{"id":10577,"date":"2022-04-06T14:45:06","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T14:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/?p=10577"},"modified":"2022-04-07T12:12:00","modified_gmt":"2022-04-07T12:12:00","slug":"a-spiritual-hackathon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/a-spiritual-hackathon\/","title":{"rendered":"A Spiritual \u2018Hackathon\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

06 April 2022 | Simisalu, Estonia [Diana Sommer and Mervi Kalmus with ted<\/em>NEWS]<\/p>\n

What is required to help children \u201cfall in love with God forever?\u201d As children\u2019s ministry leaders from across the Estonian Conference met together at the Estonian Children\u2019s Ministry Seminar (ECMS), they were looking not only to be inspired, but to discover a wholistic understanding of how to help children develop a sustainable faith.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Held from April 1-3, at Simisalu, Estonia, the training led by Karen Holford, Family, Women, and Children\u2019s Ministries director for the Trans-European Division (TED), covered a variety of topics, including emotional intelligence, understanding the teenage brain and creative spirituality. \u201cMy main objective is to help people think about the simple things that they can do to help children grow spiritually,\u201d said Holford. \u201cI don\u2019t want to put a heavy burden on people\u2019s shoulders, instead I want to show them how easy it is to transform children\u2019s lives and help them to fall in love with God forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Afraid that she may forget some of the ideas shared, K\u00fclli Keel, mother of three young children, decided to write down a long to-do list for herself. \u201cOne important idea I am taking away is to try and strengthen my own, and my kids\u2019, positive character traits,\u201d said Keel.<\/p>\n

Eve N\u00f5mm found it \u201cimpossible not to get fired up!\u201d N\u00f5mm appreciated that the focus of the seminar was always on God. \u201cIt was like a mixture of family therapy and a spiritual \u2018hackathon\u2019.\u201d\u00b9<\/p>\n

Aiki P\u00e4rna, Children\u2019s Ministry director for the Estonian Conference, waited impatiently for the pandemic health restrictions to be lifted so the seminar could take place. Thrilled that at last the leaders could meet again, she challenged the twenty-five attendees, \u201ctake three ideas away and put them into practice in your home church, and this weekend will have been a success!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Children can \u201cfall in love with God forever,\u201d said Holford. [Photos: Kaile Tuvi\/ CC BY 4.0]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Three ideas\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. At bedtime, ask children where they saw God working today. Invite them to mention three things they want to thank God for, or three things that went well. Share with them something positive you noticed about them during the day and ensure that they fall asleep go to feeling loved, happy, blessed, and peaceful.<\/li>\n
  2. Learn the twenty-four different character traits<\/a> that are valued in every culture. Develop your characters together as a family and be aware of when your child shows one of these strengths. Congratulate and affirm their good choices! Find fun and creative ways to nurture these strengths in your child\u2019s life (especially kindness).<\/li>\n
  3. Make Sabbaths a delight in your home and at church! Involve children creatively in your church services and choose Sabbath activities that they will enjoy. The more delightful and enjoyable Sabbaths are for our children, the more likely it is that they will choose to follow Jesus.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Would you like to learn more about emotional intelligence<\/a> and forgiveness<\/a>?<\/p>\n

    \n

    \u00b9 \u2018Hacking\u2019 refers to creative problem solving. A \u2018hackathon\u2019 is an event where people come together to solve problems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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