In late March, the wife and I, and other CBC folks, made a trip to the Samaritan’s Purse Conference called Global Connect. The theme of this year’s event was the recognition of the distribution of over 200 million shoebox gifts to children around the world. Over the many years that this outreach to kids has been going on, the number of children receiving this gift has continued to grow. Samaritan’s Purse gives this to children completely free in the Name of Jesus. As you can see in the photos below, all types of methods are used to transport these boxes to their destinations.
As funding is available, the older children receiving this free gift are offered an opportunity to be enrolled in a twelve-week Bible training course called The Greatest Journey. Those who enroll come to class once a week for 12 weeks and receive age appropriate, in-depth instruction in the Word of God including the plan of salvation. They are given Jesus, FREE. As you can see in the chart to the right, this makes a huge impact on children around the world. The Samaritan’s Purse Greatest Journey program, as valuable as it is, continues to be underfunded. We were shown that of the children eligible to be in the program, the funding for this training is about 40% of the need. It costs $6.00 per child for the training. Most of us are not aware of this great opportunity to share Jesus for such a small amount.
Jesus said in Matthew 19: 14, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” The beauty of this plan is that upon graduation the children are encouraged to take the Word of God to their homes and disciple their families.
This program creates opportunity for churches to be planted in villages across the world. Jesus also commanded us in the Great Commission to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” (Matthew 28:19)
If children around the world can be given the tools in their toolbox to share Jesus and the Gospel with others, and bring results that are manifested in the planting of 1,000 churches a year, this makes me wonder, where are Christians in this country? Do we take seriously the words of Jesus in His commissioning statement?
I believe we need to start a similar program for youth in America. Recently, I asked Franklin Graham how we can bring our youth in America back to the church. His answer, without any hesitation, was, “Teach them the Word of God, starting while they are young children!” This comes from an individual that has spent his life sharing Jesus with as many folks as possible.
Maybe we in America need to use this Greatest Journey model for teaching kids about Jesus and create one for the youth in this country. It’s food for thought! May the Lord richly bless you.
Grover Duling – CBC Executive Board
