You want your child to grow up as a believer in Jesus. Your desire is that they grow up in the Lord, that they don't just believe in Him, that they KNOW Him.

Throughout the existence of the church, young people have been brought into contact with the weekly ceremony to worship God through different paths. Still, the most determining advantage of growing up in church is the possibility of learning God’s Truth from an early age. Not all people get that opportunity, but it is one I'd like to discuss with you today.

I recently heard an atheist state that he believes it is unethical for parents to teach their children their own belief as though it were the Truth. He also confronts parents that if they pass along their faith to their children, they are committing child abuse. Yes, you heard that correctly.

Though his "damaging your child" opinion is pretty extreme, don't you also know some parents who are hesitant to encourage their children toward faith courageously? Most of them may eagerly influence their children without chagrin and deliberately in the areas of politics or diet or sports. Yet, for some reason, they may treat their convictions about God otherwise! Hmm. How about YOU?

Many belief systems are influencing our children. TV shows, movies, music, teachers, friends, the media - you name it. Are these religions? Not overtly. Mass media has been confirmed to have a significant effect on children's health and can influence them physiologically. It also has an impact on their social functioning, understanding of culture and even their psychological well‐being. AND each of these attractions carries assumptions (sometimes under the radar) about faith. That exerts real influence by encouraging children to accept what they are seeing and reading as facts. If you are looking for how to how to encourage your child to be a Christian ... baptism by media is not the way.

This baptism is quite a contrast from the belief that is taught to Christians in Paul's letter to Timothy. He wrote of how Timothy had been trained "from infancy" the holy scriptures! He continues that it will "make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (II Timothy 3:15).

Although many of the people we read about in the Bible were converts, Timothy didn't come to faith as an adult through his power. Instead, his mother trained his heart toward God; then, he continued in what he had learned (v14). If God is life, the source of true wisdom, then it is essential to cultivate a love for God in our families, carefully and tenderly.

So you may already know that this blog was created specifically for two things: one, for people with a heart for missions and two, it is designed to be YOUR one-stop-shop for all the information you need as a believer with a heart for children's ministry or simply a heart for wanting to know how to explain Christianity to a child. I want to show you all the interesting, exciting, and well, FUN stuff that can be done to teach your child about Jesus, about His father, and about how he worked throughout history to get a relationship with YOUR CHILD.

The beautiful things you already know about God can be done in a church, but can also be accomplished at home bible study or homeschool through Sleuth for the Truth. It's up to you. Just make sure that YOU stay fully alert (Ephesians 6:18). And remember, as Moses said farewell to the Israelites before they headed over to Canaan,

But how to get started? I thought I'd share with you a fun (and funny) video of how this creative ventriloquist teacher shared with some kids about what it's like to know God.

Maybe you can try the Skittles test on your kids or Sunday school class. If you do, please let me know how it goes!

But Skittles and M&Ms litmus testing aside, this is my prayer: That YOU choose not to be silent. May the beauty and grace that you've experienced in Christ inspire and compel you to continue to guide your children toward God.