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SSTN # 8 - February 5, 2004
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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE SSTN e-NEWSLETTER:
--> Egg-Shaped Easter Story Cards
1) Black History Week
2) Revolve Bible
3) Holyword music?
--> Amazing Miracles of the Bible
4) Used Christmas Cards
5) Children's Ministry Brochure?
6) Appreciation Ideas?
--> Chalk-It-Up...Outdoor Games
7) Young children and salvation
8) Black history or skit for children
9) Tactful Parent
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Egg-Shaped Easter Story Cards
When the cards are cut, colored and assembled, players can play Easter Egg
Scramble and discover a secret Easter message! With two black and white
"cross" and "resurrection" drawings to color! Reproducible so your whole
class can make a set!
Find them in the Curriculum section at:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html
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1) Black History Week
hello i'm a advisor for 4-5 year olds at my church i would really love
it if you could give me some ideas for my students to do for black history
week by the way this is my first year teaching please help
thank you
erma
--from SSTN: you might want to check the Archives List at:
http://christiancrafters.com/archives.html
as well as the history of "Negro Spirituals" and how they've influenced
today's music, culture, and church history. Maybe a search on Google.com
would turn up some info.
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2) Revolve Bible
While reading the latest news letter I noticed that you advertised the
Resolve Bible. I just want to say to the other readers who have not heard
of this bible that I too had reservations about it. That is until I read
it. This is one of the best ways that I have ever seen to get the point
across. Not only is it a complete New Testement but it points the reader
in the direction of a range of different problems. I let a few of my
fellow teachers read it and they all said they wished they had one for
older women too. And the proof that girls would really read it came when I
let some of the older girls in our church read it. They loved it. It gave
them lots of answers to problems that they can actually understand. If you
have a teenage daugther I recommend, as with anything else that you have
questions about, check it out first. I did and I loved it.
Debra
--from SSTN: for anyone interested in learning more, go to the Bibles
section of our Bookstore:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/bookstore.html
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3) Holyword music?
hello friends
I want to say thank you to all the wonderful persons who responded to my
VBS requests. thank you so much and many blessings..I received a couple of
books from some wonderful christian ladies..and I thank you...but now I'm
in need of the music that goes to the theme."Holyword Studios" the ladies
were nice enough to send me some of the books and I really appreciated it.
accept now i need the music..If anyone out there has the music. I'm
willing to pay shipping cost or a reasonable price for the CD or Cassette.
thank you once again
In Jesus name
Sisterleti
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Amazing Miracles of the Bible
God’s glory and love are revealed through the miracles he performed and
were fully realized when he came to earth in the form of a man to save
mankind. By studying the miracles of the Bible children will gain a better
understanding of God’s love and faithfulness and how he continues to be
loving and faithful in miraculous ways to his people today. Works with
rotation-type programs!
In the Curriculum Creatives:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html
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4) Used Christmas Cards
One denomination (Foursquare International) I am familiar with collects
the Christian or just plain beautiful (not Santa) Christmas cards (usually
front only) and sends them to their foreign missionaries who use them as
rewards for memorizing scripture verses, etc. The missionaries say in
many of the households these are the only decoration the family will ever
be able to own and they are very glad to receive them. Another way the
birth of Christ brightens lives!
Enid in Arkansas
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5) Children's Ministry Brochure?
Hello fellow CM workers,
I am the CM director of our small but active church. I am going to put
together a brochure for visitors to take home with them. I wondered if
any one has a really great layout or are they all about the same
in any office program on the computer. Thanks for responding.
Julie Richardson
CM director
Cascade Comm. Church
Vancouver, WA
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6) Appreciation Ideas?
I teach a class of 29 first graders and we will be learning about
stewardship and sharing our talents with others. I would like the
children to make something to give to the helpers in our church (readers,
ushers, etc.) to show their appreciation for all they do. Does anyone
have any ideas for something simple and easy? I've thought about a card
but hoped to get ideas for something else too. Thank you-
Susan in Connecticut
--from SSTN: make sure you check the Archives:
http://christiancrafters.com/archives.html
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Chalk-It-Up ... 22 Awesome Outdoor Games Kids Draw With Chalk
Fun and wholesome activities for parties, icebreakers, and friendship
building! Encourages creativity in kids! Use them at church, school,
youth groups, or for family-time fun! Comes with a F-R-E-E pack of marble
sidewalk chalk, a recipe to make your own chalk, and directions to make
some unique game accessories. Includes games for older and younger kids
(K-5th grade)! Get two sample games and learn more at:
http://www.christiancrafters.com/curriculum.html
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7) Young children and salvation
I have worked in children’s ministry in a variety of capacities for over
25 years. I have also wrestled with this question. I am very careful in
leading a child to Christ. Sarah’s counsel is very good. All children
are different. For example, I was very shy as a child. I had difficulty
verbalizing what I was thinking and feeling. I wanted with all my heart
to be saved all week long at VBS. It wasn’t until the very last day that
anyone gave an invitation. And since I didn’t know how, I needed that
invitation. Therefore, I always, as much as possible, lead a basic
sinner’s prayer every time I minister to children in a group setting.
That way, I model the prayer. It is in the child’s court, so to speak.
Once when I did that, unknown to me, a visiting child prayed to receive
Christ. Her aunt told me later how excited the girl was to tell her about
it on the way home. Wow! You never know! I think sometimes in our
exuberance to lead a child to the Lord, we jump in too quickly when we are
“one-on-one” with the child. Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit is critical.
It is often easy to get children to agree with you. Maybe it is a child
starving for attention or acceptance. They may pray just to please you or
to “buy” your affirmation. Of course, they will not understand that they
are doing that, but the affect is the same. I want to see a child that is
showing signs of spiritual desire—they raise their hand, come to see you,
show understanding and interest when you talk to them. In this case, when
I am finished the prayer, while the child’s eyes are still closed, I will
say something like, “God knows our hearts. He knows when we really mean
what we say or if we’re just pretending (or just saying words). If you
really mean it in your heart when you asked Jesus to forgive you and to be
your Savior, then He will be your Friend forever. He will never leave
you.” If they have come to me, but are not really “with me”—maybe they
are easily distracted, or if I sense that they are just doing a “religious
thing” then I will pray with them that they will understand how very much
God loves them and wants to take away the sin in their hearts and give
them a clean heart and be their Forever Friend. Then after the prayer, I
will affirm them and say that I hope they will think about God and His
love, or that I hope they will decide to choose Jesus as their Forever
Friend. In other words, I will plant a seed and give them the tools, but
I won’t push for a salvation prayer. Absolutely have a children’s Gospel
track to place in their hands. I have seen a lot through the years, and I
have been very careful about the Lord’s admonition not to cause a little
one to stumble. I believe that leading a child who is not ready, and then
pronouncing him/her as “saved” is a serious thing. I’m not trying to get
notches on my belt for the sake of numbers. Yet, I have seen this done
many times. Children can easily walk away thinking they have said the
“magic words” to make them a Christian. On the other hand, I have also
seen that children may come to the teacher several times and say that they
want to be saved. Often the teacher will tell them that if they’ve
already prayed and asked Jesus to be their Savior that they don’t need to
ask Him again and again. Jesus is always with them. Of course this is a
theological issue, whether one believes that you can lose your salvation
or once saved always saved. But for children, I believe we can look at it
a little differently. If a child shows signs of understanding and has
sincerely prayed for salvation, we can assure him/her that Jesus is her
“Forever Friend” that Jesus will never leave. But in our walk with the
Lord, we come to new levels. When I was first in Bible College, I noted
how many young students would come forward for salvation at the beginning
of every school year. I sometimes have felt that way. I think we come to
a new revelation of who God is in our lives and we feel like we never
really new Him before. We feel like we need to ask Him in all over
again. That doesn’t mean we were never saved before. It just means we
understand more deeply now. And that was what was happening to many of
those new Bible school students. If a child returns to the teacher every
week because they think they’ve been bad during the week and are afraid
Jesus doesn’t love him any more, we can assure them that Jesus loves them
when they’ve done bad, but that they need to ask forgiveness and lead
accordingly. If a child persists this way, some more teaching may be
necessary. But if a child that has professed to be saved for some length
of time, comes to you and asks for salvation again, I see no harm in
leading that child in prayer again. I can’t imagine picturing God
crossing his arms in displeasure because the child is asking more than
once. Rather, I believe God delights in His children and call us to new
levels over and over again. I know this response has been long, but it
touches some key issues in leading little ones to the Jesus.
Hope it has been helpful.
Terri
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8) Black history or skit for children
My name is Yvette Bookman,I attend Mt.Hebron AME church in Prosperity,SC.
We are during a black history play or skit for that day and I need some
material.
Thank you and God bless! If we can do anything for you give us a letter at
ybookman@hotmail.com
--from SSTN: please share your ideas with SSTN. ;o)
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9) Tactful Parent
In reading your story, I feel many of us can understand. If you work with
children and youth, that means that parents are involved somewhere. In
any group you may have someone that is "trouble". Personally, in these
situations, especially at church, I try to focus on the what and why of
what I am doing. We only have control for ourselves. Remember, the
entire pupose is to help the children to praise God and serve Him.
The other parent may have other concerns. However, let us all remember
that, he who is without sin should throw the first stone. I know I can't
throw that stone. Therefore I will leave the judging to our Lord.
Don't have sour grapes. Continue to focus on what God wants you to do.
The rest of the congregation will be able to tell what is going on. And,
the only one that matters is the Lord.
Good luck, I will pray that you can find peace and patience with the
situation.
God be with you,
G.C. in AL
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