Holding Community Programs for Children

Children respond well to the message of Jesus and His love for them. Churches that organise community programs for children find them successful.

Here are some suggestions to share the love of Jesus with the children in your community.

Vacation Bible School (VBS) / Kids' Club

These activities have many benefits:

• They enable children to reach out to their friends
• They bring parents in contact the message of Jesus in a non-threatening environment
• Children can come to know Jesus
• The church meets its community
• They fun for everyone
• Children can make friends with Christ-centred people

Churches can run VBS programs for a week in the school holidays, on a weekend afternoon or a weekday evening, especially a late-night shopping evening. If you have trouble finding enough volunteers, combine with another nearby church. Be sure to involve your youth and teens - in fact, all the church!

Run a children's outreach program at the same time as an adult outreach program. Cover similar topics but present them in an age-appropriate way. The whole family can learn about Jesus - adults in a structured way, and children in action-packed, fun programs.

When the parents talk about what they've heard, the children will already have heard a similar message and will be able to understand the discussion. When the parents make decisions that affect the family's lifestyle, the children will understand the reasons for the changes.

• Scuba Vacation Bible School, Group (Available at the Adventist Book Centre)
• Lavalava Island, Group
• The Great Underground Adventure, Children's Ministries Department
• Kids in the Kitchen, Children's Ministries Department
• Earthmaker Mysteries, Children's Ministries Department
• Forever Friends, Children's Ministries Department
• Let's Celebrate, Adventist Media Centre

Contact the Children Ministries department to find out how to acquire the resources.