Jesus Is His Name
The smell of exhaust tickled Brittany’s little nose as she walked away from the big yellow school bus toward the house where she and her mom stayed. As she neared home, those big brown eyes searched frantically when she heard booming, angry voices.
Fear gripped her heart.
Brittany recognized her dad grunting and growling on the cement porch amidst a half-opened, scattered bag of trash. Her mom, shadowed behind the barely opened front door, was screaming like a blaring siren across the neighborhood unaware of her daughter’s approach.
“Jesus Christ! What the ______ are you talking about?”
This was not Brittany’s first encounter with the name “Jesus” used in association with her parent’s heated angst.
The Son of God’s name profaned isn’t restricted to depressed neighborhoods or sketchy bars. His once hallowed name has been reduced by all walks of life to a common expression of frustration or anger.
Within Brittany’s developing mind and life experience, the name Jesus is associated with cursing, fear, and despair rather than hope, peace, and good news.
An article, published in Outreach Magazine, estimates that less than 2 out of 10 kids in America regularly attend church. While church attendance may not define home life or automatically give a true perspective of the name Jesus, it does offer a different worldview.
Barna Research found that the values and beliefs instilled in a child through age 13 likely shape the perspective they will carry for life.
As a society, we can wrongly believe that folks will eventually “find Jesus” if they need to. But additional research from Barna proves differently. In his book, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions (Baker Books. 2018), George Barna claims that 85% of all professing Christians accept Jesus as their Savior before age 14. This indicates children like Brittany can gain a different perspective of the name Jesus and even develop an eternal relationship with Him. Removing the fear and angst associated with His name can lead to equipping them with the spiritual tools to navigate the frustrations of adult life with hope and security.
Some may scoff at the thought of Jesus being the Savior of the world, because their only “salvation” experience is found in their temporary abilities and achievements. But for countless people spanning generations, their faith in Jesus Christ is their eternal saving grace. Unlike other religions of the world which demand we reach up to appease the gods, Jesus, God’s Son, came down to us to bring hope through His sacrificial death and resurrection. There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12 ESV).
If the research and the revelation of Jesus are true, providing kids with an understanding of who Jesus is could transform their entire life. Instead of repeating the cycle of despair so many adults wallow in, they could break through with the hope of Christ.
Perhaps you’ve only experienced a superficial hope dependent upon your circumstances. Real hope doesn’t come and go. It’s secured in Jesus. No church, preacher, or Jesus-follower will be perfect on this side of heaven, but a deeply resounding peace awaits those who trust that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)
Brittany discovered hope and peace when she finally understood the name Jesus wasn’t a curse word. Through an afterschool program called the Good News Club®, Brittany learned about the historical, miraculous Person who proclaimed and proved to be the Son of God—the One who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
Each week, thousands of kids in hundreds of schools across South Carolina attend a Good News Club. They participate in songs, games, and Bible lessons led by loving people from local churches through a community partnership with Child Evangelism Fellowship®.
CEF works together with local churches to reach those 8 out of 10 kids that don’t regularly attend church. CEF also supports churches with training, materials, and opportunities to connect kids and their families to the truest expression of the name Jesus.
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? (Romans 10:13-14a ESV)
Children, like Brittany, might only hear the name Jesus in a fit of rage until someone shares with them the Good News. That someone could be you.
You needn’t be a theologian or a public speaker to spend an hour a week with kids who need hope and salvation. You only need a willingness to use what you have (time, talents, or treasure).
If you’d like to discover more, contact your local CEF office. Find a location near you at cef-sc.org/locations.
