If a child gets saved at Vacation Bible School, but never goes to church again while growing up and had no further Bible communication because the parent didn’t take them, is that child still saved as an adult until they find Jesus again?
Thank you for your concern about this child who received the Lord Jesus Christ as his/her savior while attending VBS. I assume that his parents allowed him to attend this VBS and am thankful they did. It seems the Lord used this so this person might learn of his need of salvation and come to know the Lord Jesus as His savior. It is so remarkable how the Lord works to bring the good news of salvation to those who are young and old. 1 Timothy 2:4 tells us that, “(God) will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
It is wonderful this person was saved, but it is sad he is not able to attend church services. We can rejoice knowing that if this person truly repented of his sins and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior, he has eternal life that will never be taken away. We read in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We also read the words of the Lord Jesus in John 10:28, “And I give unto them ETERNAL LIFE; and THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” A very familiar verse to us all is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should NOT PERISH but have EVERLASTING LIFE.” These and many other verses assure us that when we accept the Lord Jesus as our savior, we receive ETERNAL LIFE right then, and shall NEVER PERISH.
It is sad that without guidance and fellowship, this young person will have a hard time growing in the Lord. Let me give you a few suggestions as to how you might be able to help this young person.
- Make sure he has a Bible. Encourage him to read his Bible on a daily basis.
- If his parents do not want to take him to church services, ask them if they will allow you to take him with you to the services you attend.
- While attending church services, introduce him to older believers that he will listen to and that can have a good influence on him.
- If you are able to talk to him on the phone, you could be a prayer partner with him, praying together whenever you both are able. Be sure to pray together for his parents’ salvation!
- Invite him to your home often and become spiritual mentors for him.
- Be the Christian example this person desperately needs in his life.
I am thankful for your concern for this young person, and I pray the Lord will lead you to get you more involved in his life so that he might experience spiritual growth now, even though his parents are not supportive of him.
1 Peter 5:1-4, “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (CC) (589.4)