When we think about reaching children effectively – which means sharing the gospel and meeting their physical, emotional, and cognitive needs – how do we react? Let’s Imagine, if we can, what 2.2 billion children looks like – the population of India and China gathered together and all under 18. Too much? What about 50,000 children – is that easier to visualise?  How many does your church reach? How many does your ministry reach? Do you feel overwhelmed about the size of the task? I believe that all too often we do, which is why we are tempted to give up trying to reach more, and content ourselves with reaching those who we feel are within our reach and within our means.

 

But doesn’t that leave the majority of children outside the envelope?  And while we can say to ourselves ‘someone else is reaching them’ do we know that? And even if they are, are there ways in which we could help them be more effective? Are there ways that they can help us be more effective in our work with children?

 

As we raise these questions it is almost inevitable that we will recognise the value of working with others, and equally inevitable that we will focus on the problems of working with others ahead of the benefits that might accrue from doing so.  Why is that? Obviously, many reasons and experiences determine our response to the opportunity / need to partner, but chief among them is often ‘too much pain for too little gain’.

 

I contend that partnering together is the answer to many of the issues we face as we seek to reach out to children effectively. Do you agree? What has your experience been? Good? Bad? Please share them so that our discussion ‘Is Partnership the answer’ can be grounded and helpful to us all as we contemplate how Lausanne will impact our work.