Magazine
HOPE
IPHC Children’s Ministry
July.August 2016 Edition
E P O H Magazine
"Be holy like Jesus."
Dr. Ellen Moore
IPHC Children's Ministry Consultant
We all have heroes - kids, adults, all of us. Heroes can inspire us to be more than we are, do more than we think we can do, and to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. We want to be like our heroes. The key is choosing the right hero. At the risk of sounding cliché, Jesus is the perfect choice for a hero. He inspires us, helps us do more than we think we can, and motivates us to be part of His kingdom. But, be like Him? Be holy? It sounds impossible, outrageous, and even presumptuous. Yet, His Word tells us to, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Yikes! As a denomination, we are emphasizing the fact that “We prayerfully value holiness” this year. It is an incredible thought that is challenging to grasp - and we’re going to teach this to kids?! Childhood is actually the perfect time to be introduced to such a transformational concept because kids believe. Kids believe that God is who He says He is; that He is perfect, good, powerful, and worthy of our worship. Kids believe that they can do what God says they can do. If God says He will help them to make wise choices, then He will. If God says that He has a big plan for this world and He wants them to be a part of it, then they say, “Sign me up!” If God says to live life like He would, they say “Ok.” Sounds simple…simple, yes, but not necessarily easy.
To be holy means to be like Jesus. To be like Jesus is to love what He loves and hate what He hates. God loves people, justice, mercy, and grace. God hates evil behavior, arrogance, and perverse speech. To be more like Jesus, to be holy, isn’t easy, which is exactly the point. Holiness is impossible without Him. We need the Holy Spirit on the inside of us to teach, remind, and empower us to choose what Jesus would choose. Here’s the good news. As friends and followers of Jesus, that’s exactly what we have - the Holy Spirit and power. The Bible says that if we have Him in our hearts, if we really know and love Him, it will show up in our actions (1 John 4). His light and power on the inside of us begins to shine. People start to see and hear love, grace, forgiveness, and kindness from us. Could it be that they are getting a glimpse of Jesus? What a thought!
Imagine a generation who is becoming more like Jesus. Lord, let it begin in us!
HOPE Photo Credits: Fotolia, Lindsey Snider, Ark Church
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A Time to
BLESS by Michelle Anthony
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s we prepare to send our children back to school this year, we find ourselves bustling about in preparations: purchasing school supplies, cleaning out closets, getting our homes organized, and emotionally preparing our children for new teachers and friends. However, let’s make sure that we do not forget the importance of preparing our children spiritually. We can do this by investing in their hearts through offering words of blessing. This is a time in which we can use the beginning of this school season to birth a new tradition in our homes. This tradition will have a lasting impact on the way our children view themselves, as well as how they view God. In his book, The Power of Spoken Blessings, Bill Gothard reminds us about the enduring impact of our
words. He says that, “By giving spoken blessings, we can see healing brought to aching souls and restoration brought to bruised relationships. Such wonders are accomplished by the power of God’s Spirit through the agency of spoken blessings.” The Bible tells us that, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21 KJV). Our words have the power to crush or to heal, to wound or to encourage. Some of the most powerful words in the Bible for me are blessings that others spoke over the people of God. One of my favorites is from the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:16–21, NIV, where he reminds us to dwell on the immeasurable love that our heavenly Father has for us: "For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives
its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Some parents struggle to use their words for blessing. Some fear that their words will create an inflated ego in their child or keep him or her from striving for more. Others, have never truly had blessing spoken over them, and do not know how to use it as a verbal gift. Here are four ways to “speak well” over our children.
ADMIRATION.
This is the giving of compliments or praise to something good that you notice. For example, “What a beautiful smile. I like that you are so helpful. You’re such a wonderful listener.”
AFFIRMATION.
This is a specific statement of blessing for increase or endurance in what God is already doing in someone’s life. For example, “I see God giving you His heart for those in need.”
APPRECIATION.
This is an expression of gratitude that something good exists or has happened. For example, “Thank you for helping me. I give thanks to God for providing for us.”
ANTICIPATION.
This is a blessing for the future. For example, “You’re going to bring a lot of people joy today with your loving and caring ways. May the Lord go with you and protect you.” Take some time to consider these four A’s. How can you, and those in your ministry, practice living these out verbally in your homes—choosing to offer blessings in each category to family members on a regular basis? An important part of being a spiritually healthy family is in the offering of a blessing or “benediction” to
your child. The word benediction literally means “good speaking” and is most often translated to “blessing.” Numbers 6:22–26 (NKJV) records the Lord instructing Moses to teach Aaron (the high priest) and his sons how to bless the people with these words: The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make his face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. A simple but very powerful way to counteract being a critical parent is by inspiring and equipping your children with a daily blessing. A blessing is simply a prayer that you pray over your child that has slightly different language. In a traditional prayer we commonly address God directly; for example, “Dear God” or “Dear Jesus.” In a blessing, we are speaking directly to the person we are blessing. We can use her name and make sure she knows this blessing is specifically for her. It can also be a statement that is prayerful in nature, but declares truth about God or the life that He has called us to, such as, “Grayson, may you know that God’s protection and love is always with you,” or “James, may you go in His peace.” In a world that is constantly criticizing our children, I encourage parents to make their blessings to their children personal and intimate. You can do this by placing your hand on your child’s shoulder, head, or arm and looking he or she directly in the eye when you speak. It’s always a wonderful time to affirm your love first by telling your child how much you love him or her. After the affirmation of love, speak words of biblical verses or ways that you see God’s truth manifesting itself in your child’s life. Example: “Mazie, your mother loves you. You are a child of God, and He has given you His grace and mercy. May your day be filled with opportunities to give that grace to others, and may you seek His best in every situation that comes your way, giving Him the glory in all things.” Whether at bedtime or in the morning before your child leaves for school, offering a blessing can be a lifelong gift.
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MORE LIKE
JESUS by Dwayne Riner
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ohn Wesley said, “As the more holy we are upon the earth, the more happy we must be.” When we think of holiness, happiness may not be the first word that comes to mind. But, what if it did? What if our kids believed that becoming more like Jesus actually brings joy? How would that change their lives? As we set out to create this series of children’s curriculum, “More Like Jesus,” our goal was to show kids that holiness is good. It’s not about a set of rules; instead, it’s about a choice to walk in Christ’s footsteps. It’s about His grace that changes us from the inside out. Our desire is to equip you to communicate these truths to kids through four big points: • Jesus is Holy • I Love What Jesus Loves • Jesus Helps Me to Be Holy • I Want to Be More Like Jesus In these four lessons we want you to be able to communicate to kids that we serve an awesome, perfect, and amazing God, who is always good. They will learn that we can choose to love the good things that God loves, and discover that Jesus empowers us to make those good choices. Lastly, the light that He has put inside of us shines brightest as we choose to serve others. Our goal is to equip you to design your services to be amazing. We have worked hard to create a curriculum series that will make your Saturdays a little easier and your Sundays even more effective. As part of the “More Like Jesus” series, you will receive
curriculum for Elementary, Preschool, and Toddlers. Each lesson includes a full script so that you will have a complete lesson in hand ready to teach. You only need two volunteers to teach the lesson. That’s not all you will receive. There are also videos for each lesson, for all age groups. We are also including sound effects, graphics, and coloring sheets for the series. Because the true effectiveness of children’s ministry begins and ends in the home, there is also a take home bookmark (pg.10) that you can print and distribute to your families. It contains all four of the Big Verses, as well as a prayer that parents can pray over their kids. There is also a Big Question to ask each week, so families can keep the discussion going at home. If you have Sunday School or Wednesday night programs for kids, you will also receive four Small Groups lessons with the series. We believe that your services will significantly impact the kids in your church, and that the Holy Spirit will anoint you to speak truth into their lives. You make an incredible difference in the lives of kids and families, and we are thankful to partner with you. Our prayer is that this curriculum will equip you and your volunteers as you minister. We are so committed to helping you succeed that we are available if you have any questions about the curriculum. Together we have the opportunity to see thousands of kids discover that they can walk in holiness and become “More Like Jesus.” This can change a generation!
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Stocking Project Metro World Child
Though not required, you and your kids can decorate the outside of the stockings.
Get together with the family and turn a summer project into an early Christmas outreach opportunity for you and the kids! Metro World Child needs your help creating stockings that are filled with toys or a $10 donation. Projects begin in summer to cover the amount of stockings needed. Visit iphc.org/women for further details.
Take the kids along to choose a green felt for boys and a red felt for girls. Grab mom and grandma to sew the felt pieces together.
Download your stocking pattern. Find it online, iphc.org/women.
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by Samantha Snipes
W
aking up on Christmas morning as children, most of us remember running to the tree to see what awesome gifts were laying there for us to hurriedly unwrap while our parents were videoing and taking pictures. We have done the same for our children, and in the future will for our grandchildren. However, this story is not about what happens during Christmas in our homes. It is about Christmas for children who may or may not have a single gift on Christmas, other than that of someone who cares. An outreach of Metro World Child is that someone. Metro World Child began out of the heart of a man named Bill Wilson. He was abandoned at an early age, and knows what it is like to go without the basics in life. He not only has a ministry to tell tens of thousands of children weekly about Jesus, but also realizes that a simple gift at Christmas makes a special highlight in a child’s life. This is where The Christmas Stocking Project comes in. Every year, individuals from all over begin raising money and make stockings in the summer months for children in Brooklyn, New York. Preparing the stockings in the summer allows Metro enough time to gather enough stockings for all the children. Last year, my family and a team traveled to New York to see this ministry in action. Words cannot express the impact that this ministry has on the community, and in each child’s life that walks through the doors. The ministry does not begin with walking through the doors, but out in the neighborhoods and on the streets. On a cool winter’s day, we rode in a bus to pick up the children from their neighborhood to attend the Christmas event of passing out the stockings. The children were so excited, looking forward to this day. There were children of all ages getting on the bus. My children and husband had fun playing with them as we continued to pick up child after child until we were filled to capacity. There was also a mom whom I spoke with that was raised in the same neighborhood, who attended this ministry when she was young, and was now seated beside her was her child. Children are learning about Jesus and His love in action by gifts given from people who don’t know them. We are the hands of Christ, and how better to show a child His love than to give gifts at Christmas. I encourage you to look for ways to show His love. To participate in The Stocking Project please go to www.iphc. org/discipleship to get more information. You will impact a child’s life forever with a gift at Christmas. We can all do something to make a difference in our world. Let’s do this together!
Family Outreach
christmas in summertime!
It's never to early to start preparing for Christmas when it comes to Metro World Child. Take a hot summer day and turn it into Christmas in summertime! Get the family together, pull out the glitter and glue, and create your own unique christmas stockings. for children in New York City your family project may be the highlight of their year. - 13 -