Helping Children Become Agents of Change
Bible Verse
Don’t let anyone make fun of you, just because you are young. Set an example for other followers by what you say and do, as well as by your love, faith, and purity. (CEV) 1 Timothy 4:12
What kind of world do parents want for their children? A world that is…
Environmentally safe.
Provides equal access to education and opportunity.
Fair and just.
As parents, we want the world to be a better place for our children. We often say, “Our children are the leaders of tomorrow.” But this statement doesn’t give them credit for living in the world today. They see the things that are wrong in their school, neighborhood, and the world today; right now, they can play a part in making it better for tomorrow. Romans 12:2 encourages us, “Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.” Throughout the Bible, God has changed the minds of young people and used them to impact great change:
Daniel and his friends - Daniel 1
Esther - Esther 4
David - 1 Samuel 17
Mary, the mother of Jesus - Luke 1:26-56
Let’s partner with our children to make the world a better place. How can we do our part to help our children be agents of change? Reflect, Ask, Listen and Look.
Reflect - Proverbs 21:3 and Proverbs 22:6 share great parental wisdom. Doing what is right and fair is pleasing to God. Our job is to teach our children the Word of God so his Word can work in them.
Ask - Ask your children what they think about the world they live in. Here are some examples of questions to get the conversation started.
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
What is something that makes you sad about our community?
What is one thing that makes you happy about our community?
Listen - If we ask our kids questions, then we have to actively listen to the answers. Set aside distractions, and give them your full attention. Focus on what they are saying. Write things down. Ask more questions. Our children may just surprise us with their thoughts about the world they live in and what they would do to change it.
Look - Look for opportunities within your community, church, or school. If no opportunities exist in a particular area, support your child in creating the opportunity. Watch some of the Kids Corner Kids in Action videos with your child for some ideas. You can help your child be the Isaiah 1:17 agent of change he or she wants to be.
Just like the young people in our Bible examples, our children can be brave, faithful, and stand up for what they believe in. When we support our children and their efforts to make a change, not only do they impact the world around them, but we are impacted as well.
Want to learn more about children who are changing the world? Check out the Children Changing the World by Scholastic.
Want to do a deep dive? Check out Family Fire's article Become An Agent of Justice.
Natasha Menifee
Natasha Menifee is an educator, writer and most importantly a child of God. She has taught in public schools for 12 years and holds two master's degrees from Georgetown College in Learning & Behavior Disorders and Teacher Leadership. Natasha also serves as the Christian Education Director at her church. She is the proud mother of two daughters. For more information about her, visit www.natashamenifee.com.
