8 April 2020 | St Albans, UK [Victor Hulbert] <\/p>\n
Thinking outside the box, Children\u2019s Ministries directors from around the Trans-European Division are doing an amazing job during this time of crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheirs has been an intense labour of love to develop and load appropriate materials on the websites of our various unions and conferences,\u201d states TED Children\u2019s Ministries Director Clair Sanches. Her aim is to connect and inspire children and their parents with appropriate resources.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe internet has never been more vital than at this time,\u201d Sanches says. \u201cIt is now our connection with one another, providing support for families, churches and leaders, especially as most of us have been asked to self-isolate and stay indoors.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are just a few examples of the many activities happening around the Division.<\/p>\n Denmark<\/strong> The Netherlands<\/strong> Madelon Comvalius adds, \u201cWe make a newsletter for all parents with children\/teens. This newsletter contains tips on apps, sites and YouTube channels that parents can use to actively engage with the faith life of their children at home. Each newsletter also offers a few assignments to do together as a family.\u201d<\/p>\n In a further initiative, the Dutch ask musical youngsters to record short videos of them performing a beautiful song at home.<\/p>\n Ireland<\/strong> Petar Popivanov is Children\u2019s Ministries leader for the Irish Mission. He writes, \u201cAs most of our closed churches moved to online services for adults, children might feel disconnected from the wider community of faith. While for most adults reading a book or watching an online sermon might “keep us going”, kids like to explore the world in a more sensual way.\u201d <\/p>\n Norway<\/strong> Sweden<\/strong> United Kingdom<\/strong> Thank you<\/strong> Sanches concludes, \u201cWe are so grateful to God for people willing to work and stay connected with our youngest members.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anne-May Muller is the Children\u2019s Ministries leader in Denmark. She says, \u201cEvery week I put resources for \u2018home-sabbath-school\u2019 on our webpage for five age groups. Direct links to the Grace-link lessons, activity sheets that go with the stories, mission stories, etc.\u201d She adds, \u201cA new family activity, a new prayer activity, a new service project is included each week. I have asked different families to make videos of songs they like to sing so that every week new songs are added to sing along to.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Netherlands, a group of people have been filming puppet presentations, Cor & Ona\u2019s Coronashow<\/a>. These are then put up online for children to watch on Sabbath. Hundreds of children watch it each week \u2013 both in the Netherlands and overseas.<\/p>\n
The Irish are enjoying a project called \u2018Letters from God\u2019<\/a>. This lovely idea is working because the postal service is still operational there. The Dublin Ranelagh church sends out a letter from God to 73 children each week, which includes a craft activity for them to make. <\/p>\n
In Norway, they have a pre-recorded online Sabbath School lesson developed for each age group every week.<\/p>\n
The very creative Children\u2019s Ministries leader in Sweden, Karolina Poland, is sharing ideas that can be used in any language. These include some special activities for the Easter weekend. These are all now uploaded on the TED Children\u2019s Ministries resource page<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Online streaming of worship services in many churches are keeping the children in mind with special children\u2019s stories and even music. In Scotland, Professor Noodlebrain joins Pastor Jimmy Botha<\/a> for a weekly Sabbath worship time on YouTube. Other churches have now organised \u2018breakout rooms\u2019 on zoom for interactive Sabbath School. Pathfinders<\/a> and Adventurers<\/a> are also taking a lead teaching honours online.<\/p>\n
More creative ideas from across the TED and beyond are being added to the TED website<\/a> on a regular basis.<\/p>\n
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