One of the greatest privileges you have as a parent is to help your child come to faith in Christ. Many parents may feel like they don't quite know how or when to approach one of the most exciting moments of parenthood. Some worry that they won’t explain salvation properly. They might be tempted to just “leave it to the professionals” by relying on people at church or ministry events. That’s understandable, but God has given you the most important and influential role when it comes to leading your child to Christ. This guide is designed to help you feel more comfortable about the process when that time comes.

Step One: Lay a foundation

Your son or daughter grows in his or her understanding of God by developing a foundation; hearing stories from the Bible, learning scriptures, singing about Jesus and so forth. Your child also learns by experiencing life in your home; watching your example, feeling your love and learning right from wrong. We see this in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 that says, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Step Two: Discern readiness

Do your best to discern when your child is mature enough to begin fully grasping their need for salvation. Children may begin asking questions as a part of their spiritual journey and understanding. Avoid the temptation to push for a decision before he or she is ready to truly grasp the gospel. Your child may intellectually understand before being socially or spiritually ready. A child needs to understand that this is a personal decision and not just an opportunity to repeat rote answers.

Step Three: Ask questions

If you feel your child might be ready, ask a few questions to help gauge his or her level of understanding. For example, read Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Then ask questions like, “What is sin?” “How does your sin affect your relationship to God?” How they respond can help you sense when your child is ready to understand two important concepts:

• JESUS AS SAVIOR: The need for forgiveness and cleansing from sin which was made possible through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross
• JESUS AS LORD: The need to submit to God as “the boss” by making Jesus Christ the Lord of one’s life

Step Four: Keep talking

As your child continues to grow in their knowledge and understanding of salvation be prepared to continue the conversation. Your child is maturing and processing as they learn and this may need to be an opportunity for ongoing discussion.

Step Five: Guide your child in prayer for salvation

Romans 10 says, “…if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” If you sense your child has a basic understanding of what sin is as well as what it means to accept God’s gift of salvation and His Lordship, then you can guide him or her to pray along those lines. Instead of quoting specific words for your child to repeat, it’s best to prompt using his or her own words.

If after reading through this guide you would like additional assistance, feel free to request an appointment for you and your child to meet with the Children's Minister. If your child has become a believer, please contact the Children’s Ministry office to help guide in you the next steps in your child’s spiritual journey.