14/09/2026
๐ก๐ฎ๐ช๐ญ ๐๐ฎ!!!
Children are not merely the Church of tomorrow; they are part of Godโs people today. They possess God-given potential and can know God, serve Him and influence others even while they are young. The life of Josiah demonstrates this truth powerfully.
Josiah became king of Judah at the age of eight (2 Kings 22:1). He inherited a nation that had experienced generations of spiritual decline and had turned away from God. Yet Josiah was not defined or controlled by the failures of previous generations. As he grew, he chose to seek the Lord. Second Chronicles 34:3 records: โWhile he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father.โ
This highlights the importance of being equipped within. Children need a strong spiritual foundation built through the teaching of Scripture, prayer, worship, godly character and a personal relationship with God. Moses instructed the Israelites to teach Godโs Word diligently to their children and to incorporate it into the routines of everyday life (Deuteronomy 6:6โ7). Similarly, Timothy was taught the Holy Scriptures from childhood, and those Scriptures prepared him for salvation and equipped him for Christian service (2 Timothy 3:14โ15).
Josiahโs spiritual formation became particularly evident when the Book of the Law was found and read to him. His response was one of humility, conviction and repentance. When he heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes because he recognised how far the nation had departed from God (2 Kings 22:8โ13). The Word of God did not merely inform Josiah; it convicted him and moved him to action. This demonstrates why children must be helped to develop a deep love for Scripture. Psalm 119:9โ11 shows that Godโs Word helps the young to keep their way pure and provides spiritual strength to resist sin.
Having been equipped inwardly, Josiah was subsequently unleashed beyond himself. His faith became visible through courageous action. He initiated extensive reforms: he repaired the temple, removed idolatrous practices, destroyed objects associated with false worship, renewed the covenant and restored the worship of the true God (2 Kings 23:1โ3; 2 Chronicles 34:29โ33). His faith therefore did not remain a private conviction. It influenced his household, his nation and his generation.
The same principle applies to children today. They should be encouraged and equipped to live out their faith at home, at school, among their friends, in the Church and in the wider community. Children can serve God, demonstrate compassion, resist wrongdoing, stand for truth and become positive examples to others. Paulโs instruction to Timothy is particularly relevant: โLet no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purityโ (1 Timothy 4:12).
Parents and Church leaders therefore have a significant responsibility in the spiritual formation of children. They must model authentic Christian faith, teach Scripture faithfully, create an environment in which children can ask questions, identify and nurture their God-given gifts, provide appropriate opportunities for service, and guide them with wisdom, protection and grace. Children learn not only from what adults teach them but also from what they observe in the lives of those who lead them.
Josiahโs example reminds us that age does not constitute a barrier to Godโs purposes. Samuel heard the voice of God while he was still a child (1 Samuel 3:1โ10). David demonstrated remarkable faith and courage while he was still young when he confronted Goliath (1 Samuel 17:33โ47). Jesus Himself demonstrated the value He placed on children by welcoming them and affirming their place in relation to the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:13โ15).
However, equipping children does not mean placing adult responsibilities upon them prematurely. The goal is to nurture a genuine and maturing faith appropriate to their stage of development. Children need to be taught the Word of God, encouraged to develop a personal relationship with Christ, guided by godly examples and given appropriate opportunities to exercise their gifts. As they grow in spiritual maturity, they can increasingly become effective witnesses for Christ and lights in a world that desperately needs godly direction (Matthew 5:14).
The challenge, therefore, is not simply to raise children who attend Church, memorise Scriptures or participate in childrenโs programmes. We must raise children who know God, love His Word, understand their identity in Christ and are prepared to live out their faith beyond the walls of the Church. What is planted within them should eventually be expressed through their lives and influence.
During the launch of the โHi5โ agenda, the Childrenโs Ministry Director of The Church of Pentecost, Pastor Samuel Avornyo, charged all stakeholders to โRaise Children as Priests Firstโ. This charge presents a significant responsibility to parents, childrenโs workers and Church leaders. We must deliberately plant the Word of God deeply in the hearts of our children, help them seek the Lord as Josiah did, teach them to stand for truth with courage, nurture their God-given gifts and guide them towards faithful service.
The Church must therefore create an environment in which children are spiritually equipped, carefully nurtured and appropriately released to serve God. We must not merely prepare them for future ministry; we must recognise and cultivate their present relationship with God and their present capacity to influence their generation.
Josiahโs life demonstrates that a child who seeks the Lord can become an instrument of significant spiritual transformation. When children are equipped within, they can be unleashed beyondโto influence their homes, schools, Churches, communities and generation for the glory of Christ.
Amos Yaw Duvor
(Elder)
