Free child evangelism DVD to be distributed at MBC’s State Evangelism Conference
By Allen Palmeri
Staff Writer
December 22, 2004
JEFFERSON CITY – The evangelism department of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) is putting together a child evangelism DVD to hand out free of charge to participants Jan. 24-25 at the MBC State Evangelism Conference at Second Baptist Church, Springfield.
MBC State Evangelism Director Bob Caldwell brought in Gene “Bubba” Wright, children’s pastor, Metropolitan Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, for two days of videotaping in early December with a group of children. Wright taught 12 Bible stories, each about 10 minutes in length. Besides including the actual stories, the DVD also has a list of materials and visual aids needed to tell each story, and separate teaching segments by Wright explaining how to prepare the lessons.
“At the evangelism conference, we need to cover all of the bases that we possibly can,” Caldwell said. “We have all kinds of different things, from horse whisperer events to you name it, that we’re trying to design to reach a lot of different ages, but we really haven’t done any type of concerted effort in the area of children.
“I thought this would be a gift, a resource that we could give out to people that they could take home.”
Caldwell said a total of 2,200 DVDs are being produced—enough for each MBC church to have a copy. Those churches who do not receive a copy at the state evangelism conference will be mailed a DVD, he said.
“The value of putting this kind of information on videotape is to multiply that thought process—the preparation and ideas,” said David Ellis, technology group leader of the MBC’s Communications and Development team. Ellis videotaped Wright at the Baptist Building Dec. 2 and 3.
Wright regularly teaches 385-450 children ranging from first to fifth grade every Sunday at his church. While few Missouri Baptist churches are large enough to have children’s ministers, Caldwell said it is important for those involved in teaching children in the state to pick up on the method of Wright’s teaching, which is highly illustrative.
“I think it would allow somebody who viewed himself as a poor teacher to become a good teacher within just a short period of time,” Caldwell said. “I don’t want it to take the place of LifeWay or any kind of Southern Baptist Convention Sunday School material, but I think it could be something that could complement that, since it’s only a 10-minute story that they could tie into the Sunday School lesson.”
Caldwell said he appreciates the work of Sondi Scroggins, MBC preschool/children’s specialist on the Sunday School/Discipleship team, and is simply trying to augment Scroggins’ ministry by producing this DVD.
“We cannot be afraid to share Christ with children, but because they are so impressionable, we have to be responsible in the way we do it,” he said. “We can’t manipulate, we’ve got to make sure they understand and we’ve got to be so, so cautious not to cross the line of people finding themselves at age 20 not really even having a relationship with Christ.”
In addition to the children’s evangelism DVD, the MBC evangelism department will be handing out a DVD on how to give an evangelistic invitation. MBC Executive Director David Clippard will be presenting a breakout session at the state evangelism conference on that very topic. DVDs on the subject are being produced, again with the intention of giving one free of charge to every MBC church.
“Missouri Baptists are generous people, and we see that here,” Caldwell said. “We appreciate their generosity, and we want them to be able to receive something for their generosity (in giving through the Cooperative Program). I believe Missouri Baptists still understand the benefit of everybody pooling their resources, and I want them to see and feel the benefit.”