JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP)–When 8-year-old Sarah Schmidt began asking questions about salvation and baptism, her mother, Beth Schmidt, enrolled her in a new Christians’ class designed especially for children at Deermeadows Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla.
Since the class was begun, nearly 90 percent of these children have made professions of faith and have been baptized.
“I knew the class would offer an in-depth approach to baptism and its meaning and become a reinforcement to Sarah’s desire to make a profession of faith,” Beth said.
After attending the class and searching Scriptures at home with her mother, Sarah walked down the aisle and was baptized, fully aware and confident of the decision she was making.
Offered four times a year to children in first through sixth grades, the evangelistic class provides children who have made professions of faith or are curious about salvation the opportunity to understand what it means to be a Christian and to understand their new decision.
The new Christians’ class “helps children nail down and understand their commitment to Christ and starts them on their walk with Christ,” said Kitty Hogan, Deermeadows’ minister to children. “We have a window of opportunity with children to share Christ. As they get older and more involved in non-church activities, the more difficult it gets. If we miss those opportunities, we may not get another chance.”
The class, led by Shelly and John Raymond, is a five-week program that presents children with biblical concepts and practical applications in taking their first steps to Christianity. It includes an overview of heaven, hell, sin and its consequences, assurance of salvation, the Holy Spirit, baptism and the Lord’s supper. The children are required to complete homework, memorize Scripture and discuss their assignments with their parents.
The idea of baptism and being placed under water can be frightening to children who are new Christians. So Raymond leads the children on a tour of the baptistry, where she tells them about the depth and temperature of the water, the symbolism of baptism and the baptismal process.
The curriculum emphasizes the importance of prayer, worship, Bible study, tithing, witnessing and discipleship.
“Evangelism is just the beginning of the process,” Raymond said. “As part of God’s family, we want them to know that we have chores and responsibilities.
“Although each child’s spiritual walk is different, it amazes me how they really get and understand the full picture,” Raymond said. “As a child, they don’t have a hardness to sin and their innocence allows them to believe and accept the gospel message without any doubts. Unlike adults who need to see it and touch it, children just believe by faith.”
Church members are seeing a ripple effect in the children’s lives and their walk with the Lord. After accepting Christ, Raymond said, one child shared what he called “the most exciting thing in his life” in a letter to his uncle.
Another saw his friend come to know Christ during Royal Ambassador camp and others are praying fervently for their lost friends and loved ones.
“The Holy Spirit is working and moving in children’s lives,” Raymond said. “It’s such a joy to see them respond. Our hope is to give the children such a foundation that no matter where their lives take them they will have a Christian foundation to stand on.”
