Raising a Generation of Children Desperate for the Gospel: iBelieve

By Lana Silk

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’” Matthew 19:14 

Years ago, my husband and I planted a church alongside a group of like-minded friends. It was an act of obedience to a call from the Lord. What inspired us to take that final leap of faith? Our children. 

Our youngest was five years old at that time, and I still remember feeling frustrated that, at times, the extent of her learning and ministry participation through church seemed limited to deciding what color Joseph’s coat should be and which animals to illustrate on Noah’s Ark. Instead, I wanted my children on the frontlines with me, active in ministry and confident in the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through them – no less than how He might work in me.

According to Researcher George Barna in the 2024 American Worldview Inventory, “Biblical worldview incidence has declined with each of the last five generations. During that time, the national incidence of adults holding a biblical worldview has plummeted from 12% to today’s 4% level.” This is worrisome. As parents, this should alarm us and spur us on to change the narrative with our own children so that they maintain lifelong walks with Christ.

My childhood faith experience was starkly different than many in the West because I grew up in Iran. There was a cost attached to following Christ. And it affected us all. I still vividly remember the day I got baptized. We had not long emigrated to England. Hysterically weeping, my cousin ran up to me right after my baptism, with the news that a close family friend in Iran had just been killed for his faith. In that moment, I recall being hit with the reality that my faith in Christ was worth something. My pastor used to say, “Is what you are living for, worth dying for?” Here was an example of that, right before my eyes. Jesus wanted all of me. And in return, He offered me life itself!

My faith experiences as a young Christian have challenged my perspective as a parent. I was active in ministry alongside my parents from as young as I can remember. I remember saying to my children when we planted our own church: “There is nothing that God wants to reveal to me, that He does not also want to reveal to you; there is no service that God calls me to that He does not also call you to. Whether it is speaking His Word, sharing it with others, or praying for the sick to be healed; you are just as eligible, just as capable, just as gifted, just as called. And just as ready!” 

Therefore, I want to encourage other parents with the corresponding challenge: Let’s raise up a generation of believers with the same abundant joy, passion and fulfillment as those in persecuted nations, asking ourselves and beseeching our children, “What is Jesus worth to us? What if we were desperate for the gospel and ready to pay the ultimate cost for it?”

Recognizing the Cost

Around 60% of the Iranian population is under the age of 30—all born under the Islamic regime, exclusively living in a completely controlled and oppressive reality for all their lives. Making the bold decision to follow Christ Jesus is utterly rebellious, thoughtful and costly, as it is for anyone in Iran at this present time. 

I’ve seen that even the young understand the cost and value of the gift they are receiving—as well as the responsibility and calling over their lives moving forward. These children fathom this weighty purpose because of the persecution they face. From a young age, their parents empower them in ministry, inviting them to come alongside them in prayer and discipleship, praying with them and making sure they understand all the hardships they will face for choosing to follow Jesus.

Witnessing the Harvest

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

When we began planting the church and truly discipling our children, we called it our “God-Venture” because it was an adventure we experienced with our children. As the concept developed into reality over a couple of years, our children came alongside us in ministry every step of the way, learning to pray over people, prophesy and evangelize. 

Like the secret church of Iran, it was our priority to raise our kids with a firm biblical foundation in action-oriented faith, thus emphasizing the cost and reward of salvation all the more. We wanted our children to understand the weight of eternity, as well as the reality for those facing true persecution around the world for that same faith. We also wanted them to understand that they were just as ready as we would ever be. Their contribution to the advancement of the kingdom was worthwhile.

In turn, the fruit of our children’s ministry not only blessed our kids themselves and countless adults, both believers and unbelievers alike, but it also served as the most powerful ministry tool when it came to evangelizing and discipling other children. I see this same impact again through my work with Transform Iran. There is little substitute for the power and fruit of ministry from one child to another.

A Unique Calling—Only for Kids

There is no one that reaches the hearts of children with the gospel more effectively than other children. This is why it’s crucial that we steward our kids in faith responsibly, recognizing and fostering their spiritual giftings, so that they can share the love of Jesus with their peers. This reality remains universal, transcending culture, tradition and language through the power of the gospel. 

Kids reach kids—in Iran, in America, everywhere—for Christ. Yet, as Jesus commands us to “let the little children come” to Him, we must allow our children to grow and thrive in ministry, not stifling the Holy Spirit within them, but rather, encouraging them to listen for the voice of the Lord, acting in boldness and humility to share Christ with others, offering themselves as living sacrifices unto the Lord.

The Power of Active Prayer in Light of the Bigger Picture

As we lead our families in Christ, training up our children to do more than simply sit quietly in church, may we also avidly remain in the Word, praying together with our families for persecuted nations like Iran where the cost of following Jesus is the greatest. 

The narrative that prayer itself is a minimal, “hands-off” effort in helping nations hungry for the gospel couldn’t be further from the truth! Prayer is one of the most hands-on actions we can make for nations like Iran; it is active and powerful. Prayers in earnest faith are heard by God—a God who cares. The people who tend to know this best? Children and persecuted Christians.

Therefore, let us encourage our children to pray – and pray informed – for other children and families around the world in persecuted nations who are desperate for God’s presence. These devoted believers in nations like Iran spotlight the cost of true Christianity for us here in the West. When we pray with vision and faith, and when we see God answering our prayers by His grace, it becomes an exciting adventure of partnership with God as His kingdom expands right before our eyes. We begin to believe Him for other things too. Through active prayer, we not only set in motion a loving desire to see our fellow co-heirs succeed in their Kingdom efforts, but we also begin the foundational step of teaching our children the most important focus of life: Jesus. 

Growing in Faith with Our Children Through the Journey of Life

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Matthew 18:3-5

Let’s become desperate for the gospel message and desire the same for our kids. In making our love for the Kingdom life’s priority and intentionally fostering our children’s giftings, may we keep the conversations about the Great Commission active within our homes. By asking our children important questions about the things the Lord is laying on their hearts and answering their questions in truth, wisdom and love, they will grow in faith. Let’s set our kids up for lifelong devotion unto Christ.

As parents, we can trust the way God speaks to our children and offer wisdom through the process. In turn, we must also expect to learn so much from these precious little souls—kind, tenderhearted, loving, learning, wonderous, joyous, faithful, innocent and curious—bringing us also back to biblical childlike faith along the way.

Header photo courtesy of GettyImages/FatCamera

Originally pubished on: iBelieve