Developing a connection with a child is critical to being able to communicate with them and teach him about the Bible. A couple of weeks ago, I walked back into our new member's class for the Ambassadors program. I noticed a boy in the class who had his head down and apparently wanted nothing to do with what was being taught in the class room. This was his first week; his mom, who didn't attend our church, had dropped him off. But he just hadn't connected with anyone yet. There was no leader or boy present who had previously developed a relationship with this boy.

I sat down next to him to try to see if I could get him to open up. He obviously wasn't benefiting from the lesson in the Membership Guide.

As I sat there with him, I began to go through a list of topics from memory that I use to try to make a connection with kids when I meet them. I always start with "school" although it naturally doesn't ring many bells with children. I just began listing off several topics that many boys would love to talk about...sports, outdoors, animals... But I only received occasional groans or mutters in response. Then I mentioned something about video games. Everything changed after that. The boy looked up. I mentioned a specific game or two. And then all of the sudden came alive! I was thrilled. We spent the next several moments talking about games and gaming systems, etc. (I don't know much about video games, so the boy did most of the talking.) But after that connection was establised, we enjoyed talking for the next 15 minutes about more than just video games. Video games was just a means to make a connection with this young boy. It opened the door to a deeper and spiritually significant conversation.

What happened here? Because I was willing to spend some time to make a connection with this boy, I now have a means by which to engage him with a more significant relationship than just having him "attend" church. He could have sat there for the remainder of Book Time and received no teaching because there was no relationship established with him. But now that there is a connection established, there is ample opportunity to take our relationship to the next level. Which for him will be to begin to present the gospel with him. To quote an over-used, yet infinitely true statement: "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." (John Maxwell)

Our relationship with Jesus is based on the connection that He established with us. If He had not taken the first step to establish that link, we wouldn't be in church. The Bible says, "We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4:7) This is so true. I am so thankful that Jesus made the connection with us. Jesus said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:6)

Let me encourage you to take time to make a connection with each of your students outside of the church setting. The chance that you will spiritually impact your child will be effectively magnified because of your pre-established connection. Make that connection today!