Requirements
- Understand the steps to salvation:
- God is love (1 John 4:8). God loves me very much (Jer. 31:3). God loves everyone (John 3:16).
- I am a sinner. Everyone does wrong and is a sinner, thus everyone needs salvation because sinners will die forever (Rom 3:23).
- God sent Jesus to die so I wouldn’t have to die forever (John 3:16). Then He rose again as my Savior (1Cor. 5:3, 4). When I receive Jesus, all my sins will be forgiven (Isa. 1:18; Ps. 51:7-11; 1 John 2:1, 2).
- Salvation is a gift God gives me. I must personally ask Jesus to be my Savior.
- (John 1:12). God hears me when I pray.
- If I have accepted Jesus, I have become a new person, one who doesn’t want to do wrong because I love Jesus and Jesus loves me (John 3:3-7; 2 Cor. 5:17).
- I can be sure that I am saved when I have asked Jesus to be my Savior (John 3:26; Heb. 13:5). Because I am sinful, I will still make mistakes. But I if I confess my sins to Jesus, He will forgive me and remove my guilt completely (Jer. 31:34). God wants me to confess to others who are hurt by my actions (1 John 1:9) and make restitution to them (Luke 19:8), and then totally turn away from sin (John 8:11).
- Read and discuss with an adult four of the following Bible stories on conversion/salvation:
- The Ethiopian converted (Acts 8:26-40)
- Naaman washed clean (2 Kings 5)
- Jesus loves children (Matt. 19:13-15
- The lost coin, sheep, and son (Luke 15)
- Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)
- Jailer converted (Acts 16:21-34)
- Memorize John 3:16, Acts 16:31, and 1 John 1:9
- Spend regular quiet time with Jesus.
- Make a personal choice to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. Discuss your decision with a parent or club teacher.
- Trace around your foot on paper and decorate any way you like, including the words of commitment: I _____(your name) have taken my first steps to Jesus today____(date) with ____(adult witness’ – 196 – Updated in: Grade name).
- Show the foot (commitment response to a club teacher, to receive a certificate and award patch.
Supporting Answers
- Make these concepts as simple as needed for the child to grasp. The most important concept is that she/he recognize the nature of sin (wrong doing) and its consequences (eternal death), and that they ask Jesus to forgive and be his/her Savior.
- These stories would make great children’s church sermons, club devotionals, or family worship. Create wonder-inspiring moments for the child to understand God’s great interest in his/her salvation.
- Suggestion: illustrate the texts on a bookmark for their personal Bible or give to someone who wants to know more about Jesus.
- Encourage a planned, regular time with God—can be with parent, family worship, club, or alone. Commitment is key.
- Personal commitment in young children is often spontaneous and publicly shown. But this award encourages a personal decision made contemplatively at home with parents. However, when a home-inspired decision is not possible, a teacher or other caring individual may be the best one to nurture this first step as privately as possible. Warmly welcome the child as the newest member of the family of God, assuring them of God’s unfailing love, acceptance, forgiveness, and great care. An extra project is recommended. Encourage the child to further respond in their own way—create a song, poem, painting, drawing, sculpture, or express themselves with video, camera, or computer (but never force).
