Gospel Adventures

SPOTTING GOD’S GOODNESS GOSPEL ADVENTURES:

by MEGAN MCDANIEL

In partnership with Group Publishing, Lutheran Hour Ministries takes grade school through middle schoolaged children and some adults on a week-long adventure each year. Gospel Adventures: Zambia Bound, an informative and interactive virtual learning experience, is complete with five days of FREE curriculum in two formats and bonus materials.

Every year, kids are introduced to kids just like them living in another country who carry their faith with them through day-to-day life. Kids learn about the foods, animals, people, and places of Zambia with Gospel Adventures. Participants of Zambia Bound shared that they appreciate how the materials are organized and that there is plenty of information to use every day. The students especially love the theme song and look forward to the videos and various hands-on activities associated with the program. Visit gospeladventures.org to sign up today!

Making an Impact on Kids Around the World

A main feature of Gospel Adventures is the opportunity for kids in the United States to help raise funds that directly support children in other regions all over the globe. Since 2012, kid donors and schools have given around $250,000 to support the Global Kids Fund, which supports kid-centered LHM ministry efforts in countries around the world.

School expenses in Africa can be very expensive for parents. To avoid the added costs, many young children often need to leave school and help support their families financially. Allowing children to remain in school is one of the most important ways to ensure they receive a foundation for their future. LHM’s ministry centers in Kenya and Madagascar are partnering with local Lutheran congregations to identify children in their communities who are at risk of leaving school. We will supply them with a school supply kit that consists of a backpack filled with pens, paper, workbooks, other school supplies, and a Christian book that shares the Gospel message with the children.

Make the most of your journey by helping LHM fill school supply kits for students in Africa! Gifts made to the Global Kids Fund through Gospel Adventures will lessen the financial burden on families, allowing more children to remain in school to give them a better opportunity for success in their lives.

A gift of $5 will provide a backpack for one kit.

A gift of $10 will provide the school supplies and Christian book for one kit.

A gift of $15 will provide one complete kit of a backpack and supplies.

Here’s what some are saying about Gospel Adventures: Zambia Bound …

“My kindergarten class really enjoyed learning about specific kids and their daily chores, schools, etc. This helped them grasp life there better. This year’s song was awesome!”

“My students were very engaged! They learned a lot about the culture, animals, and how kids’ experiences are both similar and different from their own. The supporting materials were also great!”

Zambia Bound!

Giving Kids a Hands-On Outreach Experience

Dr. Melissa Sandfort, principal of Child of God Lutheran School in St. Peters, Missouri, shared about her students’ experience with Gospel Adventures: Zambia Bound. “Child of God Lutheran School develops Christ-like character and academic excellence for students beginning in preschool twos through eighth grade,” says Sandfort. “The students participated in Gospel Adventures as part of our National Lutheran Schools Week in January. The Global Kids Fund was selected to receive the students’ chapel offering for the week.”

“We educate the students about first fruits (Proverbs 3:9) and encourage them to honor God,” continues Sandfort. “This includes praying to God, preparing to be good stewards with the blessings He has given us, prioritizing God, and giving back to God what is ultimately His. This is our second year to participate in the Gospel Adventures program. The students absolutely love learning about other cultures especially seeing how students their age live, learn, play, and worship the same God!”

Students in grades K through 6 at Christ Community Lutheran School in Watertown, Minnesota, also participated in Gospel Adventures: Zambia Bound during National Lutheran Schools Week. The students in Wendy Schilling’s classes, grades 3 and 4, raised money for the Global Kids Fund. “I printed off the banks to color, then I sent them home with the goal of each child bringing five dollars to purchase a backpack for a child in need,” says Schilling.

“Some of the kids really took this to heart and we raised way more than our goal. One child in my class, in particular, felt really moved to help kids in Zambia. He was especially touched by the video of the child who went to school with no chairs, desks, or school supplies. He donated seventy dollars that he had earned mowing lawns last summer and was saving for something special. He wanted to give it all away. He also made phone calls and collected over half of our total amount of money. Someone saw his mom’s Facebook post about the fundraiser and got her in touch with Vincent Kabaso, a PGA golf professional from Zambia. My student even got to talk to Vincent on the phone and was sent a signed copy of a book he’s written. I’m now sharing that book with the class at read-aloud time.”

“I would say the favorite parts of the program were the song and the videos about the kids. They were fascinated by their lifestyles and how they differ so much from their own. All the pictures of the wildlife were awesome! We really enjoyed the program and thought it was very well done.”

“I loved how much material there was! The students and I had so much fun learning about Zambia and God. The class especially loved the videos and learning about the kids. I wish we had these year-round!” “My five boys absolutely loved learning about Zambia. From the music to the activities and worksheets, they enjoyed it all so much that they were sad when it was over.”

Zambia Bound Giveaway!

When you donate to the Global Kids Fund this year, you and your students can earn gifts for your classroom. These gifts are limited and only available while supplies last, so the sooner you turn in your donation, the sooner you can decorate your classroom . So far this year, students have raised enough money to fill over 660 backpacks for students in Africa!

A donation of $45 fills three backpacks for children in Africa and earns your class a Zambia Bound poster!

A donation of $90 fills six backpacks and earns your class a Zambia Bound poster and a copy of Good, Gooder, Goodest!

If you donate to the Global Kids Fund as a school, we’ll send posters and books for every set of three or six backpacks filled!

Visit gospeladventures.org and navigate to the Global Kids Fund page to donate now . =