Have you ever been fishing? Where I live, lots of people like to fish as a hobby and as a way of getting food for their families. In the summer, I see people fishing in the rivers and lakes, waiting all day for a fish to nibble on their line. Sometimes they catch really big ones!
The Bible tells a story about Jesus finding men fishing in the water. He made these men His disciples and gave them an important task—to go out and tell everyone about God. The same way you catch fish with a net, Jesus wanted His disciples to spread the Word of God and collect people to join Him in His kingdom.
As Christians, we should tell everyone about God, too—just as the disciples did. You can learn more about disciples in this issue of Just for Kids.
Your friend, Abby
Find the Fish
Peter and Andrew were fishermen. Fishing was how they earned money.
I Spy
How many of each item can you find?
One day Jesus came to the Sea of Galilee where they were fishing and mending their nets. Many people wanted to hear Jesus teach. The people kept crowding around Him, trying to get closer. Jesus got into Peter’s boat which was at the water’s edge. Then Jesus sat down and taught all the people who were crowded on the beach.
When Jesus finished talking, Jesus told Peter to take the boat out into deeper water. Then Jesus told Peter to let down his nets to catch some fish.
When Peter and Andrew let down the nets, they caught so many fish that the nets began to break! Peter and Andrew called to their partners in another boat to come and help them. There were so many fish that when they pulled the nets with the fish into the boats, the boats began to sink. Quickly, the men rowed to shore.
Jesus said: “From now on you will catch people.” Jesus meant Peter and Andrew would tell lots of people the good news about Jesus. Peter and Andrew and their partners pulled their boats up on the beach, left everything and followed Jesus.
Help the fish meet up with its friend.
What is a disciple?
In the Bible, a disciple is somebody who follows and learns from Jesus. Imagine you are in school, and you have a teacher who teaches you new things and helps you become better. Jesus does the same thing for His disciples. They try to live like Jesus, love others like He did and share His message with the world. Jesus had 12 disciples.
Find 10 Differences
If you’ve ever played a sport such as soccer, hockey, volleyball or baseball, you know how important teamwork is. One person can’t win a game of baseball on their own. They need teammates—infielders, outfielders, pitchers and catchers. Everyone does their part and works together to win.
Just like in sports, God created His people to be a team. We can work together to build one another up and help each other succeed. There’s a story in the Bible about a man named Joshua who led an army in battle, but he couldn’t do it alone. Keep reading this issue of Just for Kids to find out what happened.
Your friend, Abby
Joshua Defeats the Amalekites
The Israelites were travelling through the desert after leaving Egypt, and they were attacked by a group of people called the Amalekites. Moses, the leader of the Israelites, told Joshua, one of his helpers, to lead the soldiers in battle.
Moses went up on a hill with his brother, Aaron, and another man named Hur. He held up his hands, asking God for help. When his hands were lifted, the Israelites started to win the battle. But when Moses got tired and lowered his hands, the Amalekites started to win. Moses’ hands were getting so tired that he couldn’t keep them up anymore.
So Aaron and Hur found a big rock for Moses to sit on. Then, they helped him by holding up his hands. They kept his hands up until the Israelites won the battle. In the end, Joshua and the Israelite army defeated the Amalekites.
Moses knew that it was God who had given them the victory. Moses and the people praised God for helping them.
Picture Sudoku
Did You Know?
Major League Baseball is a professional sports league in the United States and Canada and has 30 teams. Only one team comes from Canada—the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2023, The Salvation Army’s former world leader, General Brian Peddle, got to throw the opening pitch at a Toronto Blue Jays game. How cool!
Sports Word Search
Fill in the empty squares so that every row, column and 2x2 box contains each ball. General Brian Peddle stands on the field at Rogers Centre, Toronto, with Ace, the Toronto Blue Jays mascot
Photo: Courtesy of The Toronto Blue Jays
Hi kids!
“Do something!”
That’s what William Booth, co-Founder of The Salvation Army, told his son, Bramwell, when they came across some homeless men in London, England, many years ago.
William Booth’s challenge to his son is the same for us today. God wants us to do kind things for people in need. But sometimes it’s hard to know exactly what to do. Read this issue of Just for Kids and you’ll find a few examples of actions we can take.
Your friend, Abby
3 3 2 3 4 4 1 2
Be Like Nehemiah
SNehemiah 5
ometimes when we see others who need help, we assume it’s not our problem. We think someone else will pitch in. Or that we’re not old enough to make a difference. But the truth is, anyone can help. Nehemiah understood this. He was the governor of the province of Judah in Israel many years ago. He was in the middle of a huge building project when he heard about a big need. Poor people who had debts in his province were being charged so much interest (that’s extra money on top of what they owed) that they couldn’t feed their own families. They were selling whatever they had or even becoming slaves to try to survive. When Nehemiah heard this, he stopped rebuilding and called a meeting. He told the local officials to stop immediately and make things right. The people could take care of their families because of Nehemiah’s willingness to stand up and help.
How can you be like Nehemiah and make a difference this week?
Adapted from God Times, Orange 252 Kids, September 2021.
Here are five things you can do to help others this week:
1. Offer to help make dinner, set the table or clean up.
2. Choose three items of clothing that no longer fit and donate them to your local Salvation Army thrift store so someone else can enjoy them.
3. Do your homework with a friend and help each other if you get stuck.
4. Volunteer to assist your teacher during a lesson or ask if they need help tidying the classroom.
5. Ask your corps officer how you can help at church or in Sunday school.
Who are some people who help in your community?
Police
Crossing guards
Colour Me
Hi kids!
My sister once fell and broke her ankle—ouch! She went to the hospital and the doctors put a cast and a big plastic boot on her foot. She had to walk with crutches for many weeks.
I felt badly that she was hurt, and it must have been difficult walking everywhere in a heavy boot. Every morning when we went to school together, I walked with her to her classroom and helped carry her backpack. Even though I couldn’t make her ankle feel better, I could do my part to make her life a little easier while it healed.
Next time you see someone at school that needs help, ask them what you can do for them.
Your friend, Abby
Find these words from this
Jesus Heals a Man
Who Could Not Walk
One day Jesus was teaching. Some men came carrying a man who could not walk. They tried to take him into the house to place him in front of Jesus. They could not find a way to do this because of the crowd.
So they went up on the roof. Then they lowered the man on his mat through the opening in the roof tiles, right in front of Jesus.
Jesus spoke to the man who could not walk. “Get up. Take your mat and go home.”
Right away, the man stood up in front of them. He took his mat and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God.
TicTacToe
12-03/22/25
Just for Kids is a Ready to Explore resource, published weekly by The Salvation Army, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto, ON, M4H 1P4. Phone: (416) 422-6153; fax: (416) 422-6217; email: justforkids@salvationarmy.ca. Lyndon Buckingham, General; Commissioner Lee Graves, territorial commander; Geoff Moulton, editor-in-chief; Abbigail Oliver, editor; Rivonny Luchas, designer. International Headquarters, 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, England, EC4P 4EP. Subscription for one year, Canada $12 (includes GST/HST); USA $15; foreign $17. Agreement No 40064794. All Scripture references from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version, unless otherwise stated. Illustrations: stock.Adobe.com and gettyimages.ca unless otherwise stated. ISSN 2368- 626X
Hi kids!
Last weekend, I went to see a movie at the movie theatre. It made me think about all the hard work that goes into creating the movies and TV shows that we love to watch. There are people who write the script, build the sets, design the costumes and operate the cameras. There are actors to play the characters and directors to lead it all.
Then, once the movie is done, even more people pitch in to make the magic happen—the people that sell the tickets, make the popcorn and serve candy and drinks. All that hard work comes together so that we can watch a movie!
Just like all the magic that goes into the movies, the Bible talks about how every person has special gifts, and we can all use them to serve God.
Your friend, Abby
Journey through the maze to the popcorn bucket.
Where do cows go on dates?
To the moooovies comediandidn’tWhythe tell jokes about popcorn? They were too corny
The Salvation Army Spotlight
Back in November, The Salvation Army made it to the big screen! Members from our Canadian Staff Band and Canadian Staff Songsters were cast in a small role in Murdoch Mysteries, a television show filmed in Canada that is watched around the world. They played Salvationists in the early 1900s who sang carols and played brass music at a Salvation Army Christmas kettle. Isn’t that cool?
Find 5 Differences
Photo: Courtesy of Shaftesbury Productions
A Body With Many Parts
There are lots of people at The Salvation Army who come together to make things happen. At church, the corps officer preaches a sermon, the bandmaster leads the band, a pianist plays the piano during the offering, and someone else runs the video and sound system. Somebody might say a prayer, read Scripture or tell a story. Another person leads kids into Sunday school for fun activities and Bible lessons. It sure is a lot of work on a Sunday!
In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Paul talks about how the church is like a body. Just like our body has many parts—such as hands, feet, eyes and ears— each person in the church has a special role to play. Even though everyone is different, God gave each person a unique gift to help the church work together. We all need each other, and everybody needs God. Take a look around your church. There might be a lot of people that you know—friends, family members, your corps officer—but there might also be some new faces you haven’t met yet. Why don’t you introduce yourself?
Lights, Camera, Action!
Did You Know?
When the first cinemas opened in the early 1900s, they only showed films in black and white—with no sound! They were called “silent movies” and were shown at public halls, theatres and fairs. One of the first movies to successfully use colour was The Wizard of Oz. What’s your favourite movie?
