The mom looked at me with tears in her eyes and said "My son really said he wanted to receive Christ?" As I watched this mother, I was so pleased to see a parent understand how important and special this decision to receive Christ really is. After a while, the mom left the day care center with a smile and look of pure happiness on her face. Praise God!