Why Tell Them?????
There was this one youngster in the Good News Club who just couldn’t sit still very long. I was sharing with the group about Jesus dying for our sins. It is always good to give examples, so I did… “have you ever told a lie?” The boy looked at me and almost defiantly and replied, “no!” So I looked directly at him and asked him again. “No” was his response again. He didn’t even bat an eye or look around. So, I gave other examples like: telling a lie, taking a cookie without asking, disobeying your parents, and others. All of which he replied in the same way. NO. Now either this boy was being really ornery, or he really believed what he was saying!
People want us to just talk about the LOVE of Jesus, but how can we really comprehend His love when we don’t know or understand what He did for us on the cross?
In today’s world children on the majority, have a dismal life without Jesus. They are ignored, despised, harassed, made to stumble, abused, starved, and used for all types of horrors. It is alarming how many children are the victims of trafficking and “grooming” where “groomers” over indulge them with gifts, drawing them away from their secure environments, thus making them dependent then arranging gang rapes on these children so that they are forced to do as they are told. The problem of drugs in elementary schools is large and increasing. Drug dealers prey on young children and often force these 8 and 9 year olds to sell drugs for them. Some statistics in North America alone:
- 1,500 children die from abuse each year. There are 140,000 injuries to children from abuse each year. There are 1.7 million reports of child abuse each year.
- More than 2 million cases of child abuse and neglect are reported each year in the United States. An estimated 150,000 to 200,000 new cases of sexual abuse occur each year
- Among school children who come out of the eighth grade, 52% have tasted alcohol, 41% have smoked cigarettes at least once and 20% have given weed consumption a try
- In 2007, 250 children were kidnapped and only 86% were recovered.
- the largest consumer of Internet pornography is 12-17 years old?
- Child pornography generates $3 billion annually
- Websites offering illegal child pornography 100 thousand
- Daily Gnutella “child pornography” requests 116 thousand
In the World:
- Over half a billion children are struggling to survive on under $1 per day
- 250,000 children and young people are infected with HIV/AIDS every month
- 130 million children lack access to education and 246 million children are child laborers
- 8.4 million children are trapped in slavery, trafficking, debt bondage, prostitution, pornography and other illicit activities
- 500,000 young people under 18 are exploited as child soldiers and 30,000 children die each day from preventable diseases
These are just a few I was able to get from the internet, but you get the picture. I hope.
Children are the most open, attentive, loving, giving, devoted, forgiving creatures on this earth. They are a gift to be treasured and nurtured. They are a promise of hope for every Generation.
What does God have to say to us about the children? Matthew 19, 13 the disciples were trying to hinder the children from being brought to Jesus. Perhaps they believed that children aren’t that important; so don’t bother the master with them. Jesus replied in verse 14, “Let the children come unto me and do not hider them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.” In chapter 18, Jesus instructs that we need to become like children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus goes on to say in Mark 9, 37 “whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. What’s with that? Perhaps our view of children needs to be revolutionized?
This is why I do what I do, work with children and tell them about the love of Jesus. CEF, Inc wants to save them and teach them how to stand firm in the Word of God and their personal relationship to Him. They need hope in the midst of all the evils in the world wanting so desperately to destroy them. St Augustine said: “hope has 2 beautiful daughters, their names are anger and courage. Anger that things are the way they are and courage to make them the way they ought to be.” It isn’t courage alone that will save the children, it’s hope and we have to bring hope to the children.
You can be involved in this vital ministry as well. I need more people to join my team of supporters so that I can move to Alberta at the beginning of June. I still lace around $1000.00 in support a month. I know these are difficult times but would you prayerfully consider joining the team whether monthly or a one-time giving. “Little is much when God is in it!” You can send your donations in to CEF, Inc for Mari Isaacson account #E3AT 4541 PO Box 348, Warrenton MO 63383. Thank you. 
There was a boy who loved Jesus and would share Jesus with all his friends at school. Well,the teacher called the parents to inform them of this thinking the parents would discourage their child. Just the opposite was the case. The parents were so proud of their child and let him know it. Children are great little missionaries, if we only give them the chance. Please help me tell the children of Alberta about Jesus.
God bless you!
Mari Isaacson