India

Thirty years ago, as a young children’s ministry leader, I felt the LORD touching my heart concerning India, the country with the largest population of boys and girls. Evangelism Resources (ER) invited EGM to travel to Delhi last month to meet with ER leaders regarding children’s ministry work. Evangelism Resources continues to encounter vast numbers of children in the midst of their church planting efforts and evangelism activities. One leader told me that when you enter into a village with a guitar, balloon or yo-yo, you can expect to have a crowd of children immediately gather around you. They are eager and willing participants and most open to the gospel.

Some interesting facts about India:

•  There are over 800 million mobile phones in use.
•  Uttar Pradesh, a state with over 205 million people, would be the 5^th largest country in the world if it stood alone from India.
•  In 1947, the year of Independence from England, India’s population was less than 400 million. In just 65 years, the population has tripled.
• There are 18 languages with over 10 million native speakers.

India is a vast and glorious country with a complex and diverse society. In the midst of it all stands the church of God working to share the love of Jesus Christ and the message of salvation with children. Both Evangelism Resources and The Evangelical Fellowship of India, which is comprised of over 38,000 churches, has asked EGM to return to India in April 2015. We will be working with key children’s ministry leaders for an EGM training program and to explore ways that we might serve together to see children transformed in Christ through His church in India. We will keep you posted.

In His Steps,

Daniel Watts

President

Mexico Ministry

We don’t always get to see the results of our ministry efforts.

In fact, many of our ministry efforts must be done in simple faith that God is doing what He wants to do in His own perfect timing, whether or not we get to SEE the results this side of Heaven. Children’s workers everywhere look at the child in their class and wonder, “What will God do with this little one?”

For Daniel Watts, EGM President and Founder, having Krysten Norkaitis on the EGM staff is one of those glimpses into the future life of a child in EGM’s ministry. While serving as a children’s pastor in Orange County, California (in his days before EGM was founded in 1993) Daniel met little blonde, energetic Krysten. Krysten was eager to learn, had a heart for God and was an enthusiastic participant in the church’s children’s ministry program.

When leaving the US to move his family to Poland, Daniel had to say goodbye to Krysten and the other children he’d passionately served in his years of church ministry. Isn’t it wonderful that God’s plan for a child isn’t dependent on only one person? God was busy in those years as Krysten was growing up. He was preparing her for ever increasing challenges and He was sending many godly mentors into her life to prepare her for those adventures.

In the brief time he had to teach and disciple Krysten, Daniel had no idea that she would one day be called of God to serve as an overseas missionary in Argentina. Daniel certainly never envisioned that the work he started in Poland (Every Generation Ministries) would grow into an international ministry and that little Krysten would one day be used of God strategically to develop EGM ministries throughout Latin America.

Krysten served for several years as EGM’s Latin America Regional Director beginning in 2006. Later, she accepted the challenge to be EGM’s North America Hispanic Ministries director, leading the charge as EGM has expanded its work into the enormous country of Mexico. While the work there is growing and thriving, the need is great. Our Mexican leaders tell us that 85,000 churches in Mexico need help with their children’s ministry. Every day the work is being done to grow into a few more churches.

Recently, God has used Krysten to spark a ministry vision for helping the ever-growing Spanish-speaking population in the churches of the USA. The needs of these churches are great and God has uniquely gifted Krysten to be a strong and capable advocate for them!

Is there a little “Krysten” near you today, how are you investing in them? God might want to use you to be a part in preparing them for something you never could have expected. Let Him use you and watch what He will do through the life of that little one!

Joe Cox

Vice President of International Ministries

Impacting Lives in Peru

Every Generation Ministries is consistently invited in to churches around the world  to lead “Model Children’s Worker” trainings to both leaders and laypersons. The basic tenants of the material are practical and effective in teaching children about Jesus.     

Corina Mezarino, a member of Christian Alliance Church of San Miguel in Peru, shared her testimony of the impact “Model Children’s Worker”  training has made on the lives of the children in her church. 

“Model Children’s Worker”  information changed the perspective of how to teach children biblical principles. I have been using typical school methods to teach the lessons, but the only outcome was that children learned Bible stories. What I really wanted was for the children to apply the biblical principles of God's Word to their lives. The “Model” allows me to touch fibers deeper in the children and help them understand the principles that God has left us in His Word.

The children of Peru already face an increasingly aggressive world that is perverse and alienated from God. I wish with all my heart that the children can burn God’s principles into their hearts that will help them make good decisions. Only then can they have abundant lives. I firmly believe that as I continue using this “Model”, the children’s development stages will increasingly become refined.

I pray that other churches could be blessed with this Model so that in unity we can see transformed lives of our children for future generations.

We are thankful for testimonies like Carina’s. We share her prayer request that more churches could have access to The Model Children’s Worker material.  To read exciting reports of how God is blessing in other countries through Every Generation Ministries, read our blog.

We are also gathering Teacher Tool Kits  to bless the teachers in Peru and other countries who have little to no supplies including pencils and paper. If you would like to provide a Teacher Tool Kit, make a donation or ask a question, please contact our office. 

Mexican EGM participants give towards EGM’s growing ministry in Africa…

A few weeks ago, I preached in a local church in Ensenada, Mexico where EGM has been serving for years. I shared about my recent trip to the D.R. Congo in Africa where God is using EGM in the work He is doing there. God is stirring in the hearts of church leaders showing them the importance of spiritually investing in children. They know by doing this, God can use the Congolese children to bring healing and peace to their own country. After I finished preaching, the senior pastor, Ramon Ruiz, reiterated the importance of discipling children and reminded the congregation how God is using EGM to impact the lives of the children in their church. Pastor Ramon also said that he felt God was calling their congregation to join in the work God is doing in Africa. Despite the fact they had already collected the offering, Pastor Ramon encouraged the church members to give again and to give generously towards this work. The church members gave joyfully and generously as they praised God. We thank God for the generosity of the Mexican people and rejoice in the $260 that was collected which

will result in more Congolese boys and girls having the opportunity to learn of God’s transformational love!

Krysten Norkaitis

North America Hispanic Ministries Director

To find out more about Krysten and the ministry in Mexico visit:

http://www.egmworld.org/where-we-work/expanding-our-reach-mexico

To support EGM-Mexico or Krysten Norkaitis visit: 

http://www.egmworld.org/donate

Mikhail Lozovoi

“I could not stand the lessons in our Sunday School when I was a child”, shares Mikhail Lozovoi, “that is why after I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord, I became a children's worker. My goal is that kids in my class or club will find life in Jesus".

Even before we met with Mikhail in 2007, he was searching for biblical ways of teaching the truth to the future generations. Mikhail was invited to join the Board of Directors of EGM-Ukraine and later considered as one of candidates for the position of EGM-UA Director.

His enthusiasm of sharing the Biblical Model, evident love to children, deep knowledge of the Truth, readiness to pioneer the work of EGM in the country convinced the Board that he is the person for the job. Since 2008 EGM-UA grew to the team of 10 dedicated workers (6 of them represent EGM in different parts of Ukraine) and twice as many volunteers. The office in the city of Dnipropetrovsk process dozens of phone-calls, e-mails and walk-in visits daily, providing children workers with necessary resources.

The most requested by churches training seminar “Model teaching through creativity” is developed by Tatiana, who readily travels with Mikhail to teach it to children workers countrywide. While continuing to direct the work of Sunday school in Central Baptist church, Mikhail is now appointed to organize and supervise Christian camps for children in the Dnipropetrovsk area. This widens EGM's involvement in the preparation of camp workers so that they will relate to children and teach them according to the Model.

Recent seminars on Titus project for EGM staff and Board of Directors placed new a task before EGM-Ukraine – develop and implement strategy for in-country giving. Mikhail as the Director accepted the challenge and excels in inspiring the team and the Board to bring EGM-Ukraine on the next level of becoming truly national ministry. What inspires Mikhail in the process is that God wants to transform lives of millions of kids in Ukraine through His church in this country.

Igor Fridrikh

Eastern Europe Regional Director

EGM Romania

“I shouldn’t have even been interviewed for the position, but God made it possible,” reflects Daniel Bruda, who today serves as national director for Every Generation Ministries in Romania. The Romanian EGM board had already decided to close the interviews when they were working through the process of hiring their first director but decided to make an exception so that Daniel could meet with them. 

Today, those board members are glad they made that exception. Energy, vision and determination have been hallmarks for Daniel’s ministry these last 10 years serving with EGM, and God has seen fit to bless Daniel’s efforts to build a team of respected volunteers, board members and staff members who bear the same marks. Under Daniel’s leadership, God has allowed this formidable team to build a strong ministry which today provides children’s ministry training resources for the nearly 8,000 evangelical churches in Romania. 

Under Daniel’s leadership, a Romanian team has created a beautiful 3 year children’s ministry curriculum on 3 different age levels. Romanians are known to be open to technological advances and web use is wide-spread, so the curriculum went online! That’s why today you can often see a Romanian children’s worker accessing the EGM-Romania website to refer to their lesson curriculum via a smart phone in the Sunday school classroom. Well-attended regional conferences regularly provide training for children’s workers and a big national conference is also being offered annually. Not only is the national conference completely funded by Romanians, it has been the birthplace for a missionary vision which today funds regular outreach to Romanian church leaders in Vienna, Austria and Chisnau, Moldova. 

Raised in the communist era by Christian parents, Daniel is no stranger to ministry trials and is not easily daunted, even in the somewhat challenging ministry environment of Romania. His focus just now is two-fold: to develop regional EGM leadership who will provide individualized coaching in children’s ministry and to develop the last bit of funding necessary so that the Romanian ministry will be 100% funded from inside Romania. 

By the way, there are two men with the last name of “Bruda” who serve with Every Generation Ministries and if that has confused you at times, you’re not alone! Daniel’s brother, Alex Bruda, serves as EGM’s Central Europe regional leader. Daniel lives in the city of Cluj with his wife, Nicoleta, and young daughter Cristiana. 

Joe Cox

Vice President of International Ministries 

Poland Leadership Development

Poland has a unique place in Every Generation Ministries’ history because it was the first country to begin the work of EGM. Among the many early contacts made by Daniel and Marla Watts in the beginning years of ministry was Agata Rysiewicz who stood out as one who had a special heart for children and for the Lord. Gifted as a teacher and a trainer, she quickly became involved in the Leadership Development ministry of EGM- Poland and began training children’s ministry leaders in the principles of the Model Children’s Worker from Deuteronomy 6:4-9. So many years later she is still going strong, not only teaching in various churches around Poland, but also in several college-level Bible schools located in various cities across the country. Agata stays current in children’s ministry by working with children weekly as well as writing curriculum and organizing children’s camps. One of the passions of her heart is training teenagers to become as assistant teachers at training camps. As these young people are catching the vision of children being transformed in Christ, Agata is ensuring that this generation will continue to serve in children’s ministry. One of the amazing results she’s seen at these children’s ministry training camps aimed at Polish teens is that teenagers (not only those from churched homes but also many from orphanages) are finding God’s plan for their lives. As you think of Agata, pray for protection as she travels much of the time, for times of refreshment and for her to continue to hear the call God has on her life to see children Transformed in Christ through His Church in Poland.

Francie Overstreet

Leadership Development Director

Teach people that are able to teach others as well

When writing to Timothy, his disciple, Paul encouraged him: “What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.”

(2 Timothy 2:2, ISV).

We believe that our calling is to make disciples, equipping them and sending them to equip others.  Almost every weekend, the experienced trainers from ReMa (The EGM ministry in Hungary) are meeting their students with Paul’s desire in mind. Every single participant is a proof of God’s love for the children. Every single graduation becomes a celebration and an opportunity to testify new beginnings in ministry.

This year ReMa has had 3 courses in the fall and 4 courses in the spring in 3 different cities in Hungary. 14 different churches are now equipped to have a transformational ministry to children. ReMa’s trainers are mostly volunteers, and dedicated relational teachers, called by God to this service.

The results are incredible! People are being equipped in a very professional way to become tools in God’s hands. If in the beginning they are shy and curious, they leave with boldness and courage, ready to serve God in their communities, to share the Gospel and make disciples among the children in a biblical way, adapted to culture, age and development level.

One of our current students shared with ReMa some of his thoughts during the training:

"The ReMa-course is a huge blessing to our church! It brings us, teachers, nearer to each other as well, and that increases our effectiveness in the ministry. I think the children enjoy coming to the Bible classes more; they became more open and so are we. Our message can have a bigger impact on their lives now."

Mike Zaharia

Central Europe Resource Team Director

Mexico Team Update

It was as if the entire room was energized and it was a feeling we would experience again during every encounter with the EGM-Mexico Baja team. They were teaching the Model Children’s Worker (MCW) at a camp called Agua Viva near Ensenada. Eric, Gabby, Leonora, Joni, Pati and Elva taught with serious purpose, but also with joy, laughter, creativity and great warmth. It is always an infectious training, inspiring attendees to see boys and girls come to live life with Jesus. Their hearts were and are clearly bound together by God’s heart for the children, but not just for the children in Baja. Their desire is to be used of God to see children transformed in Christ in all of Mexico and wherever else God might send them. So, they teach other children’s workers, write curriculum, strategically plan, train new leaders, serve in their church ministries to children, communicate God’s heart for children, PRAY and GO! Recently, Elva shared a story of a man that God was clearly calling to work with children, but he had not yet recognized that this was God’s plan for him. He had heard about God’s heart for the children, had even taken the MCW training, understood it, but thought it wasn't for him. Then God placed him in an unfamiliar situation; a fair for children, and God kept having children come to him for help. “My nose is bleeding”, “I fell down” and he was the one ministering to them. Then he heard the still, small voice of God’s call and embraced the call to see children transformed in Christ.

This is a very special and unique team. Please pray for them as they serve the LORD by modeling lives who seek to do God’s will on behalf of children.

Francie Overstreet

Leadership Development Director

To find out more about the EGM-Mexico Ministry CLICK HERE

When Every Generation Ministries began to investigate the possibilities of supporting the start of a national ministry in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we knew it wouldn't be simple.

But, God deeply loves the children of DRCongo, He has seen fit to overcome these many challenges and has fueled His vision through a small group of dedicated children’s workers in the community of Goma in Eastern DRCongo. After receiving training from EGM, a small band of Christian leaders decided to share the vision for biblical, transformational ministry with children by training others in their community. They began training one church team after another as well as coaching Sunday school teachers using their own money to travel and conduct the training seminars.

In November 2012, the “M23” group of rebels moved to control Goma where heavy fighting ensued. The battles have driven countless thousands out of their homes and to various refugee camps. Those who stayed behind suffered hunger and disease as supply chains were broken and clean water was unavailable. The EGM team prayed and waited for news of the Goma team and from various scraps of news eventually pieced together that the team was safe.

Following is an excerpt from a recent communication from one of those leaders:

Just to tell you that we are very well. God keeps us against many bad things. As you know, we have a goal to prepare the next generation which will make difference in Congo and the world in general. That's why in spite of the war and traumatic things we cannot stop. We have to go ahead. Yesterday, we met with the children ministry's staff from chaplaincy of one of the Christian universities (ULPGL).  They need to be trained. They heard many churches talking about EGM training and the result that churches get after been trained in their children ministries. We need your prayers. May God inspire each trainer and protect learners.

What a privilege to pray for protection for this courageous team! Praise God that He is working and that miracles are happening in lives of Congolese children. Let’s allow their courage to of these faithful ones to encourage us as we support their work!

Joe Cox

To help support the work going on in DRCongo visit http://www.egmworld.org/donate