Spiritual Gifts For Children?

A mini-rant:

I'm still recovering from this weekend's kids' retreat. More specifically, I'm recovering from curriculum writing for the retreat. I wanted to teach my elementary aged children about discovering their uniqueness and what the spiritual gifts are. I wanted the kids to understand that Christianity as adventure and not just sin management. I believe children need to understand that on the day they became friends with Christ that he gave them a supernatural capacity, a spiritual gift, that makes a big about God and builds the church.

But you can't purchase that curriculum. At least not anywhere I could see. Could it be that we adults truly don't believe that God gives children spiritual gifts? Do we believe that children– with the help of their parents– can't assess and develop these gifts?

I spent a few late nights until three creating a curriculum loosely based on Max Lucado's "Cure For the Common Life" to help kids understand that their interests and hobbies are clues to help them understand their design. When I got to the session on the gifts, I was on my own. There was another late night.

It's tragic that the Church doesn't spend it's time emphasizing mission and adventure with it's children. I'm convinced that the only prophylaxis that will protect our children from the evils of the world is the Great Commission. If our children are focused on transforming the world they will be greatly protected from pressures to be transformed by it. And implicit in a Great Commission is a great equipping. It's our job, fellow Children's Ministers, to help our children see themselves as divine change agents.