Evangelism

Truth Trackers is primarily a discipleship program that teaches children key doctrines of the faith while also emphasizing the importance of becoming a believer in Jesus Christ.

We use three main strategies for evangelism: the Gospel in Weekly Lessons, the Forgiven Tract, Who is God; Who am I Tract and Friend Nights.

How do you address evangelism and visitors in Truth Trackers?

Truth Trackers is a discipleship program for children. By that we mean we focus on both the first step of discipleship—becoming a believer—and on the continued walk with Christ through progressive spiritual growth. We believe the first step of discipleship is extremely important. Truth Trackers is primarily a discipleship program that teaches children key doctrines of the faith while also emphasizing the importance of becoming a believer in Jesus Christ.

We use three main approaches to evangelism in Truth Trackers:

Teaching the gospel each week through our doctrinal topics.
The Forgiven Tract for every new visitor.
Friend Nights focused on inviting unchurched friends and neighbors.

Every week, as we teach key doctrines of the faith, we clearly present humanity’s sin problem—our guilt before a holy God, our inability to save ourselves, and our desperate need for rescue. At the same time, each lesson points to the only solution: the perfect life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who alone can forgive sins and give new life by His grace. In this way, the gospel is woven into every weekly meeting, giving children repeated opportunities to hear and respond to the good news of salvation.

FORGIVEN TRACT and WHO IS GOD? WHO AM I? Tract

The Forgiven Tract and the Who is God; Who am I Tract are the entrance tracts for visitors. You can choose to either give The Forgiven Tract or the Who is God; Who am I Tract to new children for them to complete to join the program. When a child visits Truth Trackers for the first time, a leader sits down with them during memory time and reads through tract together.

The Forgiven Tract and the Who is God; Who am I Tract are also recommended to get for each child at the beginning of the year so each child can start off by going through the gospel the very first night.

The goal of The Forgiven Tract and the Who is God; Who am I Tract is to clearly present the gospel to the child. First, the leader turns to the back of the tract and explains the requirements for joining the program. The child’s name is written in the tract, and the expectations and rewards are explained. The tracts are designed so that a child can easily fulfill the requirements. There are two requirements on the back:

Requirement 1 is completed when the child reads through the tract with a leader. Both the child and the leader sign it. Once Requirement 1 is finished, the child goes to the registration desk and receives an award.
Requirement 2 is completed when the child returns home and reads through the tract with a parent or guardian. The parent or guardian signs Requirement 2. When the child returns the following week, the leader also signs it, and the child receives another award.

This time is not only an opportunity for the leader to help the child complete the tract, but—most importantly—to help the child understand his or her need for Jesus Christ. We do not encourage leaders to pressure or scare a child into making a decision. This is not a time to call for a decision. Instead, leaders use this time to help the child understand God’s Word and to make themselves available for future conversations.

This is also a great opportunity to connect with the child’s family. Since the parent has read through the tract with their child, it opens the door to talk with the parent about the gospel.

After the child has completed a tract, they can purchase materials to fully enter the program.

(You can receive 10 free copies of the new kids’ gospel tracts WHO IS GOD? WHO AM I? with the following code: FREETRACTS).

Friend Nights

Friend Nights are special nights set aside by your club to evangelize the children’s friends and neighbors. Your club will schedule three Friend Nights throughout the year (fall, winter, and spring, plus summer if you have VBS). These nights either replace or fall on the same night as regular Truth Trackers.

This allows your church to have a focused children’s evangelism night every season. These nights are special Truth Trackers evenings dedicated to evangelism. You can choose a theme and award prizes to children who bring the most visitors. Many churches have found these nights to be very fruitful for strategic and focused evangelism. They provide a clear gospel presentation every season.

Suggestions for Successful Friend Nights:

Choose a fun theme and offer prizes for the child who brings the most visitors.
Have children pray for their friends and make invitation cards in small groups.
Build excitement by announcing and promoting the night in advance.
Clearly communicate to parents and church adults that a gospel message will be shared.
Prepare leaders to talk with children about Christ and how to lead someone to Him.
Promote the event in the church and community through flyers, skits, and announcements.
If held on a regular club night, keep Memory Time at the beginning so verse recitation is not skipped.
Consider scheduling Friend Nights on non-club nights if you prefer to skip memory time entirely.
Plan themes early (Fall Festival, Christmas theme, etc.).
Announce contests and prizes in the weeks leading up to the night.
Invite a special speaker who can present the gospel clearly to children.
Include unique, fun games to make the night exciting.