Last
week Cami and I coordinated a camp for our church with 65 children and 15
leaders with the theme of “Rome”. Sixteen of the children (25%) came from
Orthodox families, and for many of them, this was their first contact with an Evangelical
Church. Cami and I were responsible for regiment I (6 to 8 years old). On
Wednesday, the lesson came from Romans 5:1-11 “only Jesus and His Love can give
meaning to my life”. The children
each received coins they could use to bid on auction items. There were really
popular items children could recognize the logo and there were “cheaper” candies wrapped in white paper. In
the end the winning bidders received their prizes. Big disappointment – the
popular items, were just empty containers
and what was supposed to be in them, was actually wrapped in the white paper. We
talked about our feelings and went to visit Paul. We found Paul in prison talking
to Brutus about the love of Jesus and about salvation. In our small groups, Mihnea
(8 years old) had a question that he could not wait to ask even before we
started reading from the Bible. He asked me: “Alex, I really do not see the
connection between the game we played today and what Paul told us. I know there
is always a strong connection – please let me know what the connection is.” I
realized then, how important it is for children to be taught consistently.
Before you know it they demand to be taught the right way – the Biblical way. I
asked Mihnea to have a bit more patience and to wait until we read from the
Bible. We started reading Romans 5:1-11. “This hope does not disappoint us,
for God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit,
who is God's gift to us”. All of the children realized that
only Jesus and His love is our hope that never disappoints anyone. The children then wrote a request for God to
book a place for them in heaven. I was surprised how many children understood
that only Jesus and his loving sacrifice is our reason to be with GOD eternally.
The undersigned Mihnea, “please book a place in heaven
for me because I believe in Lord Jesus”
The undersigned Bianca from Bucharest, “please approve a place in heaven for me
because I don’t want to be disappointed”
Request: “Lord please accept me in Heaven because you are full of Love and the
best, plus I do good things.” Signed Loana
Children can understand the Bible, all of it, including
Bible passages like Romans that are considered, by some, to be for adults only.
We just have to find the way to connect the Truth with their life experience. Continue
to pray for all children and their families and that the seed planted in their
hearts will grow and bear fruits.
Alex Bruda
