LOOKING FOR IDEAS ON STORIES TO SHARE WITH YOUR CHILDREN AT HOME, OR IN CHURCH? WANTING SOME MORE INSPIRATION AS A CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES LEADER? LOOK NO FURTHER! KMI IS THE PLACE FOR YOU!
Happy Mother's Day!
Three days till Mother's Day!
Before sharing some resources, we just want to take the time to thank ALL the mothers of the North American Division. Because of your dedication, hard work, and love you have given your children & the community around you, we are able to serve some great children in our division.
Thank you for all your late nights, early mornings, packed lunches for school & snacks for church. Thank you for sitting down with your children and helping them remember their bible verses. Thank you for teaching them how to pray, how to love, and how to #SayYESToJesus.
We love you, mommas!
Happy Mother's Day!
Here are some great resources to use in your homes and classrooms this weekend!
The Red Pickup
By: Linda Porter Carlyle
MacKenzie Isabelle Evans stared out the car window. Then she bounced and squirmed and looked at the clock in the dashboard. “It’s only half an hour until the plane is supposed to land,” she said. “Are we going to be late?”
Mom reached over and patted her shoulder. “Stop worrying. We’re almost at the airport already. We’ll be there in plenty of time,” she assured her.
Mac twisted her head so she could see as much of the sky out of the car window as possible. “There’s a plane!” she announced anxiously.
Mom laughed. “Yep. That’s a plane all right. But it’s only a little private plane, not a jet.”
Mom signaled to make a right turn onto the airport road. The driveway into the parking lot was barred. Mom stopped in front of the bar next to a little white box on a metal pole. The box buzzed loudly, and a blue ticket popped out of a slot. It looked to Mac as if the box were sticking out its tongue at her.
Mom took the blue ticket out and laid it on the seat beside her. The white box stopped buzzing. (Mom pulled its tongue right out! Mac thought with a giggle.) The bar raised itself, and they drove through and parked.
The big glass terminal doors slid open automatically. It was cool and dark inside the building. Mom studied the board where all the flight numbers and arrival times were posted. “It looks like the plane will be on time,” she said.
Mac and Mom went through the metal detector. It looked like a doorframe with no door in it. Mom had to put her purse on a belt. The belt carried the purse to where it disappeared inside a square black box. The gray-haired woman on the other side of the belt could see inside Mom’s purse with the X-ray machine. Mac looked at the screen that showed what was inside purses and suitcases. Imagine being able to see inside things like that!
Mom sat down on a chair and pulled a book out of her purse to read while she waited. Mac went to stand in front of the huge windows that looked out over the runway. Maybe one day she would work at an airport. It would be especially fun to be one of those people who wore big ear protectors and waved long flashlights in their hands to signal the planes where to turn and where to stop.
Pretty soon a big blue-and-gray jet swooshed down and sped by on the runway. “She’s here!” Mac exclaimed.
Mac could not stand still as she waited at the gate. She sort of jogged in place. It had been a whole year since her cousin Anna had visited. Mac could hardly wait to hear all about college. Anna was going to be a nurse. Maybe one day I will be a nurse like Anna, Mac thought. She pictured herself in an operating room, standing beside the surgeon. A bright spotlight shone down on the operating table. The surgeon moved to cut open the patient’s skin. Mac shuddered. Maybe she wouldn’t be a nurse.
“There she is!” Mac yelped as the passengers began to come through the door.
Anna scooped Mac up into a big hug. Then she stood back and looked at her. “You’re taller,” she said. “And curlier,” she added with a grin.
Mac reached out and touched Anna’s beautiful straight brown hair. Anna put her finger on Mac’s mouth. “Curly red hair is much more special than plain old brown,” she said.
Mac’s eyes danced. She loved how Anna could read her thoughts! “Do you like college a lot?” she asked. “What’s it like? Tell me all about your roommates!”
Anna paused to give Mom a big hug. “I love college!” she answered. “But I’m really glad to be back in Oregon for the summer. And I’m really glad I could stop in Jacksonville and see you guys for the weekend on my way home!”
Mac, Mom, and Anna headed slowly down the wide hall to where they could collect Anna’s suitcases. “Guess what!” Anna exclaimed. “Remember when I wrote and asked you to pray that I could get a car this summer? I asked my roommates and my friends at school to pray about it too. Well, I just found out yesterday that Uncle Mike bought a new car, but he didn’t trade in his old red pickup. He’s going to keep it. And he said I could drive it this summer while I’m home. So I don’t have to worry about how to get to my job every day! Isn’t that the greatest? I’ll have a truck to use, and I didn’t have to buy it!”
Mac felt warm all over. She loved knowing that a prayer she had prayed had been answered! Someday, she thought, when I am older, it will be my turn to pray for a car. I hope that God will remember that I like red pickups too.
These Joseph stories will help you understand what your Sabbath School lesson can mean for you today. Find the first stories about Joseph and Mac at www.primarytreasure.com. Click on “Stories!” and scroll down to read 40 or so stories that happened before this story. Be sure to always get permission from the adult you live with before going on the Internet.
For this story and more... subscribe to Primary Treasure by going to primarytreasure.com.
National Day of Prayer
“The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.”
Growing up, my mother used to always refer to prayer as "a telephone call to Jesus". Before bed she'd yell "Jesus is calling, let's talk to Him on the phone before we fall asleep." As silly as that sounds, that is exactly what God is trying to do with us through prayer. He just wants to listen to us, and to speak to us.
In the United States, on the first Thursday of May, we celebrate "National Day of Prayer". The mission of the National Day of Prayer is to "mobilize prayer in America". This day not only inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation, but to pray for each other individually.
Because of the nature of this "holiday", it isn't really talked about. However, we want to encourage you to share this with your children at your churches, schools and homes.
We have made a "Day of Prayer" special activity that we think you'd benefit from. It's a FREE download so click here for some great ideas!
-Katherine Britton
May--Mental Health Month
May 4th is Children's Mental Health Awareness Day.
Be informed.
Click the links below for some resources and information or visit http://www.ffcmh.org/copy-of-education-resources-3
Day of the Earth!
Aside from being Sabbath, it's Earth Day! Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22nd. A plethora of events are done all over the world to show support for the preservation of our enviorment. 193 countries form the Earth Day Network. These countries are the ones who have made it a point to celebrate this day.
As future citizens of heaven, we should take care of our temporary home... earth.
Earth day is a great day to talk about the story of creation with our children as well as a good day to go out and do something with them that demonstrates our active initiatives to make this world a better place.
If you have any more ideas or want to send us your stories, feel free to write us at childrensministries@nadadventist.org
Happy Earth Day!
Easter is just around the corner!
I don't know about you but I feel like I'm still recovering from all the commotion of Christmas, the New Year & Valentines Day! If you're running behind on what to plan for the children of your church or your kids at home, don't you worry! Children's Ministries at the North American Division has got you covered!
In the next two weeks we are putting together a lot of great resources for you to use! Right here! At your finger tips. We are even working on an object lesson video you can use that's targeted to this special celebration. We also encourage you to follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter for even more ideas!
Here are a few tools you could use:
- Last year, we made an "Empty Tomb" craft video for you. Try that!
- Gracelink has an album of Good Friday/Easter Videos for Kindergarten
- They even have some for Primary too!
- Download this activity idea too!
"As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ” Mark 16:5-7
#OurKidsMatter
Pain, sorrow, tears, suffering, death, terrorism, hate, trauma. When we hear these words, negative images encircle our thoughts. Our minds become saddened and the last group of people you think about are "children". Children usually have a certain "joy" in their spirits.
However, what happens when the moment comes that we have explain to our kids about the occurrences of hate that are going on around the world? What happens when there isn't any joy in their spirits?
In the United States, there have been various acts of hate in the last few years and they seem to be growing in number. It's imperative for us, as a family, to help children feel like they have someone to turn to.
Disaster Child Care, a ministry of the Church of the Brethren, gives us some ways of "Helping Children Cope". Here are just some of the ones they suggested:
(Explanation paraphrased)
1. Reassuring Children- "You are not the cause of the bad events that are happening in the world. These ugly feelings and hate are not directed towards you."
2. Acknowledge Feelings- "I understand your fear and your anger. We are also scared and angry. ____ and _____ can be dangerous, but do not dwell on the fear, I will be here with you. ::::offer extra hugs::::"
3. Encourage Expression- "Tell me what you see and hear about what's happening. How does it make you feel?"
4. Monitor TV Viewing
5. Be Honest- "I have done my research and this is what's happening in the world... Do you have any questions?"
6. Let Faith be a Source of Strength- "Asking questions about how God allowed this to happen is normal. However, I assure you that even though we do not understand everything at the moment, one we will. This is a time where we need to pray to God for those hurting, as well as for our own safety. Would you like to pray with me now?"
These are just 6 of the several tips that this brochure offers to help children deal with everything that is happening. For a a copy of their brochure with more in depth information on this matter, please feel free to contact us at childrensministries@nadadventist.org
Over the next few weeks, we want to make resources available to you in order to help you deal with trauma and crisis.
