A Heart for His Little Ones

We were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:8

After several house visitations, our district pastor told us about an evangelistic crusade in Bosigon, Tagkawayan, Quezon, held from August 12 to 21. We were assigned to handle the children every night. Reaching the venue was already an adventure, with rocky and bumpy roads that took about an hour and a half to travel.

When we arrived, we saw only a few children. But as the nights went by, more and more came—until we were handling more than 50 children every evening. For me, this was not easy. I grew up as the youngest in our family and was never really exposed to having younger children around. In fact, I used to dislike children because I found them annoying. So when I saw dozens of energetic kids in front of me, I honestly wondered, Can I really do this?

But I was reminded that ministry is not about what we can do on our own, but about what God can do through us. I began whispering a simple prayer: “Lord, give me a heart that loves children, because I know You love them.” And God answered that prayer in a way I never expected. As the crusade continued, my heart slowly began to change. Their genuine smiles and excitement touched me.

Every time we arrived, the children would run toward us for hugs and eagerly ask, “Ma’am, what time will we start?” At the end of each session, they would say, “Please keep coming back tomorrow!” Even handling the story portion became a meaningful experience. I saw how eagerly they listened and participated when the lessons were shared in a language they understood. Of course, children are children—some were noisy, some were playful, and some would fight. But through those moments, God taught me patience, understanding, and dependence on Him.

I learned to mingle with them, play with them, teach them how to pray, and tell them stories about Jesus and the Bible characters who followed Him. We were exhausted after every session, but somehow, the tiredness felt different. There was fulfillment in seeing their joy and their growing desire to know Jesus.

One moment especially stayed with me. A child suddenly said, “Ma’am, let’s pray first.” 

That simple sentence completely melted my heart. The children were not only learning from us—we were learning from them, too. Sometimes, we may underestimate children’s ministry because it seems simple or ordinary. But children remember. The stories they hear, the prayers they learn, and the love they experience can stay with them for years. Perhaps some parents who could not attend the crusade may one day encounter Jesus through the changed lives of their own children.

We may never see the full impact of what we do, but God does. By the end of the crusade, the children were sad that it was over. But my heart was full. I arrived with a heart that struggled to love children. I left with a heart that had been changed for His little ones. Indeed, the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.

Name:  Mae Sahara V. Biscocho/66th Batch

Mission Field: Bosigon, Tagkawayan, Quezon