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

Ukranian Children's Ministry

News regarding the inner conflict in the country of Ukraine is big news today. American news services are not always faithful to report on important happenings internationally, so when one of these international events hits the airwaves, it’s usually something pretty big. The conflict in Ukraine is complex and we pray for our brothers and sisters there as the people of Ukraine move through this time of upheaval.

Every Generation Ministries – Ukraine (“Slujinna Pokolinnjam” in the local language) is NOT involved in the protest against the government, but the EGM team IS quite active protesting against ineffective and unbiblical children’s ministry principles which have been the norm for so many years in the churches of their country. This is also a complex conflict! But God has shown us His passion to see every child reached effectively can be expressed through the EGM team in Ukraine.

To affect the change they want to make in this enormous country, EGM workers have divided Ukraine into regions and there are regional leaders in many of these areas who provide training and individualized coaching for children’s workers in churches across the denominational landscape. Ukrainian children’s ministry is changing as teachers connect with the biblical model found in Deuteronomy 6. It’s a transformational ministry model based in relationship and marked by experiential learning, creative presentations of biblical truth, meaningful conversations connecting the Bible to real life and activities which result in lasting life response.

Following is an excerpt from one regional leader’s report:

"At the seminar we held at the Lvov Theological seminary, the students learned the methodology of doing lessons for the kids. They had an opportunity to practice every element of the Bible model. Students received the theoretical knowledge and also did some practical exercises. They learned to build their own lessons using the elements of the Model of the Children’s worker [found in Deuteronomy 6]. They practiced consecutive and logical teaching of the Bible truths; they learned to make discussion questions and activities for the practical usage of the Bible truths. In addition, they had a chance to see the lessons for the kids of different age groups, based on the model.

I thank God for His blessings and guidance in this program. The Lord inspired people and gave them the desire to gain professional knowledge to be effective children’s workers, leading kids to Christ! Praise the Lord!"

- Kachan Nataliya, North Region Coordinator

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

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

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

Here I Am, Send Me!

When I was invited by our Hungarian director to join a retreat that was held in September for the trainers and volunteers of ReMa (EGM Hungary), I instantly responded by saying: “These wonderful servants of God deserve to be served and properly celebrated”, I said to myself, “So I’ll go there to serve them!”

We drove 2000 Km to Gyula, with a stop in Budapest, to attend the ministry’s board meeting. I didn’t know what to expect. I was asked to share a Bible message and to speak about everyone’s recent efforts to see a fully national Hungarian ministry funded and led by people from this country.

Then, our time of fellowship followed. I was truly impressed by each one of these people. They love God, their churches, they love children and they loved us too! We felt so welcomed and well received! We worshiped like never before. We witnessed the joy and the passion on their faces while they presented last year’s accomplishments. And we realized that behind every report, picture and tear, there was much invested and much sacrifice. Everyone was so excited about the future during the brainstorming session!

At the end, I was humbled by God. “We came here to serve”, I thought to myself, “and not to be served. We came here to encourage and not to be encouraged. We came here to bless and not to be blessed. But this is exactly what happened to us”. 

We were honored to see God working through this wonderful team and we realized, once again, that there is hope for the millions of children from Hungary.

It was almost as if we heard the voice of the Lord saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" (Isaiah 6:8). And our response was:

"Here I am. Send me!"         

-Marian Zaharia   

To Donate to EGM-Hungary visit http://www.egmworld.org/donate

To Learn More about EGM-Hungary visit http://www.egmworld.org/where-we-work/5/hungary

First Impressions

Alex Bruda made a great first impression on me, serving as my interpreter as I shared at an EGM-Romania children’s worker conference. Almost immediately after meeting him, I confided in a coworker, “He should be serving with Every Generation Ministries!” I’d had just a few conversations with him but already could see that his heart and vision were the same as ours: To see children transformed!  Subsequent meetings confirmed my initial reaction and I began to see all the gifts and abilities that could be of use in the ministry of EGM.  It wasn't long before we were talking seriously about EGM staff needs. 

Alex lives with his wife and two young boys in the Romanian capital city of Bucharest. They are the kind of super busy people who are known to be always ready for a new ministry challenge. With their vast ministry background, they are ready to help wherever, whether it is kid’s camp, a training seminar, a language lesson or some legal advice! They are very active in their own local church but also are eager to help other churches in their quest to do true biblical children’s ministry.

Today, Alex serves as EGM’s Central Europe Resource Team Director. In that role, he supports the EGM partnerships in the Central Region and God has used him greatly! When we added to the team in Central Europe, it made room for a new challenge of coordinating the field research work EGM is doing in the Middle East where we are exploring the possibilities of establishing a regional EGM ministry center. In addition to presenting children’s worker seminars in Jordan, Israel and Egypt, God has used Alex to establish an Arabic language children’s ministry resource website at www.egmarabic.org where isolated children’s workers can get the help and support they need.

I’m very glad that my first impressions have become lasting ones!

-Joe Cox