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 4, 2012

*During the next week look on our Facebook for 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 4, 2012

Sunday morning we attended an English service at the Anglican Cathedral where roughly 600 people attended. Joe, who was preaching, prayed for the children before they went off to Sunday school. He spoke on Matthew 17 and I was reminded of the new life that Jesus gave the demon possessed boy. His present life was desperate but the life that followed was a new life through Jesus Christ. Joe reminded us of the advocates for children; those who would lead them to Christ. He spoke with passion about the need children have for salvation through Christ Jesus. It was a powerful service!

We left and drove to another church to participate in a second confirmation service at Muganza Village Church. The simple sanctuary was crammed with about 600 people. It was quite amazing and for me, a huge blessing to take part in. There were literally hundreds of children present and the service was filled with joy, pomp and circumstance, deep meaning, dancing and singing and beautiful people. I spoke on the Parable of the Two Sons and welcomed the confirmed children into the family of God where we have a loving Father filled with compassion, eager to search us out and forgive us our shortcomings. I reminded them that they too will be tempted to squander what God has given them by experimenting with wild living but can always return to the Father who is ready to forgive.

Finally, I reminded them that we cannot be like the older brother who was angry that God forgave and celebrated the return of the Son. God has called us to invite others into the family and there are no blacks, no whites, no rich and poor, no educated or uneducated, no American or Ugandan. We are all one in Christ and welcomed into the family of God through saving faith in Christ Jesus our LORD and Savior. I got rolling at the end with the help of a fantastic translator (Hebert) and had some African response along with the cadence of my preaching. For a moment I felt like Martin Luther King on the Mall. We enjoyed dinner together afterwards at a kind of feast. Potatoes boiled, whole potatoes fried, rice, a type of banana paste, beans and then the 'special treats': chicken, beef and turnip greens. It was awesome.

Sunday night we attended a farewell banquet at the diocese Guesthouse where the training occurred. Joe and I were given precious gifts and testimonies were shared regarding the effect of the conference. The leadership of the Anglican Church diocese was present and the Bishop shared personally how the three days of training had lifted his vision for children's ministry-super awesome! Joe shared heartfelt greetings and thanks from our entire EGM team, particularly the churches and individuals supporting the ministry. His words were received with genuine joy and clearly touched the hearts of everyone.

The LORD led me to share about my visit to Ust Barguzin, Siberia years ago and the fruit festival with the Siberian family. In Uganda, we received bananas for dessert each day so when I told the Ugandans that those Siberians had wept over eating a banana, they were clearly touched. When I reminded them of the need to be thankful for what we have and not take things for granted, such as bananas, I could sense the LORD's leading.

Finally, when I shared about my conviction in taking Jesus Christ for granted there was a real sense of conviction followed by rejoicing in the LORD and all that He had done over the last four days. We concluded the time with Bishop Cranmer in prayer after which we sang in Urufumbira, "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder." This was one of my grandmother's favorite hymns and I knew that she and my grandfather were smiling in heaven at the precious worship of God's family in Kisoro, Uganda.

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

 

We led a camp in Świętajno for young adults who are learning to teach children as assistants (ACE-assistants). This year, the camp had 26 young adults in attendance, many of which were involved in past camps. The camp theme was 'On the way to maturity'. Our target was leading youth to maturity in: 

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,

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