Lives Impacted by Children's Ministry

Have you ever met someone with whom you felt such an immediate connection that you assumed you must have met before, or been childhood friends, or possibly been siblings separated at birth? (Okay, maybe not that last one.) When I met Lisset Silva in 2008, we had so much vision for ministry in common that we spent half the conversation finishing each other’s sentences. (“Yes!...That’s what I was going to say!”) Sometimes without even realizing it, I would begin a sentence in English, forgetting that native language is not one of the many things we have in common.

Partnering for the Kingdom

The Pilot Project is a first step of a large international initiative aiming to create and publish curriculum for children between the ages of 4 and 12 that is adapted for each country. These introductory books were initially designed for a specific age range and are then redesigned to fit other ages. They are opening the doors for an incredible curriculum project covering 9 years of the life of a child!

Intentionally named "The compass – only for explorers," the Hungarian Pilot Project was the result of the partnership between EGM International and ReMa, our local ministry. While the lessons are based on the Model Children's Worker methodology, they are only partly created by American or International writers. The Hungarian team has written a major part of them making sure that the final product reflects the local characteristics to ensure that they are culturally and regionally relevant.

We started the Pilot Project in Hungary three years ago with the involvement of seven Hungarian individuals (translators, writers, proofreaders, graphic designers, editors - three of which were volunteers.)

The Pilot Project was also a great opportunity for Hungarian Christians to become financially involved in the ministry. Part of the expenses were cover by in-country donations.

Our experience with the first Pilot Project manuals was encouraging. The vast interest proved that the Hungarian Sunday school teachers really love the curriculum finding it useful. Our plan is to spread the word so that everyone will know that this is just the beginning and we are moving forward with the Pilot Project 2.

A touching letter from a children's worker who teaches children with learning disabilities made our day. This person was amazed with the success she had using the Pilot Project manual. She explained that the children were really into the biblical stories and activities like never before. This is how we’ve learned, once again, that the biblical model of teaching is the best option for all children alike.

We received the following feedback from another teacher just after launching the Pilot Project 2: "Recently, I taught the story of Nicodemus from the Pilot Project 2 book. I hadn’t planned on making a call for a decision. Still, the Spirit led me this way. Four kids from my class made the decision for Christ that day! God bless you!"

The Pilot Project isn’t just a nice story. It’s an example of how effective you can be when you partner with God and with other people all over the world. The Pilot Project isn’t a finish line, but a first step for incredible, transformational life stories. Will you be part of that too?

Written by Marian Zaharia & Andrea Schauermann

EGM Curriculum for Middle East & North Africa

High expectations were set on what was called in the news the Arab Spring. Nations were hoping that the wind of change would bring freedom and democracy. Unfortunately, that was not the case; people were frustrated and hoped they could go back to where they were before the self-immolation of Mohammed Bouazizi in Tunisia in December 2010. Looking for the reason, some think that people were not yet prepared, did not have clear definition of democracy or did not have the right and just leaders. All the above reasons are valid. However, instead of waiting for ‘change’, people needed ‘transformation.’ Unless the Son transforms people, Spring will never arrive; “If the Son therefore make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36. 

EGM curriculum for the Arabic speaking world, the MENA, is all about ‘transformation.’ Away from the world’s distractions, fifteen elite writers from Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt gathered in July 2013 to write lessons for pilot 1 in an inspiring place on Mount Lebanon overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It was an intensive time introducing Every Generation Ministries' Model, learning and writing according to it. 

“I was given the chance to write in a more organized and effective way.” Thouraya wrote, one of the writers from Lebanon. Another writer, Maha from Jordan, expressed her feelings saying: “We are teaching the kids to live a different life, to have their life transformed; we are teaching them the truth through the EGM Model.” Our vision is to provide the Arabic speaking churches with a three-year locally written curriculum based on Deuteronomy chapter six. Pilot 1 & Pilot 2 will serve as a road map to starting the curriculum. Writers are excited, partners are ready and the winds of transformation will surely come to include every generation. 

Youeel Tarabay
Executive Director 
Fondation Le Grain De Ble, Lebanon

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

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

Uganda November 1, 2012

*During the next two weeks look on our Facebook for our blog posts about Daniel and Joe's most recent trip to Uganda, including stories and photos. Please share these posts with your friends and family.

November 1, 2012

Praise the LORD for another day to serve in Kisoro, Uganda. Yesterday was a great day for EGM. My colleague Joe Cox did most if the teaching. He did a great job teaching the TRUTH seminar and God surely touched the hearts of the teachers. The TRUTH seminar included an experiential activity where teachers wrote the needs of a child within their ministry on an orange post-it-note. Then, they prayed and asked the LORD for insight into how His Word might meet the need of that child. Next, they were asked to write the text and main idea on a pink heart post-it-note where they stuck it onto the wall adjacent to the orange sticker. It is hard to describe in words the precious way that God touched the children's workers. After they returned to their seats, Joe asked if anyone wanted to share. A precious teacher stood up and shared her experience:

"I have one hundred and twenty children in my class. They are all very naughty. Sometimes I have had to beat them with a stick. The boys act very naughty and even crawl out the windows. I even started to hate the children and did not want to teach them anymore." Then she began to weep declaring her desire to repent of her lack of love for the boys and girls and expressed her renewed commitment to ministering the love of Christ to children.

The post-it-note activity touched their hearts so deeply showing them that God loves these children and He wants them to love these children as well.

Daniel Watts

To donate to EGM visit us at egmworld.org/donate

Trip to Uganda with Daniel Watts

*During the next three weeks look for our blog posts about Daniel and Joe's most recent trip to Uganda, including stories and photos. Please share these posts with your friends and family.

October 31, 2012

Sitting on the balcony in Kigali, Rwanda-nicely dressed with my smartphone and iPad in-hand, I noticed a street sweeper who was simply clothed cleaning the street with a real broom; he waved to me and smiled. Has the technology and material toys made me happier or given me more joy?

We drove from Kigali, Rwanda to Kisoro, Uganda. Leaving Kigali, I was struck anew about how little a foreign missionary knows when they enter into a culture. To really have an impact within the culture, it takes enormous effort and time. Language fluency is crucial! Without language, you cannot really enter inside the culture and come to understand the plethora of issues that are crucial for ministry effectiveness.

Driving through the Rwanda countryside, many questions come to mind:

§  Who owns all the small plots of land being farmed?

§  What are the family dynamics especially in regards to men and children?

§  The women are carrying amazing loads balanced on their heads and also appear to be working in the fields; what are the roles of men and women?

§  Children are everywhere and I can see that Joe is nervous in the front seat with all the little precious children just on the shoulder of the road. Why are very small children out on their own?

Because the agriculture is so diverse, I noticed the following crops: Rice, bananas, cabbage, potatoes, beans, avocados and pineapples. The fields were filled with grazing goats, sheep and cows. I also observed what appeared to be a large pig farm where the pigs were enclosed in a roofed structure, something like you would see in Europe.

Along the way to the border, I observed more than 15 church buildings. They were all very small and simple with holes for windows; some of which had no doors. One thing struck me while driving to Kisoro. The appearance of the buildings; specifically the nice buildings and schools are funded and built by US Aid, UN and UNICEF, etc. More to follow on that!

It has been raining since we arrived (at 3:30pm) and it appears it will continue throughout the night and the power will most likely be out may all night as well. A children's worker just arrived who had walked 15 kilometers through the rain to be here. Simply Amazing!

Daniel Watts

To donate to EGM visit us at http://www.egmworld.org/donate

Serving special needs children in Belarus

When it comes to caring for children, especially children with special needs, the love of God knows no bounds. Veteran special educator Nancy Wilson and her daughter-in-law, Shasta,

Visiting the children with physical challenges

The orphanage for the children is located on Chicherina Street, which is in downtown Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine. Our team of children’s workers were invited to this orphanage by Stephen Bokach, the regional superintendent of Baptist churches. When we went to the orphanage we brought presents and aid from their Switzerland friends. This time the principal of the orphanage allowed us to hold a special program for the children. We used a puppet show to tell the kids two stories - one from the Bible and another about real life. After this, our team distributed the presents. The children opened up for the conversations and fellowship so much that (by the permission of their pedagogues) we were allowed to spend an extra hour with them. Some children invited us to their rooms, where we learned that there are other children at the orphanage that cannot leave their beds and we gladly visited them on every story of the 3-story building, we gave them presents. Also, for the adults, we had a different type of gift - large format calendars with Bible verses printed on them. 

We spent several hours in the orphanage and the people who were impacted the most ended up being the older children from our Sunday school who were with us. After this trip they sincerely thanked God that they have a mother and a father, that they have a healthy body, and they know God who cares about them. 

Mikhail Lozovoi, 

Director for EGM-UA, 

Director of Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine FBC Sunday school

What is the connection?

Last week Cami and I coordinated a camp for our church with 65 children and 15 leaders with the theme of “Rome”. Sixteen of the children (25%) came from Orthodox families, and for many of them, this was their first contact with an Evangelical Church. Cami and I were responsible for regiment I (6 to 8 years old). On Wednesday, the lesson came from Romans 5:1-11 “only Jesus and His Love can give meaning to my life”. The children each received coins they could use to bid on auction items. There were really popular items children could recognize the logo and there were “cheaper” candies wrapped in white paper. In the end the winning bidders received their prizes. Big disappointment – the popular items, were just empty containers and what was supposed to be in them, was actually wrapped in the white paper. We talked about our feelings and went to visit Paul. We found Paul in prison talking to Brutus about the love of Jesus and about salvation. In our small groups, Mihnea (8 years old) had a question that he could not wait to ask even before we started reading from the Bible. He asked me: “Alex, I really do not see the connection between the game we played today and what Paul told us. I know there is always a strong connection – please let me know what the connection is.” I realized then, how important it is for children to be taught consistently. Before you know it they demand to be taught the right way – the Biblical way. I asked Mihnea to have a bit more patience and to wait until we read from the Bible. We started reading Romans 5:1-11. “This hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to us”. All of the children realized that only Jesus and His love is our hope that never disappoints anyone.  The children then wrote a request for God to book a place for them in heaven. I was surprised how many children understood that only Jesus and his loving sacrifice is our reason to be with GOD eternally.

The undersigned Mihnea, “please book a place in heaven for me because I believe in Lord Jesus”
The undersigned Bianca from Bucharest, “please approve a place in heaven for me because I don’t want to be disappointed”
Request: “Lord please accept me in Heaven because you are full of Love and the best, plus I do good things.” Signed Loana

Children can understand the Bible, all of it, including Bible passages like Romans that are considered, by some, to be for adults only. We just have to find the way to connect the Truth with their life experience. Continue to pray for all children and their families and that the seed planted in their hearts will grow and bear fruits.

Alex Bruda