“But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14).

The great evangelist Billy Sunday said, “The only way on God’s earth you will ever solve the problem of reaching the masses is by getting hold of the children. You get boys and girls started right and the devil will hang crepe on his door.”

What’s happening to our most precious resource, our children? According to the Children’s Defense Fund (www.childrensdefense.org), each day in America:

– 16,244 public school students are suspended (based on 180 school days a year)
– 3,617 children are arrested
– 2,857 high school students drop out (based on 180 school days a year)
– 2,570 babies are born into poverty
– 1,836 children are confirmed as abused or neglected
– 384 children are arrested for drug crimes
– 167 children are arrested for violent crimes
– 21 children or teens die from accidents
– 6 children or teens commit suicide
– 4 children are killed by abuse or neglect

So many studies have been conducted to determine at which age people accepted Christ as personal Savior, but these statistics have varied only slightly over the past 20 years. Currently, nearly half of all Americans who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior do so before reaching the age of 13 (43%), and two out of three made that commitment to Christ before the age of 18 (64%). Less than one out of eight profess Christ after their 21st birthday.

If you’ve ever spent time witnessing to an adult friend or family member, you know that it usually takes much humility, wisdom, and perseverance before you have a receptive audience. Is it worth it? Absolutely! Is it easy? Hardly ever. But children have open hearts and minds. And what can take months or even years with an adult can take only a few days with a child.

In Mark chapter 10, we find certain people bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them. The disciples of Jesus, however, must have felt that Jesus was too busy or too important to spend time with these little ones, so they rebuked those who were bringing the children to Jesus. When Jesus saw that, He was not only displeased, He was “much displeased” (Mark 10:14a).

I’ve often been struck—and convicted—by the fact that Jesus was never too busy, too tired, or too important to make time for children. In fact, He showed them extraordinary tenderness and compassion, something very unusual for that day and time. Can we do less?

This coming week (July 18-22, 2016), we have an opportunity to reach boys and girls (and hopefully some moms and dads) through the ministry of Vacation Bible School. VBS, as we call it, provides a wonderful opportunity to introduce neighborhood children to Jesus and to reinforce biblical concepts for regular church attendees. I am asking you to please pray for this event, and for those who have volunteered, thank you for investing a few days this summer in the lives of these children. Just think—you may be the one God will use to bring the eternity-transforming good news about Jesus to a young boy or girl who is destined to play a key role in God’s kingdom. Does it involve a lot of hard work? Absolutely! Is it worth it? Jesus said that one soul is worth more than the entire world (Matthew 16:26). How important it is that we reach the children!