Articles
What is Family – An African Perspective
There is an African saying, “IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD” hence the statement, “IAM BECAUSE WE ARE”. This has been the base and foundation for the African Family Unit for generations. In the village of Kufa lives an old woman who could be over ninety years of age. Her real age is…
Read MoreChildren, Youth and Mission Study Group established by Mission Studies Network
The International Association for Mission Studies (IAMS) study group Children, Youth and Mission was organised in the preparation of the 14th IAMS Assembly to be held in Seoul in August 2016. It was felt that the other IAMS study groups, as important as they are, have missed the young generation in its relation to the…
Read MoreBible Handling Goals for Children – 5-8 years old
An age-appropriate guide for children’s use of the Bible – their knowledge of its content, skills in using it and attitudes towards it. Children of different ages approach the Bible in different ways. As their general skills grow, so does their understanding of the Bible and their skill in using it. The statements below represent…
Read MoreWelcoming Children of Other Faiths
Ideas for those in a predominately Christian culture as they seek to reach out to children from other cultures and faiths. Not all of the guidelines will apply in every culture but there is much to stimulate your thinking. INTRODUCTION What exactly is it you want to know about relating to people of other faiths?…
Read MoreThe child and commitment to Jesus
During many children’s ministry programs, there will be opportunities given for children to respond to what they have learned and heard in that particular lesson. Some responses will be to the Gospel message that Jesus died for our sins to bring us back to God. Some of these responses will be to a challenge about…
Read MoreAdapting Materials to Different Cultures – A Guide for Children’s Workers
Suggestions on how to evaluate the local culture and adapt programs and curriculum for greater effectiveness. Regardless of where you work with children, their inner needs are very similar. The differences in culture, however, result in wide variances in the classroom. Mostly these differences are in the way people deal with authority, the norms for…
Read MoreJesus Asked – Open Ended Questions & Ministry With Children
The ‘open-ended’ question is used to prompt a longer thinking process in the listener/responder. A closed question requires a yes, no, or a straightforward factual answer. An open-ended question may be rhetorical, but is more likely to be asking the listener to search for an answer in themselves that they have not considered before (thus…
Read More8 ideas to help you connect with families
Ideas for connecting the children’s ministry at church with the children’s families and supporting parents in their role. Children are part of families and while friends grow in their influence as children reach their teens, families are still the biggest influence on the life of a child. How do we support families as they develop…
Read MoreBible Handling Goals for Children – 5 years old and under
An age-appropriate guide for children’s use of the Bible – their knowledge of its content, skills in using it and attitudes towards it. Children of different ages approach the Bible in different ways. As their general skills grow, so does their understanding of the Bible and their skill in using it. The statements below represent…
Read MoreWhat Children at Risk Need and How the Church Can Help Them Best
The latest research revealed by the US government indicates that more than 1 billion children, almost half of all the children in the world, are exposed to violence every year. What can the church do. Author: Ruslan Maliuta, World Without Orphans Introduction: Children must be Protected from the World’s Violence UNICEF identifies four types of…
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