Stories of transformed lives:
New From Nepal:
Students Comments:
New From Nepal:
Students Comments:
One student declared; “I was very bad to children because I didn’t like to play with them … through the training I have changed my attitude … I now have good relationships with children.”
“This training made me very close to God because when I was meditating on God’s Word, I was very much happy. God encouraged me and He again reminded me to follow my aim.”
“Before training, I didn’t have in mind to do Children’s Ministry, but when I went to the field and played with children and when I understood their feelings, I changed my attitude. God spoke in my heart that children are the foundation of the future. I liked to learn how to lead children in Christ through the Bible.”
“Even though I was thinking I will do ministry of children, I had no idea how to do Children’s Ministry, how to build relationship with children and how to make relationship with parents but this training has changed my ideas and I have confidence that I can do it. My favourite topic was story telling in effective ways because through story telling children will know many things about the Bible.”
“Before this training I used to feel shy to play with the children but this training has made me to be strong. I can play games and make relationships with children and share the gospel through games.”
“I was not willing to do Children’s Ministry but now I can do it … by (receiving) knowledge my attitude changed.”
“I had no desire to do Children’s Ministry …… now I liked to play with them and talk with them because this training changed me.”
“I’m not so good with children as to be like them is one of the most difficult things to do, but through this Children’s Ministry I found a different person who also needs love. As my childhood was not so good, through this ministry my needs were also met. My favourite topic was the five ways of showing love because many times I didn’t realize their needs and expect them to be happy. Through this topic I got to know about how I should try and understand the needs of the children.”
“This training has helped me a lot for my future ministry and for my future plan and purpose, so I am very much thankful to God.”
“I really had not known the value of Children’s Ministry ….. but now I understand their value in the sight of God.”
Students:
Of the 12 missionary students who were trained at ‘Finish The Task’ missionary college, 8 are still involved in ministry to children, either as key leaders in their churches, organizations or as missionaries in remote areas. Some of these are assisting to train others.
Teachers
Through this training, some have been employed and received promotions in schools and organisations.
Some teachers have testified that discipline problems with their children have been solved as they have learned to focus on the children rather than the program. School teachers who have attended the classes have learned how to integrate the Word of God into their formal learning.
Pastors:
One pastor’s wife came for training in Nairobi and Mombasa with her two small babies. Today, she has gone back to her Mombasa community and organized trainings for teachers from various churches. God gave one pastor, who came, a burden for children. He is now the chairman of the pastors of Mombasa West Interdenominational pastors’ fellowship and is influencing other church leaders on the importance of Children's Ministry.
Yet another pastor who attended training has a heart for hurting children and is organizing trainings for his denomination in Kajiado.
One Nairobi pastor testifies of how the training changed the way he speaks and listens to his wife and children.
Through the training in Eldoret, one pastor has connected so much with his community that the children and young people come to him to share their personal struggles. Also in Eldoret, another pastor has learned to connect to orphans in the children’s home where he works, by listening, playing and telling Bible Stories. They look to him as a father figure. The Eldoret trainings began when a pastor, Benjamin, having attended Petra College training, received a burden for Children's Workers to attend similar trainings. With the help of Keith Gafner, he organized the first training and now for 3 years, several churches have sent their Children's Workers who have returned to influence children in their communities.
Church Planting:
After training, one young man, asked parents from his community to allow their children to meet with him on Sundays. He started meeting under a tree. From the second Sunday he beat a water container to alert the children and within weeks he established a children’s church service with many children.
Children:
During the trainings many children have given their lives to Jesus. Others have had significant physical and emotional healings. Parents are reporting that their children’s behavior has changed. In one Eldoret slum, a mixture of different people groups, the trainees had several outreaches to the children during trainings. The children were expressing themselves through play by fighting. This was probably a result of the post-election violence of 2007. The trainees influenced and built positive relationship with the children through play which brought emotional healing and friendship with each other. Today, the children play in groups together e.g. normal role plays and football but their favourite is to sing Christian action songs.
Parents:
Trainees build friendships with parents, resulting in them joining in the outreaches to the children. This in turn has helped the parents connect with their own children, listening to them and understanding their needs. This is building stronger families and communities.
