Matthew 19: 14 says, “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'” If the kingdom of heaven belongs to the little children, why not the churches on earth? What if we let the little children come…and pray and serve and preach and even lead! How can we teach the children in our churches about God’s Love and Christ’s sacrifice, and also give them opportunities to be involved and lead out? How can we plant a spiritual seed, but also nurture growth?

ln this issue, we take a look at the importance of creating environments to nurture children and their families, and we learn some concrete steps that we can take in our homes, churches and communities that will promote that growth. We also explore the ways that we can encourage young people to participate and lead in our churches through outreach programs, preach­ing and more. As you read, consider what steps you might take to help the spiritual growth of these little ones, and what lessons you might learn from observing their growing love for Jesus.

Edition: Volume 120, No. 04