it's not about just praying a prayer

Since beginning in the ministry of CEF, I have met people who are very concerned about the fact that we are giving the Gospel to children. They have expressed their fears that we or a CEF volunteer will lead the child in a prayer that will then give that child a false sense of security of their salvation when in fact they may not have truly understood the message or what they were doing. Honestly, that might happen. But we don't want that to happen. That is why when CEF workers are trained, whether Good News Club workers or Christian Youth in Action, they are trained to be very clear in their presentation of the gospel and also are trained in how to counsel a child for salvation. NEVER is the leader supposed to pray a prayer while up front that the children can repeat after as a means of salvation. Our workers are trained to give the message of salvation in the Bible lesson, weaving into the story the fact that we are all sinners, that sin separates us from a holy God and that because of God's love for us, He made a way for us to be reconciled to Him. He sent His perfect, sinless son Jesus to take the punishment for our sins. After the children hear the message they are given a chance to respond. They meet with a leader or leaders who ask them what they came back for. They listen as the child gives their understanding of the gospel and then using the Wordless Book as a tool, reiterate the points of the gospel using Scripture to back up every point. If the child demonstrates a clear understanding of their need for a Savior, they pray in their own words a prayer to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

I say all of that because it is very fresh in my mind. All 112 teenagers who were at CYIA camp last week had to learn how to present the gospel. I listened as Matt reviewed his class on counseling a child for salvation. He took that class SO seriously because it is the reason we do what we do. We want to see children saved! I personally have witnessed the light in a child's eyes the moment they realize that that they are God's child and that He will NEVER leave them. Nothing compares.

Anyway, I put on here the chart the CYIA-ers had to memorize, practice and be evaluated on in order to even be accepted as a summer missionary. Each color on the chart represents a color in the wordless book. This chart is like a cheat sheet- a way to remember what to include but not to be recited. Much prayer goes into each club and it is GOD who does the work and GOD who saves each child!

So, to the critics..... "you can doubt a child's ability to communicate with God, but never doubt God's ability to communicate with a child."

THE WORDLESS BOOK CHART

	Gold	Dark	Red	Clean	Green
What this page teaches	Who God is 1. Creator—He made you 2. Love—He loves you 3. Heaven 4. Holy	Problem/Need 1. Definition of sin 2. Examples of sin 3. Born in sin 4. Separated from God	Solution/Way 1. Perfect Son of God 2. Took your punishment 3. Gave His blood 4. Died and rose again 5. Now in Heaven	Appropriation 1. Invitation 2. Assurance of salvation	Spiritual Growth 1. Confession of sin 2. Growing in Christ • Pray • Read and obey the Bible • Witness • Go to church and Sunday School
Bible verse	John 3:16a	Romans 3:23	Hebrews 9:22b 1 Corinthians 15:3-4	John 1:12 Hebrews 13:5b	1 John 1:9
How to explain these truths	Explain who God is: He made everything—the trees, the mountains. He made you. God loves you and He is preparing a place in Heaven for His children. He is holy or pure and His home in Heaven is, too.	Sin is anything that does not please God. Examples: lie, steal, etc. We are born with a "want to" to do wrong things. The Bible says we must be punished for our sins. That means to be separated from God forever and ever.	Christ, the Son of God, never did anything wrong. He willingly took your punishment on the cross. God put your sin on Him. Christ gave His blood for us. He died but He didn't stay dead. He rose again. Now He is in Heaven.	Read and explain verse. Review the message of salvation by asking questions. Child prays to receive Christ. Give him assurance—Whose child are you? How do you know? Read and explain Hebrews 13:5b, 6. Will the Lord Jesus ever leave you?	Green reminds us of things that grow. Now that you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, you should grow in Him. 1. Confession of sin 2. Growing in Christ Explain that he should: • Pray • Read and obey the Bible • Witness • Go to church and Sunday School
Suggested links	“But there is one thing that can never be in Heaven. That is sin.”	“God has a wonderful plan so you and I don't have to be punished for our sins.”	“And now because of what the Lord Jesus did for you, you can have your sins forgiven.”	“When you become God’s child, He wants you to get to know Him better.”	Give literature Thank-you prayer Pray for the child

Each page of the Wordless Book includes detail of importance. The student would need to know these truths to get a good foundation to get started correctly. As he grows in the knowledge of the message of salvation, the Holy Spirit can bring to his mind the exact truth to be taught to meet the need of the child at that moment.