In recent media interviews fire fighters, police officers, and medical personnel have been given hero status. Children look up to them. In today's scary world, boys and girls need heroes. What better hero could they have than a teacher who shares his or her faith in Jesus Christ? Yet, many teachers don't feel prepared to lead a child to Christ. If you're one of them, here are some trustworthy guidelines.

Trust the Holy Spirit

"I think the most important thing about leading a child to Christ is listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit," says Pastor Jeff Nichols of The Donelson Fellowship in Nashville. "Trust the Holy Spirit to prod you along at just the right time, in just the right way."1

The Holy Spirit gives power to the message and uses it to speak to the hearts of the children (1 Corinthians 2:13).

Trust Your Story

Your changed life is a powerful tool. Share with your students what you thought about God before you knew Him personally. Explain how you recognized your need for Jesus and who helped you understand the plan of salvation. Show them the difference being a Christian has made in your life (1 John 1:1).

"The Gospel is not a rote message," says author Karyn Henley "It's the passionate overflow of who you are!"2

Trust the Word

Turn your Bible into a children's tract by marking verses they can understand. When students begin to ask questions, you'll be ready to help them locate the verse in their own Bible and underline it for themselves.

"Questions are a signal that God is beginning to work," says children's pastor Art Murphy, who has baptized 1,300 children. "Spend time helping children grow in their decision to give their lives to Jesus, instead of placing all the emphasis on saying 'the prayer.'"3

I use the Roman Road. Starting with Romans 3:23, I fag each consecutive verse of the plan of salvation as follows: Romans 6:23, 5:6, 10:9, 8:16. Then I concentrate on talking to the child and not flipping through my Bible.

"When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another" -Helen Keller

Trust Prayer

Keep a prayer list of children who need Jesus and encourage friends to pray with you. When leading a child to Christ, pray aloud, thanking God for that child's life. Ask God to give him courage to make this decision. Lead him to pray out loud in the following way.

• I'm sorry for my sin and living for my self.
• Thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus, to die for me.
• Take over my life that I may live for You

Discuss what just happened and answer any questions. Encourage the new believer to tell a friend or family member about his decision. Celebrate with God's angels who rejoice over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10)!

As your trust grows, you'll be prepared to become a hero by God's standards. But I didn't say it would be easy. The very nature of heroism requires sacrifice

In the back of my Bible keep a news clipping about Victoria Hoffman and her 7-year-old son, Gregory. Driving home one summer night, their car ran off the road into a rain-swollen river. They escaped from the car, but were being dragged by the swift current. Someone saw them, dove in, grabbed a huge branch, and shoved it their direction Victoria desperately pushed Gregory to help before her head went under. Her body was found three hours later, but her son survived.

Victoria probably wasn't prepared to be a hero, but she was because of her courageous love. That's what God asks of us... that we recognize the woridly dangers that face our children and help save them. You can be a hero by leading a child to Jesus.

1 Jeff Nichols Children's Pastor at The Donelson Fellowship, Nashville, TN, March 4, 2002 interview

2 Presenting the Salvation Message to Children by Karyn Henley, Children's Pastors' Conference, Dallas, TX, 2002, tape 501

3 Leading Your Child to Christ by Art Murphy, ParentLife Magazine, September 2001, 9. 28-30