The first time I heard about kids in Brazil sharing the gospel, I was stunned and amazed.
Preaching the gospel, praying and healing ?
On the streets and before congregations?
That’s wild!
That was about 10 years ago.
I was intrigued. I don’t see as many of those videos surfacing as before like the ones I used to see with kids preaching in the favelas; but I believe it is a telling of the times. The Scripture states in the gospel of John 14:12–17:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
The New York Times has a short clip on a Brazilian girl — Alani Santos, 11 years old then, whose mother said she had a gift for healing as early as a toddler. She has since been healing people of ailments in their body. There’s another 10 year old Joar Vitor who preaches fiery messages from the scripture in a congregation.
This always encouraged me about the times we’re heading into; because I have come to realize that in order for the Great Commission [Matthew 28:19–20] to even come about in its fullness, it cannot possibly be limited to missionaries and preachers on the pulpits.
There’s never a time I go back to read the book of Joel 2 in the Old Testament and not admire verse 28 which says:
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Peter refers to this verse in the Acts of the Apostles 2, verses 16–17 to a crowd after they received the promised of the Holy Spirit. These children could very well be part of a similar group that will do great exploits in our times, in fulfilling the Great Commission.
It is important that we nurture our children’s curiosity about the spiritual realm and in receiving the good news [Besorah — in Hebrew] of Yeshua (Christ).
For those who are professed and true believers in Yeshua (Christ), tending to the questions of children could be tricky. It means firstly, that parents should engage with the Scripture themselves and in the event that children’s questions are beyond one’s ability to answer; parents should point back to the biblical Word. Parents should also have their own prayer life and family prayer time.
The scriptures (both canonized and apocrypha) and a prayer life guided by the Holy Spirit should be ground zero, when looking for guidance on how to answer the myriad of questions that kids may have about the Spiritual realm.
Are parents going to be able to answer all questions? I guarantee you that’s a No! but ceasing the opportunity to pray together leads the inquirer back to the source- God himself. The bible becomes the blueprint to navigate spiritual understanding and experiences. Proverbs 22:6 says:
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Adjacent Story
I have a friend who is a medical doctor on the mission field who called and asked me to partner with her in prayer for her 4 year old. She says that her daughter constantly asks her about spiritual things and some of the questions are from left field.
They are not typical questions, so my friend is thrown for a loop when she is on many occasions unprepared for what comes out her little one’s mouth.
She did marvel that one time when her little one started calling out for her 15 minutes after she tucked her in for bedtime. When she cracked open the door to ask her daughter what was wrong, her then 3-year old said “Jesus says he loves you so much.”
“He told you that?” my friend asked
“Yes mommy,” her 3 year old replied, closed her eyes and went right back to sleep.
Many kids are very in-tuned with the spiritual realm and as much as they are engaged in that realm during their bed or nap time, they barely really know what to make of it. They express everything they see and hear and meet you at any time with a litany of questions.
My friend does not want to dismiss or trivialize her daughter’s musings or questioning, so she asked for prayer to help guide her approach as a parent in ministering to her little one.
The Importance of Recognizing Spiritual Engagement in Children
Personally, I think the kids being birthed into the world right now are on some other kick and I believe it is intentional.
After all, our souls don’t stay on this earth plane forever. There is mission, purpose and a lot of learning that is meant to be fulfilled for the short stint of time that we are here.
It is unfortunate though, if true Christ-centered parents don’t engage kids in their spiritual walk, children are likely to disengage at a certain point in their formative years, especially if the majority of their day or engagement is outside of a home-schooling environment where they are inundated by worldly and secular influences; not to mention demonic spiritual attacks.
It is important, that we see children as whole individuals with intended purpose and a plan for their lives. I do believe that establishing open dialogue with kids about the bible, faith and building a relationship with Christ is important.
It is easy to assume or pretend that they are not old enough or have cognitive ability to understand what’s in the Word. To that, I’d say try them.
For me, growing up — “My Book of Bible Stories,” was what really got me connected to biblical scripture. I knew all the famous bible stories like David and Goliath, Samson and Delilah, Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors, to name a few.
As early as 8 years old, I had no idea that these stories were in the bible itself or their greater context; but my exposure to those stories really started my love relationship with Christ. I was inquisitive.
Growing up Catholic, the institution had their own texts (e.g the Missal) which was used in church service (mass). To be honest, I don’t remember seeing one bible in church till I was probably a teenager when we had to suddenly get one for confirmation classes.
Thankfully, I broke out of that religious jail by my late twenties, but that is a whole other story for another time.
Going back to our kids in Brazil, some I am sure are in their young adult years now but I look forward to the days ahead when we will see more children and young adults bring others to the marvelous light of Christ. I think children have a unique ministry because their vision of the world is not yet tainted. They are brutally honest and are highly intuitive.
No one can determine how children will choose to walk out their journey on the earth, but we can in fact take time and patience in nurturing kingdom builders that will inherit the kingdom to come. I reference again here Proverbs 22:6 —
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it
For the years we’re heading into is going to look grimmer given the political, institutional and corporate greed of the day. I think its necessary for us to equip children and engage their questions on spirituality and setting the foundation of a relationship in Christ through prayer and even, worship.
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. [John 17:16]
Even so, we are reminded further in Matthew 19:14 [NIV] that Christ (Yeshua) said:
…“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
