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2012

International Mission Education Journal

Volume XXVI

Nazarene Missions International www.nazarenemissions.org

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International Mission Education Journal

Volume XXVI • 2012

Daniel Ketchum Global NMI Director

Lorie Beckum Editor

Gail Sawrie Assistant Editor

Mission Education Credit

Use of the International Mission Education Journal counts annually as the missions publications and communications category of the mission education requirement for Mission Priority One (MPO). If you utilize the children’s portion and adapt the adult lessons for youth or if you include children and/or youth in the adult lessons, you could count that toward the children and youth requirement for MPO. Scriptures quoted in the lessons from The Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, by the International Bible Society are used with permission by Zondervan Bible Publishers. Scriptures from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA are used by permission. All rights reserved.

Nazarene Missions International Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center

17001 Prairie Star Parkway • Lenexa, KS 66220 • United States of America

If you translate the International Mission Education Journal into a language not already listed on the NMI site (www.nazarenemissions.org), please e-mail a copy to the NMI Office (nmi@nazarene.org) with “IMEJ” in the subject line. Others around the world may benefit from your efforts.

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CONTENTS

ADULTS AND YOUTH CURRICULUM

LIVING MISSION—ACT JUSTLY

INTRODUCTION Lesson/CAUSE Overviews; Restoring Biblical Harmony ................................................ 4 Lesson 1 Clean Water ................................................................................................................... 8 Lesson 2 Mission to Women........................................................................................................ 13 Lesson 3 Global Melting Pot ........................................................................................................ 18 Lesson 4 Mission to the Disabled ................................................................................................ 22 Lesson 5 Sanctity of Life .............................................................................................................. 26 Lesson 6 Child Labor ................................................................................................................... 31 CAUSE 1 Clean Water ................................................................................................................. 36 CAUSE 2 JESUS Film .................................................................................................................. 41

CHILDREN’S CURRICULUM

AFRICA REGION

Lesson 1 Africa—An Overview .................................................................................................... 47 Lesson 2 Cape Verde .................................................................................................................. 49 Lesson 3 Swaziland ..................................................................................................................... 52 Lesson 4 Zambia ......................................................................................................................... 55 Lesson 5 Kenya ........................................................................................................................... 58 Lesson 6 Ethiopia ........................................................................................................................ 61 Lesson 7 Uganda ......................................................................................................................... 63 Lesson 8 Cote d'Ivoire ................................................................................................................. 66 Lesson 9 Benin ............................................................................................................................ 67 Lesson 10 South Africa .................................................................................................................. 70 Lesson 11 Mozambique ................................................................................................................. 72 Lesson 12 Madagascar ................................................................................................................. 74

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ADULT/YOUTH CURRICULUM

Living Mission—Act Justly Lesson/CAUSE Overviews

Jesus called us to follow His example. Through His teaching He modeled a lifestyle of care for all people and calls us to do the same. Living Mission informs, inspires, and involves you and others in your church for God’s global mission. Lesson 1: Clean Water Unsafe drinking water is one of the world’s biggest killers. How is the Nazarene Global Mission bringing Christ’s love to world areas through the provision of safe drinking water? What can you do to provide clean water to people in various locations around the globe? Lesson 2: Mission to Women Mission efforts specific to women are necessary. Consider how the rights, protections, and laws regarding women have changed through the years in your own country. In many areas of the world, women are forced to marry too young, are not allowed or cannot afford an education, and cannot apply for loans that would enable them to start small businesses for themselves or go to school to create better lives for themselves and their children. Lesson 3: Global Melting Pot Mission—ministry to those in another culture—is a specialized skill requiring not only language school but special education in the values, behaviors, and traditions of other cultures. What is xenophobia, how does it affect mission, and what processes are necessary to combat this problem? How do Nazarene missionaries in other parts of the world confront this issue? Lesson 4: Mission to the Disabled Because of the lack of government assistance to the disabled in most countries, having a physical handicap is often comparable to a slow death sentence due to the many problems that often accompany disabilities. What is Nazarene Global Mission doing about care for the physically challenged around the world? How can you assist Nazarene efforts in ministry to the disabled? Lesson 5: Sanctity of Life All forms of violence threaten the sanctity of life wherever it occurs. Ministering to those who have been hurt not only fulfills Christ’s command to care for the least of these, but also models God’s love in Christian witness. How do the issues of violence and the sanctity of life intersect with missions in the Church of the Nazarene, providing opportunity to show God’s love? How do these issues present obstacles and danger to the mission work and the workers? Lesson 6: Child Labor Millions of children are being forced to work to maintain subsistence living, and this condition creates physical and developmental hazards. What are Global Mission and Nazarene Missions International doing to work against the injustices of child labor around the globe?

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CAUSES CAUSE 1: Clean Water The Church of the Nazarene has always been concerned about the holistic transformation of people through Jesus Christ. We must care for others as Christ cares for them. Most of us take clean water for granted, but clean water is a basic necessity to which one billion people around the world do not have access. By means of clean water, how does the Church of the Nazarene help to bring hope to people around the world?

CAUSE Week 1: Why Water? CAUSE Week 2: Clean Water Initiative CAUSE Week 3: Children Need Clean Water CAUSE Week 4: Water of Life CAUSE Week 5: A Day Without Water CAUSE Week 6: How Much Water Do I Use? CAUSE Week 7: Success in Marigot CAUSE Week 8: How Much Have We Raised? CAUSE Week 9: Celebration

CAUSE 2: JESUS Film The JESUS Film exists to be used in preliterate societies. For people around the world who neither read, nor have even a basic knowledge of Jesus Christ, the JESUS Film brings knowledge of Christ’s saving grace in their own language through visual means.

CAUSE Week 1: Why JESUS Film Harvest Partners? CAUSE Week 2: JFHP Weekly Prayer & Praise CAUSE Week 3: JESUS Film Teams CAUSE Week 4: JESUS Film Equipment CAUSE Week 5: Testimonies of Grace CAUSE Week 6: Our Commitment to Give CAUSE Week 7: Showers of Blessing CAUSE Week 8: Planning for Celebration CAUSE Week 9: Celebration

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JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

Restoring Biblical Harmony

“Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (Amos 5:24, NIV). Some Christian, evangelical, and Nazarene leaders today have become concerned about an increasing interest in social justice and compassionate ministries. Persons concerned about an over-emphasis on justice or an over-emphasis on holiness will recall that, in the Bible, holiness and righteousness are closely related to justice. It is helpful to recall the close biblical relationship of justice to righteousness and holiness in heart and lifestyle. In the Bible, the words for justice and righteousness have similar meanings. Old Testament Hebrew words for justice and righteousness are tzedek and mishpat. They have almost the same meaning and are often interchangeable. New Testament Greek words for justice and righteousness are dikaios and dikaiosune. The English justice is nearly identical to the Latin justitia and the Spanish justicia. In Latin and Spanish, the same word can be translated justice or righteousness. How might these insights reassure, quiet, and deepen mutual appreciation among persons who take sides between justice, righteousness, and holiness? Some persons committed deeply to holiness are threatened by others concerned about justice or compassion. Some persons concerned deeply about justice or compassion feel alienated from persons deeply committed to holiness. How can we restore harmony? Justice is the quality, attribute, or characteristic of moral rightness, fairness, equity, and reasonableness. Justice is fidelity to purpose in relationships. Justice is connected closely with God’s holy love and compassion. Opposite meanings (antonyms) are: inequity, wrong, and injustice. Righteousness is the quality, attribute, or characteristic of being morally right and just. Righteousness is the underlying soul of justice. Synonyms: upright, just, straight, integrity. Antonyms: wrong, unethical, dishonest, dishonorable, and immoral. Righteousness is right relationship with God and people. God’s righteousness is the ethical dimension of His holiness, (always doing what is right and true) morally consistent with His own moral covenant. Righteousness is the moral foundation for justice and holiness in heart and life. Some persons think of justice as something public, and often think of it as punishment that is morally right and fully deserved. When they say, "We want justice," they often mean, "We want our rights.” They demand right and fair treatment from other persons, or they expect the legal system to remedy something wrong. Other persons think of righteousness as a quality or characteristic of an individual. They tend to keep righteousness to private matters. Justice and righteousness are equally public and private, communal and individual. Justice and righteousness are two similar responses to the same relationship, two similar perspectives of the same issue, and two similar sides of the same heart. Biblical justice is characterized as: based on the theology of God’s justice related to relational, covenant community issues partial to marginalized and lowly persons grounded in Old Testament covenant responsibilities motivated by Jesus’ proclamation and mission in the New Testament, which is worked out in the

ethical teachings of Acts and the Epistles inspired by Jesus’ “upside-down kingdom” values drawn from biblical teachings, rather than based on perceived cultural needs, natural law, or

philosophy never self-serving, condescending, patronizing, or manipulative most concerned with the value of persons and their places in the community an aspect of the human role as stewards of God’s creation

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a safeguard against reducing the Bible to a manual of personal piety the heart of true religion with personal, active, practical care for persons who are poor, oppressed,

widowed, orphaned, helpless, weak, outsiders, and marginalized (Adapted from Ruth Ann Foster in Christian Ethics Today, Issue 24, October 1999.) Again, in the Bible we observe a very close connection between justice and righteousness. In the Old Testament, approximately 55 of 145 verses with just or justice also include the word righteous or righteousness. Righteousness and holiness are closely related in the character of God and His work in the hearts and lives of men and women. Biblical references which link justice and righteousness: Genesis 18:19-25 Deuteronomy 16:19-20 Deuteronomy 24:12-22 1 Kings 3:7-28 2 Chronicles 9:8 Job 27:6-7 Job 29:14 Job 37:23 Psalm 7:6-8 Psalm 9:8-9 Psalm 11:7 Psalm 33:5 Psalm 37:6 Psalm 72:1 Psalm 89:14, 97:2 Psalm 98:9 Psalm 103:6 Psalm 106:3 Psalm 11:5-6 Psalm 119:121 Psalm 140:12-13 Psalm 146:7-9 Proverbs 8:20 Proverbs 21:3

Proverbs 21:15 Proverbs 28:5-12 Proverbs 29:7 Ecclesiastes 5:8 Isaiah 1:17 Isaiah 1:21 Isaiah 1:27 Isaiah 5:7 Isaiah 5:16 Isaiah 9:7 Isaiah 10:1-2 Isaiah 11:4 Isaiah 16:5 Isaiah 28:17 Isaiah 32:1 Isaiah 32:16 Isaiah 33:5 Isaiah 42:1-6 Isaiah 51:4-5 Isaiah 56:1 Isaiah 58:6-8 Isaiah 59:9 Isaiah 59:14 Isaiah 59:15-16

Jeremiah 9:24 Jeremiah 12:1-2 Jeremiah 22:13 Jeremiah 33:15 Ezekiel 45:9 Daniel 4:37 Hosea 2:19 Amos 5:7 Amos 5:24 Amos 6:12 Micah 6:8 Habakkuk 1:4 Zephaniah 3:5 Malachi 3:3-5 Matthew 12:18-21 Matthew 23:23 Luke 18:8-9 Acts 17:31 Romans 3:25 2 Corinthians 7:1-11 Hebrews 11:33 Revelation 19:11

Note: The text for each of these verses is printed in the Living Mission planner on pages 6–10.

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LESSON 1: Clean Water

PURPOSE 1. To help people understand that unsafe drinking water is one of the world’s biggest killers 2. To tell stories of how the Nazarene Global Mission is bringing Christ’s love to world areas through the

provision of safe drinking water 3. To educate people about what they can do to provide clean water to people in various locations around the

globe Preparation Make copies of the handout if you choose to use it. As you prepare to present this lesson, think about the water we drink. In some areas of the world, we take clean water for granted. We expect water from our faucet or the drinking fountain to be clean and safe. When it is not, we complain to the appropriate people until something is done about it. But what if clean water was replaced by dirty, unsafe water—and we couldn’t do anything about it? Presentation As you distribute the handout, instruct the members of the group to put themselves in the following scenario (adapt the scenario and statistics to your own situation).

Imagine it’s Monday morning, and you live in a place with clean running water. You roll over in bed, wake up, and immediately realize you’ve overslept. You consider skipping a shower, then remember the important clients who will be in the office today. You decide showering is a must.

Ask a volunteer to estimate the amount of water he or she uses during a rushed shower. Then direct attention to the handout and ask everyone to write down his or her estimations for other normal daily tasks. Ask a few volunteers to share their guesses, then tell them the actual numbers for these tasks (from the list below). 1. The average toilet uses 3 gallons of water for each flush. 2. A 10-minute shower uses 25 gallons of water. 3. An average bath takes 50 gallons of water. 4. Brushing teeth, face- and hand-washing, and shaving all average 1 gallon of water. 5. Washing dishes with a dishwasher uses an average 20 gallons per load. Washing dishes by hand uses

about 5 gallons per load. 6. A washing machine uses 10 gallons for one load. 7. With these estimations, the average person uses between 100 and 175 gallons of water a day; this number

does not include water usage for feeding and clothing. Finally, ask volunteers to discuss how their lives would be different without access to clean water.

Mission Story: Haiti Earthquake Read this story aloud to the group, or ask a member (or a few members) of the group to read it aloud. On January 12, 2010, the ground in the island nation of Haiti shook with the violence of a magnitude 7.0 earthquake. That quake and the dozens of aftershocks left more than 200,000 people dead and more than one million homeless. Within minutes lives were changed in villages and cities as homes, businesses, hospitals, and thousands of other buildings were destroyed. One result of the quake was the destruction of water wells in small villages throughout the country. In many villages these wells had been the only source of clean water; their destruction forced people to choose between purchasing food, paying for school for their children, or buying clean water.

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This was the situation in the village of Bellanger, located north of Port-au-Prince. When the town well was destroyed in the earthquake, the people had to purchase clean water. Without much money, many people purchased only what water they needed to cook, drink, and eat, and used a nearby stream for bathing. Unfortunately, this stream was also used to water the cattle and was full of trash that washed into it after heavy rains. As a result, many children who used this stream to bathe became sick. It’s no wonder that one in eight children in Haiti will not reach his or her fifth birthday. However, the Church of the Nazarene had been working long before this earthquake to help with Haiti’s already-existing water problems. The Haiti Water Project is a project of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) that helps provide clean water by digging new wells and building cisterns (artificial reservoirs such as underground tanks used for storing water). After the earthquake, the Haiti Water Project focused on villages like Bellanger that lost their water supplies. In Bellanger, NCM helped dig a new well that provided clean water for the village. No longer will the people there have to bathe their children in dirty streams or choose between buying food or clean water for their families. The situation was similar in Pont Rouge, a coastal town near Port-au-Prince. The town suffered heavy damage in the earthquake; many of its citizens were living under tarps on the property of the local Nazarene church. The people needed water, but because the church was too close to salty water, digging a well was not a feasible solution. So, as the church rebuilt its building, funds from the Haiti Water Project helped build a cistern. The cistern allowed the church and its people to minister to the homeless families on its property and in the neighborhood. Over and over, in villages and cities across the island nation, the Haiti Water Project provides wells and cisterns as a source of clean water for thousands of people. As the Church of the Nazarene works to provide Living Water to our neighbors, we are also providing clean water necessary for survival. Clean Water Facts Haiti is not the only area of the world collapsing under a water shortage. Share the following facts with your group or ask members of the group to share these facts aloud: Women and children usually bear the burden of water collection, walking miles (kilometers) to the nearest

source, which is usually unprotected and likely to make them sick. Nearly one billion people on our planet do not have access to clean or safe water. This is one in eight people

who live in our world. Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80 percent of diseases and kill more people every year than

all forms of violence, including war.1 Every 20 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease. Each year 1.4 million children die as a result of diarrhea.2 Discuss: What do the Bible references below say about caring for others? Read the following verses aloud to your

group or ask group members to read them. Then talk about what appropriate Christian responses to the issue of clean water might be. Discuss with your group if there is an implied mandate or call for Christians regarding this issue, even though these verses may not mention providing clean water explicitly.

o Psalm 41:1—Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. o Psalm 82:3—Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and

oppressed. o Proverbs 19:17—He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has

done. o Proverbs 21:13—If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. o Acts 20:35—In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak,

remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” o 2 Corinthians 9:6—Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will

also reap generously.

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The facts about clean water represent a worldwide problem, but the statistics can be overwhelming. What can Christians who may live far away from those affected by unsafe water do about it?

What About the Nazarene Church? The Church of the Nazarene is very involved in trying to help all people access clean and safe water. Here are some ways the Church is working: 1. Haiti Water Project—Nine out of ten people in Haiti do not have running water in their homes, and it isn’t

easy to find clean water—especially since the earthquake. The Haiti Water Project plans to change that by installing water wells, cisterns, and filters in communities, helping local churches to meet the needs—not only of their members, but also of the community around them. One well provides clean, safe water for approximately 2,000 people. By installing one well or other clean water source at 500 local churches in Haiti, we have the ability to change one million lives. NCM Haiti is also currently partnering with Pure Water for the World to provide biosand filters at 120 Nazarene schools and implement a hygiene education program at those schools. The filters are being used to purify water through layers of sand that trap dirt and disease and allow the clean water through. This will provide clean water resources for an estimated 30,000 children and their families, as well as thousands more who live in those communities. It will also provide a way to teach children (who will then teach their families) about things like hand washing, which will add to the clean water effort of reducing disease. You can learn more about this project at <http://www.haitiwaterproject.com>.

2. Africa Water Wells Project—NCM is working throughout Africa to help provide clean, safe water to communities who currently do not have access to it. NCM is helping provide hand pump wells in villages across Africa, especially areas in which the Nazarene Church already has child development centers. To find out more about this project, go to <http://www.ncm.org/projects/acm1826>.

3. Liberia Latrine Project—During Liberia’s 14-year civil war, much of the country’s infrastructure was destroyed. There is no piped running water; sewer drainage is nonexistent in many towns and is blocked in most parts of the capital, Monrovia. Because of the civil crisis, many people have moved from rural areas to dwell in the capital. Sanitation problems and hygienic hazards are high. There are many reported cases of diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid fever. Private or public toilet facilities are practically nonexistent. With this project, NCM wants to improve the sanitation and thus the health condition of 500 families in Monrovia and Grand Gedeh by constructing 12 large community pit latrine facilities in 12 villages or communities, benefiting more than 25,000 people. To find out more about this project, go to <http://www.ncm.org/projects/acm1858>.

Do Something that Matters. (Get Involved!) Be Informed and Inform Others Encourage groups in church (especially youth) to create a presentation—PowerPoint, video, or spoken—to point out how much they use/overuse water each day and to explain how water is needed desperately around the world. Check out Engage (www.engagemagazine.com), the global mission magazine of the Church of the Nazarene, to learn more about what is going on around the world through Nazarenes who are living missionally for Christ. You can follow them on Twitter or Facebook or sign up to receive e-mail updates. Being aware of what is happening is a great way to assess the needs of the world and to be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading as to how you can help. Pray During your time together as a group, focus on at least one prayer point. Pray that global Christians will increase their awareness of this deadly issue. Pray that the hearts of

Christians who aren’t affected by unsafe water will be moved, feeling a sense of urgency to provide clean water for the rest of the world.

Pray for the pastors and church leaders who work to provide clean water for their communities. Pray for those affected by unsafe water. Focus your prayers on specific nations or regions of the world.

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Pray for the Haiti Water Project, that donors will give the necessary funds and that the lives of people will be transformed through compassion by knowing Jesus Christ personally and by becoming part of a Nazarene church.

Pray for the Africa Water Wells Project. Donate You can review the projects at <http://www.ncm.org/projects/> to find clean water efforts to which you can contribute. Work together as a church, small group, or family to raise money to support one of these ministries. References 1. Charity: Water, “Why Water?” Charity: Water, <http://www.charitywater.org/whywater> (accessed September 14, 2010). 2. Water.org, “Water Facts,” <http://water.org/learnabout-the-water-crisis/facts/> (accessed September 1, 2010).

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Information Sheet

Clean Water While some countries have clean running water and people expect to use more than they need, in some places around the world, people have to stand in line for several hours to get water.1

LACK OF WATER AFFECTS: The general health and well-being of those who lack water. The education of children in some world areas. Instead of going to school, children spend time gathering

water for their families. The spread of disease from using dirty water. WHAT IS BEING DONE Clean water wells that run on solar power are virtually self-sustaining. Aqueducts are being built and roads paved so that water will not gather in puddles and become a breeding

ground for disease. Biosand filters are being used to purify water through layers of sand that trap dirt and disease and allow the

clean water through. HOW WE CAN HELP Pray for the efforts of those around the world who are committed to bringing clean water to every person. Donate to the Haiti Water Project, Africa Water Wells Project, Liberia Latrine Project, or other clean water

projects from the NCM Web site. Click on <http://www.ncm.org/projects/> and enter “water” in the search window to research additional Nazarene clean water efforts to which you can contribute.

Raise awareness and interest in eliminating the use of dirty water around the world and the problems it causes.

Reference 1. American Water Works Association, “Water Use Statistics,”

<http://www.drinktap.org/consumerdnn/Home/WaterInformation/Conservation/WaterUseStatistics/tabid/85/Default.aspx> (accessed December 15, 2010).

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LESSON 2: Mission to Women

PURPOSE 1. To explain why mission efforts specific to women are necessary 2. To learn how Nazarene Global Mission is ministering among women Preparation Keep your audience in mind as you prepare this lesson. If young children are usually present during the time you plan to present this lesson, talk to your pastor or let parents know that the material may not be suitable for kids. As you prepare this lesson, consider how the rights, protections, and laws regarding women have changed in your country. In many areas of the world, women have no rights compared to those of other women globally. They are forced to marry too young, are not allowed or cannot afford an education, and cannot apply for loans that would enable them to start small businesses for themselves or to finance school to create better lives for themselves and their children. Although their circumstances are always unique, far too many women around the world are trapped. If you choose to use the lesson handout, make copies of the information sheet found at the end of this lesson to distribute to each person. Presentation Present the following scenario to your group.

Imagine you’re a single mother. You have no family nearby. No friends. Little to no education. Where might you go for help to provide for your child?

Allow the group to give their thoughts. Now imagine you live in a country with no government aid programs, no churches to help you. To what options might you turn?

Allow the group to give their thoughts on the second part of the scenario. If you are using this lesson’s handout, distribute copies to the members of the group. Discuss What freedoms do some women take for granted that women in other areas of the world do not experience? Do you believe that making sure girls are educated and safe can impact an entire culture? Why or why not?

Mission Story: Vivian Meets Jesus Read this story aloud to the group, or ask a member (or a few members) of the group to read it aloud. The first time I met Jesus I was working. This is odd because my job as a prostitute didn’t exactly provide ample opportunity to seek religion, and honestly, it wasn’t very high on my list of priorities. I had a son to provide for, and I was doing my best to do so. One evening as the sun set, I went to work. As I walked through one of three red light districts in Puerto Maldonaldo, Peru, the shadows grew longer as darkness descended. The only light came from red light bulbs hanging above the establishments where my coworkers and I made our money. I met two men at one of the bars where I regularly began my work. Right away I could tell these men did not fit into the surroundings of dark and noisy bars lit only by neon lights. There is never a shortage of men walking through the bar with other prostitutes on their way to spending some time in the way I was used to spending my work hours, but these men were different.

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They asked if we could sit and enjoy a soda together while we talked. So I sat down with them, and they began asking questions. Immediately, I felt defensive. Who were these men, and why were they so curious about what I did to support my son? At first they just asked questions about my background: where was I from, was I married, how old was I, did I have any kids. I tried to give them as little information about me as possible. Then their questions really started to anger me. They began asking how I became a prostitute and if I had ever tried to do anything else. I felt defensive before, but my discomfort intensified as they began to question what I thought was my only option to provide for my child. Did they think I enjoyed my job? How else was I supposed to take care of my son? Then one of the men asked me if I believed in God. I was shocked; no customer had ever been concerned about that. I took a moment to gather myself then answered, “Yes, I believe in God. But He’s not going to come down here and pay my debts to the world. He is not going to provide food for my son and put clothes on his back. That’s my job.” We talked a while longer. Before their time was up, they asked if they could pray with me. I said that was fine. After all, they’d paid for the time. I was surprised when each of them reached across the table and took one of my hands. They also held hands. One of the men prayed first and then the other. They prayed for my son and me. They prayed for my coworkers. They prayed for my clients. These men poured their hearts out to God for 20 minutes. During the prayer something changed in my heart. I could feel my walls starting to come down. When the men were done praying, one of them asked, “How do you feel?” “I’ve made a decision,” I said. “I want something different from this. I need to get out of this life, and I think that the only way out is through your Jesus.” I don’t think the men could have been more surprised. But they prayed with me again. And this time I asked Jesus to save me from my sins and provide a way out of my circumstances. Over the next few months one of the men, Pastor Freddy, introduced me to his wife, and together they discipled me and welcomed me into their ministry. Together we dreamed of planting 12 churches in Puerto Moldonaldo, my city of 40,000 people, where there are an estimated 300 prostitutes. We also dreamed of starting a home called the “Hope House” to enable women like me to live for the Lord. Before I knew it, I was making visits to my old workplace with the two men who originally led me to the Lord. I knew what these women were going through. I knew from experience how they felt and what they were thinking. Now God is working through us to minister to the hearts of so many of His children who, just like I once did, feel trapped into the lifestyle they are living.1 Discuss What do you think Vivian was expecting when these men approached her? How do you think she felt when she realized these men were different—that they wanted to help her rather

than use her? What the Bible Says Jesus spent a good deal of His time on earth caring for the needs of hurting women—Mary Magdalene, Mary and Martha, and the woman at the well, to name a few. Vivian has much in common with one of these women in particular—a woman named Lydia. Read Acts 16:11-15 aloud with your group. Discuss Ask about the similarities between Vivian, the Peruvian woman from the story above, and Lydia. Below are some of the most obvious similarities, but feel free to discuss others your group identifies. 1. Both women were the caretakers of their families. 2. Both had some idea of God before they learned of Jesus’ desire to have a personal relationship with them. 3. Just as Lydia did, Vivian has dedicated her life to telling others about God and serving His kingdom. In Acts,

Paul tells us that Lydia and the members of her household were baptized. And as time went on, Lydia extended her hospitality and God’s love to many more. Vivian’s “household” goes beyond just her and her son. She seeks to minister to the estimated 300 disillusioned, hurting women in her hometown.

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What About the Church of the Nazarene? There is a long history of mission efforts to women in the Church of the Nazarene around the world. Here are some ways women are being served and reached for God through the Nazarene Church right now. 1. Extreme Peru 2—In June 2010, Extreme Peru, a four-year concentrated effort to plant churches and

minister to prostitutes, concluded. It was as this project was in the planning stages years ago that Vivian met Pastor Freddy Zapata and missionary Brian Tibbs—and through them, Jesus—in a brothel bar. Extreme Peru 2 immediately picked up where Extreme Peru ended. 30 church buildings—The goal is to build 30 church buildings for some of the 120 churches that were

planted over the last 4 years. 40/40—This project pairs one Peruvian member with one non-Peruvian member to work together

planting churches. Extreme Peru 2 efforts are focused on planting 105 churches in the city of Lima. You can find out more about Extreme Peru 2 at <http://www.extremenazarene.org/Peru2.aspx>.

2. Health Services—providing clinics and health screenings in places where these services are not offered.

Cervical cancer screenings are provided by Nazarenes in Papua New Guinea. This disease is preventable and also curable if caught in time, and detection takes only a simple screening test. The church teams up with a nonprofit organization in Australia called Meripath, which takes care of reading the slides after the screening test is completed. The church is working in Papua New Guinea to get better treatment for women who already have cancer.

3. Vocational Training—In many places, vocational training is provided for women escaping lives of

prostitution, abuse, sex trafficking, and poverty. Listed below are some of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries’ vocational training centers. For information on how to donate to these centers, follow the links provided.

Hope House in Peru—Pastor Freddy Zapata and a team of volunteers are dedicated to helping women

who choose to leave a life of prostitution to find other ways of supporting themselves and their families. South Asia—Vocational training in the form of tailoring and handicrafts, typewriting and computer skills,

carpentry, homestead gardening, and other locally relevant and marketable skills. The goal of these centers is to help the poor become financially self-sufficient after a period of support and training. You can find out more about this project at <http://www.ncm.org/projects/acm1479>.

4. Radio Broadcasts—World Mission Broadcast is working in Papua New Guinea through a radio program

called Cry of Women. Pastor Daniel Ekka works with this program, which is directed toward women struggling with issues of violence, polygamy, rape, abortions, and prostitution. The program’s goal is to support women through the struggles they face and continually put the peace of Jesus Christ before them.

5. Magdalena Film— Magdalena: Through Her Eyes shows the life of Jesus from Mary Magdalene’s

perspective, showing women that Jesus came to save them—not just men. The film was created by Campus Crusade for Christ as an alternative to the JESUS Film. Nazarene groups are using it around the world to reach women in areas in which gender equality is not the norm.

Do Something that Matters. (Get involved!) Be Informed Check out Engage (www.engagemagazine.com), the global mission magazine of the Church of the Nazarene, to learn more about what is going on around the world through Nazarenes who are living missionally for Christ. You can follow them on Twitter or Facebook or sign up to receive e-mail updates. Being aware of what is happening is a great way to assess the needs of the world and to be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading as to how you can help.

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Pray During your time together, focus as a group on at least one prayer. Pray for Vivian and for Pastor Freddy Zapata as they work to increase the number of Nazarene churches in

Peru and help women who are seeking a way out of prostitution. Pray for women who are working as prostitutes around the world. Pray that God will reach them, that their

hearts will be softened toward Him and that they will find true freedom in Him. Pray for Pastor Daniel Ekka and the work of World Mission Broadcast through the radio program Cry of

Women in Papua New Guinea and other endeavors to reach women throughout the world. Pray for the support of vocational training centers around the world where women can find the assistance

necessary to learn new skills and discover ways to financially support themselves. Pray that these centers are able to provide continued life-long learning to individuals who would not otherwise receive it.

Pray for those who can benefit from the vocational training centers. Pray that God will provide a path for them to find help at the centers and to prepare their hearts for choosing to receive the help.

Pray for the men and women around the world who are dedicated to ministering to women. Pray that God will sustain them and encourage them, that they will be close to God and seek His wisdom in their ministry.

Donate You can review the projects at <http://www.ncm.org/projects/> to find ministries to women to which you can contribute. Work together as a church, small group, or family to raise money to support one of these ministries. Volunteer 1. Find a local homeless shelter and spend some time volunteering there. Begin to form relationships with

women who need a friend. 2. Contact a school or after-school program in your community. Make yourself available for tutoring or

mentoring. 3. Go on a long- or short-term mission trip, such as Extreme Peru 2.

Long term: <http://www.extremenazarene.org/Positions.aspx?Projectld=11> Short term: <http://www.extremenazarene.org?ShortTermOverview.aspx?Projectld=11>

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Information Sheet

Mission to Women WHY WOMEN? Jesus spent a good deal of His time on earth caring for the needs of hurting women—Mary Magdalene, Mary and Martha, and the woman at the well, to name a few. In many parts of the world, women have no rights compared to other women globally. They are forced to marry too young, are not allowed or cannot afford an education, and cannot apply for loans that would enable them to start small businesses for themselves or to finance school to create better lives for themselves and their children. Although the circumstances are always unique, far too many women around the world are trapped. DONATE Review the projects at <http://www.ncm.org/projects/> to find ministries to women to which you can contribute. Work together as a church, small group, or family to raise money to support one of these ministries. GET INVOLVED Find a local homeless shelter and spend some time volunteering there. Begin to form relationships with

women who need a friend. Contact a school or after-school program in your community. Make yourself available for tutoring or

mentoring. PRAY Pray for women who are working as prostitutes around the world. Pray that God will reach them, that their

hearts will be softened toward Him and that they will find true freedom in Him. Pray for the support of vocational training centers around the world where women can find the assistance

necessary to learn new skills and discover ways to financially support themselves. Pray for those who will benefit from the vocational training centers and prepare their hearts for choosing to

receive the help. Pray for the men and women around the world who are dedicated to ministering to women. Reference 1. Pottenger, Gina G. "Extreme Nazarene Ministries: Vivian's Story." Engage, May 21, 2009 <http://engagemagazine.com/Magazine-

Content/Podcasts/May-2009/Extreme-Nazarene-Ministries--Vivian-s-story-(1).aspx> (accessed August 28, 2010).

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LESSON 3: Global Melting Pot

PURPOSE 1. To help people understand that mission—ministry to those in another culture—is a specialized skill requiring

not only language school, but also special education in the values, behaviors, and traditions of other cultures 2. To discuss xenophobia and to engage people with stories of how xenophobia affects mission and what

processes are necessary to combat this problem 3. To understand that this is not simply an issue for those from the West; there are many examples of

Nazarene missionaries from other parts of the world who must also confront this issue Preparation Keep your audience in mind as you prepare the lesson. If children are usually present during the time you plan to present this lesson, talk to your pastor or let parents know that the material may not be suitable for kids. In case you or members of your group aren’t familiar with the term xenophobia (zee-nuh-FOH-bee-uh), a short description follows to help you present and discuss the topic.

Xenophobia is the fear of foreigners and strangers. We can fear strangers for a variety of reasons. These include thinking we could lose our identity as a group because of their presence, thinking we might compromise our social customs because of theirs, and thinking we might become displaced if we give place to others unlike ourselves. Xenophobia can have an excess of results. It can bring about the exaltation of one social group, often at the cost of humiliating another. It can bring about the mass expulsion of immigrants, including grave mistreatment of the same. It can bring about hostile, violent, and even deadly interactions between social groups, the least of which is mere neglect and the worst of which is genocide.

Xenophobia is a serious concern in mission work around the world. Most of us can identify with experiencing fears related to strangers and foreigners at various times in our lives, and missionaries are no exception to the rule. In addition to dealing with our own fears, the most pressing issues in missions related to this important topic are mediating between groups that fear each other and interacting with groups that harbor fears against the Gospel and the Church. This is a concern not only for missionaries leaving the West to perform mission work abroad, but also for missionaries in countries around the world who are called to go to places outside their countries of origin. This is even a concern for missionaries and churches within their own countries. Cultures and subcultures within countries and communities sometimes provide challenges in ministry that include addressing and working through fears of those from other social groups. Presentation Ask volunteers to tell about times in their lives when they felt like an outsider. Ask them to articulate how they felt in that situation and how they dealt with it and worked through their feelings. Ask who or what made them feel welcome, at home, and more a part of the group.

Mission Story: Persecution in India! Read this story aloud to the group, or ask a member (or a few members) of the group to read it aloud. While Nazarenes in the state of Manipur, India, celebrated the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Gospel to their community, 5 to 10 community members entered the North East India District Center, poured gasoline on the furniture and literature in the office, and set the building on fire. Thankfully, no one was injured in the attack, but approximately $8,500 worth of JESUS Film equipment, as well as other equipment, was destroyed. However, because district leaders had received previous threats of violence from the group responsible for the attack, important documents had already been removed from the building.

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According to local custom, the district had to seek redress from the community leaders before a police report could be filed. The community leaders agreed to make the attackers repay the district for its losses and to restrain them from future violence. The attack followed waves of persecution against Christians in that region of India during 2009. In spite of each setback, Nazarenes have continued showing Christ’s love to neighbors, and the church has grown. Other denominations have also gathered in support, as well as community leaders, who called the attack shameful.1 Discuss We can all think of times in our lives when we’ve been afraid of people or groups different from us and the

groups with which we identify. Let’s put ourselves, for a few moments, in the shoes of those who attacked the district center in India. What kinds of fear might they—and others in similar situations—be experiencing that would bring them to engage in such acts of violence and destruction?

The testimony of Nazarenes there is that despite the attack, the church has grown. How can churches help to quell fears and build bridges to those who feel threatened by their presence?

What the Bible Says The biblical narrative is that of a people on the move: the Israelites in the Old Testament and the Church—the new Israel—in the New Testament. Consider the Exodus story. When God brings His people out of Egypt, He guides them on a journey across the desert, through the wilderness, and—only after many years—opens the way for them to settle in the Promised Land, the land of their forefathers and foremothers. Thus, from the very beginning, He commands them, “Do not mistreat an alien or oppress a foreigner, for you were aliens and foreigners in Egypt” (Exodus 22:21). And again He says, “Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt” (Exodus 23:9). From there, the Bible is filled with verses and passages that help illuminate God’s heart for the alien and the foreigner, the one and the ones who don’t fit in and don’t belong (see Deuteronomy 10:18-19). One of the psalmists praised the Lord in recognizing that He “watches over the alien” (Psalm 146:9). It’s not surprising that the same God who has such a heart for the alien calls His own people not only to care for aliens and strangers but also to be aliens and strangers. The writer of 1 Peter calls Christians “aliens and strangers in the world” (1:1 and 2:11) and instructs them to “live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear” (1:17). Moreover, Paul tells the church at Ephesus that because of God’s great love, “you are no longer foreigners and aliens but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built together on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:19-20). God’s love is great enough to take those outside the fellowship of His life and love and make them a real and integral part of it. As a living reflection of God, the Church is now called to do the same. Discuss Given the story of God’s people and the testimony of the Bible regarding God’s heart for aliens and

strangers, how do you think the Church should address situations in which our neighbors, even our enemies, experience injustice because they are foreigners in some way?

In what concrete ways can we as Christians show love to these people? What About the Church of the Nazarene? Here are some ways that those affected by xenophobia are being served and reached for God through the Nazarene Church right now. 1. Help for Persecuted Christians—Christians in the Middle East face many dangers and difficulties. They

risk being ostracized by their communities. They risk being physically attacked. They risk their homes and businesses being vandalized—sometimes completely destroyed. As the number of people coming to Christ increases, so does the need to protect and support these people in areas in which it’s not safe or easy for them to practice their faith. NCM is working to provide support and financial assistance, such as paying relocation costs and legal bills, for those in the Middle East who are persecuted because they have chosen to follow Christ. To learn more about this initiative, go to <http://www.ncm.org/projects/acm1832>.

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2. Global Nazarene Publications—The end goal of all Nazarene mission work is to eventually be able to leave a particular mission field because native inhabitants in each community can speak the Gospel to their own people. In some areas of the world, foreign missionaries are not only unwelcome but are also in danger of being harmed simply because they’re different. In order to allow Nazarenes across the world to preach the Gospel to their own neighbors, Global Nazarene Publications (GNP) exists. GNP develops or translates Nazarene literature so it can be used in the 156 world areas in which the Church of the Nazarene currently works. To learn more about GNP, go to <http://www.nazarene.org/gnp.aspx>.

Do Something that Matters. (Get involved!): Be Informed Check out Engage (www.engagemagazine.com), the global mission magazine of the Church of the Nazarene, to learn more about what is going on around the world through Nazarenes who are living missionally for Christ. You can follow them on Twitter or Facebook or sign up to receive e-mail updates. Being aware of what is happening is a great way to assess the needs of the world and to be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading as to how you can help. There are some interesting statistics on xenophobia you can review on the Internet at <http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/stats-on-human-rights/statistics-on-xenophobia-immigration-and-asylum/>. Pray During your time together as a group, focus on these prayer requests. Pray that missionaries will have the wisdom, insight, grace, and strength to face situations in which

xenophobia is an issue. Pray that missionaries and churches will faithfully show people the love of God that overcomes all fear and

that leads to reconciliation, healing, and restoration of fellowship. Pray that missionaries and other Christians won’t fall prey to the very fears we’ve discussed; pray that

instead they will allow the Spirit to help them see everyone as God intends them to be. Pray that God will keep our missionaries and churches safe from the violence, prejudice, and persecution

that arise from xenophobic thought and behavior. Pray that we all will act justly toward the aliens, strangers, and foreigners among us; pray that all of us will

experience the love of God that is the only hope for peace and unity in the world. Donate You can review the projects at <http://www.ncm.org/projects/> to find ministries to which you can contribute. Work together as a church, small group, or family to raise money to support one of these ministries. Volunteer 1. Find a local school or other organization that offers your first language as a second language courses.

Volunteer as a teacher or simply as a supportive member of that community. Begin to form relationships with people who can use a friend.

2. Get to know a family who is not originally from your home country. You can meet such people at school, church, or work. Invite them to dinner at your home. Be a support system to them as they navigate their journey in a new country and culture. Embody God’s heart for the alien and stranger in your own life, neighborhood, community, and church.

3. Go on a long- or short-term trip to an area in which people have been highly affected by xenophobia. 4. Are there cultural groups that have immigrated to your area with whom you might plant a church? What

would it take to start such a church? Reference 1. Eurasia Region Editor, “District Offices in India Burned While Nazarenes Celebrate Arrival of Gospel.” Engage, February 9, 2010

<http://www.engagemagazine.com/Magazine-Content/Articles/February-2010/District-offices-in-India-burned-while-Nazarenes-c.aspx> (accessed September 3, 2010.)

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Information Sheet

Global Melting Pot WHY ARE OUR DIFFERENCES AN ISSUE? Mission—ministry to those in another culture—is a specialized skill requiring not only language school, but also special education in the values, behaviors, and traditions of other cultures. In our global melting pot, xenophobia—the fear of strangers and their culture—is a serious concern for those doing mission work in the Church of the Nazarene around the world. The most pressing issues in missions related to this important topic are mediating between groups that fear each other and dealing with groups that harbor fears against the Gospel and the Church. CHRISTIANS—A PEOPLE ON THE MOVE The biblical narrative is a narrative of a people on the move: the Israelites in the Old Testament and the Church—the new Israel—in the New Testament. The Bible is filled with verses and passages that help illuminate God’s heart for the alien and the foreigner, the one and the ones who don’t fit in and don’t belong. God’s love is great enough to take those outside the fellowship of His life and love and make them a real and integral part of it. As a living reflection of God, the Church is now called to do the same. BE INFORMED There are some interesting statistics on xenophobia you can review on the Internet at: <http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/stats-on-human-rights/statistics-on-xenophobia-immigration-and-asylum/>. PRAY Pray that missionaries will have the wisdom, insight, grace, and strength to face with situations in which

xenophobia is an issue. Pray that missionaries and churches will faithfully show people the love of God that overcomes all fear and

that leads to reconciliation, healing, and restoration of fellowship. Pray that we all will act justly toward aliens, strangers, and foreigners among us. DONATE You can review the projects at <http://www.ncm.org/projects/> to find ministries to which you can contribute. Work together as a church, small group, or family to raise money to support one of these ministries. VOLUNTEER Find a local school or other organization that offers your first language as a second language courses.

Volunteer as a teacher or simply as a supportive member of that community. Begin to form relationships with people who can use a friend.

Get to know a family who is not originally from your home country. You can meet such people at school, church, or work. Invite them to dinner at your home. Be a support system to them as they navigate their journey in a new country and culture. Embody God’s heart for the alien and stranger in your own life, neighborhood, community, and church.

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LESSON 4: Mission to the Disabled

PURPOSE 1. To help people understand that, because of the lack of government assistance to the disabled in most

countries, having a physical handicap is often comparable to a slow death sentence due to the many problems that often accompany disabilities

2. To learn what Nazarene Global Mission is doing regarding care for the physically challenged around the world

3. To engage people with opportunities to assist Nazarene efforts in ministry to the disabled Preparation Keep your audience in mind as you prepare this lesson. If children are usually present during the time you plan to present this lesson, talk to your pastor or let parents know that the material may not be suitable for kids. Look into ministries and organizations in your area that assist the disabled in order to provide contact information for those who would be interested in seeking volunteer opportunities. Presentation Ask these questions of your group: With which hand do you write? Imagine you are missing that hand or arm. How will you continue to do your current job? Imagine you can no longer do that job. How will you provide for yourself? Now imagine you live in a country that has no program of economic security or other government

assistance. You are single and have no family to care for you. What are your options? Now imagine you cannot use your legs and cannot afford a wheelchair. How will you get around?

Mission Story: God’s Hidden Treasures Read this story aloud to the group, or ask a member (or a few members) of the group to read it aloud. After Nazarene laypeople Duncan “Doc” and Charmayne Old retired, they believed God was calling them to serve in Tonga, a South Pacific island nation. Prior to moving to Tonga, Charmayne worked as a nurse in a convalescent center. She knew that God was calling her to serve the people of Tonga in the same way, so she and Doc began to seek out what she considered God’s “hidden treasures”—the children forgotten or hidden by society due to physical challenges. When the Olds first arrived in Tonga in 1994, disabled children were commonly viewed as a punishment for the sins of the parents. But Charmayne and Doc worked hard to change the view society held of those who were forgotten or hidden. They followed lead after lead to find and encourage families who were struggling with the realities of caring for a disabled loved one. In 2005, the Mango Tree Respite Center was dedicated and currently serves families across the country by caring for their loved ones with physical challenges. By the time Charmayne passed away in 2006, disabled people all over Tonga knew her name—and knew of Christ’s love, which she was able to show them throughout her time there.1 What the Bible Says Many times during Jesus’ life on earth, He healed the crippled and lame, thereby providing for their immediate physical needs. However, never once did He heal a person’s physical needs without also addressing his or her spiritual needs. One of those stories is about a group of people caring for a friend who was paralyzed. This story is told in three of the four Gospels (Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-11, and Luke 5:17-26). In one version, an additional detail is given. Ask three volunteers to read these three passages aloud; then compare the accounts, asking, “What did Luke add that was not in the story in Matthew or Mark?”

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When we read this story we tend to focus on the faith of the man lowered through the roof on his mat or the interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees. We do not generally notice that the paralyzed man had something that was uncommon during Jesus’ time—people willing to help him. As we spend time thinking about our roles as followers of Christ and serving the disabled, it is helpful to examine what we know about these men. They were obviously healthy enough to climb onto the roof and lift a disabled man onto the roof, then lower him through a hole in the roof without dropping him. The man was completely at their mercy. We are not told how these men earned their living. Did they, like other men and women during this time in history, spend their days completing tasks that enabled them and their families to survive? Were they related to the disabled man—brothers, maybe? What connection did they have to this man that caused them to take care of him? Discussion Why do you think Luke included this detail in his account while Matthew and Mark did not? What is the

significance of this story? Whatever the men in Luke did for a living—whether they were family members or friends of the healed

man—caring for him couldn’t have been easy in a time when there were no wheelchairs, government assistance programs, paved roads, or handicapped-accessible buildings. How can we be intentional in caring for those with physical disabilities?

What About the Church of the Nazarene? 1. The Mango Tree—We mentioned the Mango Tree Respite Center in the story about Charmayne and Doc

Old. This facility in Tonga serves both the handicapped and their family members, providing services that include home visit care, rehabilitative therapy, computer classes, Braille courses, mobility aids, renovations to make homes handicapped-accessible, annual camps, and sponsorship programs for families. You can find out more about the Mango Tree and ways you can support this ministry at <http://www.ncm.org/projects/acm1476>.

2. Korea Nazarene University—Korean law does not mandate that buildings be made handicapped-accessible, so many are not. However, Korea Nazarene University has voluntarily made its entire campus friendly to those with physical challenges. As a result, a disproportionate number of handicapped students now attend the university.

3. Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Project—As is all too common around the world, children with physical and mental disabilities in the Soviet Union were hidden to create an illusion of perfection. In what is now the Commonwealth of Independent States, individuals with disabilities were actually removed from within the city limits and placed in facilities with deplorable living conditions. Friends and family members had to travel quite a distance to visit them if they chose to do so. Through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM), the Church of the Nazarene now supports two ministries that are working with individuals with special needs in Ukraine and Russia. In these programs the church cares for children and adults with special needs, provides spiritual support to parents and family, and offers basic support to those needing it. You can learn more about this ministry at <http://www.ncm.org/projects/acm1735>.

Do Something that Matters. (Get Involved!) Be Informed Engage <http://www.engagemagazine.com> is the global mission magazine of the Church of the Nazarene. By reading Engage you can learn more about what is going on around the world through Nazarenes who are living missionally for Christ. You can follow them on Twitter or Facebook or sign up to receive e-mail updates. Being aware of what is happening is a great way to assess the needs felt around the world and to be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading as to how you can help. Pray During your time together as a group, focus on these prayers. Pray for physically challenged individuals around the world who do not have a support system of family and

friends. Pray they will be seen and loved.

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Pray for the leadership at the Mango Tree Respite Center and for the people of Tonga. Pray that their eyes will continue to be opened to the value and beauty of all human life.

Pray that, whenever and wherever possible, buildings and sidewalks will be made handicapped-accessible and that financial aid will be provided for those who need equipment, such as a wheelchairs, simply to survive.

Pray for those in your own community, church, office, or city assisting people with physical challenges. Pray for the work Nazarenes are doing in CIS to help care for people with physical challenges. Pray they will

continue to encourage and help the ministries already in place to assist those who were once hidden from society. Pray that the financial needs of these ministries will be met.

Pray to determine ways in which your church can become involved in mission, locally or globally, to those with physical challenges. Then act.

Donate Review the projects at <http://www.ncm.org/projects/> to find ministries to the disabled to which you can contribute. Work together as a church, small group, or family to raise money to support one of these ministries. Volunteer 1. We sometimes forget that just getting out of bed and preparing for the day can be difficult tasks for some

people. Brainstorm ways your group can bless, encourage, and assist those individuals or families whose lives are made more difficult because of physical handicaps.

2. Volunteer at a local organization that assists families and children with handicaps. Find out what they need to better function—even thrive.

3. Investigate whether or not there are churches in your area that have members with handicaps. Is there a way your church can help provide accessibility alternatives in the building? Is there a Habitat for Humanity project in your area with which you can help?

4. Research Work & Witness opportunities at <http://www.workandwitness.org/projects> and try to find a project that directly benefits those with physical disabilities. Consider taking one of these trips with your small group, youth group, or as a church.

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Information Sheet

Mission to the Disabled CARING FOR THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED Many times during Jesus’ time on earth, He healed the crippled and lame and provided for their immediate physical needs. However, never once did He heal a person’s physical needs without also addressing his/her spiritual needs. One of those stories is about a group of people caring for a friend who was paralyzed. This story is told in three of the four Gospels--Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-11, and Luke 5:17-26. When we read the story, we tend to focus on the faith of the man lowered through the roof on his mat or on the interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees concerning the man’s healing. We don’t generally take notice that the paralyzed man in the story had something that wasn’t exactly common during Jesus’ time—people who were willing to help him. DONATE You can review the projects at <http://www.ncm.org/projects/> to find ministries to the disabled to which you can contribute. Work together as a church, small group, or family to raise money to support one of these ministries. GET INVOLVED As a group, think of ways you can bless, encourage, and assist those individuals or families whose lives are

made more difficult because of physical handicaps. Volunteer at a local organization that assists families and children with handicaps. Find out what they need

to better function—even thrive. Research Work & Witness opportunities at <http://www.workandwitness.org/projects>. Consider taking one

of these trips with your small group, youth group, or as a church. PRAY Pray for physically challenged individuals around the world who do not have a support system of family and

friends. Pray they will be seen and loved. Pray that countries around the world will work to protect those who are marginalized. Pray for those in your own community, church, office, or city that assist people with physical challenges. Pray to determine ways in which your church can become involved in mission work to those with physical

challenges. Then act.

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LESSON 5: Sanctity of Life

PURPOSE 1. To help people understand that all forms of violence threaten the sanctity of life wherever it occurs and that

ministering to those who have been hurt not only fulfills Christ’s command to care for the least of these, but also models God’s love in Christian witness

2. To learn how issues of violence and the sanctity of life intersect with missions in the Church of the Nazarene, providing opportunity to show God’s love and to discover how these issues present obstacles and danger to the mission work and the workers

3. To teach people how Nazarene missions intersects with the issues of violence and to encourage them to pray for the safety of our missionaries as well as support of global efforts to alleviate pain

Preparation Keep your audience in mind as you prepare this lesson. If children are usually present during the time you plan to present this lesson, talk to your pastor or let parents know that the material may not be suitable for kids. As you prepare this lesson, it is important to keep in mind that “sanctity of life” is a phrase evangelical Christianity has tended to associate almost exclusively with the issues of abortion, stem cell research, and euthanasia. However, the phrase speaks to other issues as well, including war, genocide, creation care (caring for God’s creation), domestic violence, and capital punishment, to name just a few. To claim that life is sacred is to claim the miraculous, but, of course, life is sacred because all life is of God. There is no life apart from Him, the resurrected and living one. Make copies if you choose to use the lesson handout. Presentation If you are using this lesson’s handout, distribute a copy to each member of the group. Ask them to write down at least six topics associated with the phrase “sanctity of life.” Encourage them to consider more than the most obvious answers. Then ask members of the group to discuss their responses to the handout’s questions.

Mission Story: Sanctity of Life

Read this story aloud to the group, or ask a member (or a few members) of the group to read it aloud. Even as a native in her country, life as a Christian was never easy for Maria and her family. But they ran a successful business, and family was nearby. When her country went to war with another country, though, their lives changed. After her country’s leader was removed from office, things became much worse for Maria and her family. “When the war broke out, even my neighbors wouldn’t speak to us. They would say, ‘You are Christians; the leader [of the country we are fighting] is a Christian. Why don’t you talk to him? Why is he doing this to us?’” Then, in 2003, Maria’s husband was kidnapped. After four days and after paying $4,000, Maria’s family got him back—suffering from a broken nose and missing parts of several fingers and toes. Maria’s husband wasn’t the only assaulted Christian. Maria’s brother-in-law, a 24-year-old agricultural engineer, was killed in a nearby city. The family was finally able to leave their hometown in a taxi at a cost of $200. The same trip now costs closer to $1,000 and is far more difficult since the borders are closed. Maria and her family ended up in a low-rent Christian neighborhood in a nearby capital city. Her husband couldn’t find steady work, so Maria took a job at a convent, hand-washing clothing for 500 people a day. Her shift began at 5 A.M., and she was paid in rice and sugar. When their visas expired, the family avoided going out for fear of being caught. They couldn’t enroll the children in school, and most of their money was going toward medical bills. They slept on the cold apartment floor, Maria developed arthritis, and her son had a persistent cough. Paying for food was difficult. Maria’s husband finally found work making tea and coffee, and she was eventually offered jobs cleaning homes for several people from the local Nazarene church. The Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM)

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regional coordinator asked Maria if her children were in school. She admitted it had been two years since they had been formally educated; and before long, both were enrolled in the local Nazarene school. NCM also provided the children with School Pal-Paks, used winter clothes, Crisis Care Kits, and dental work. “We don’t have lots of things, but we are happy,” says Maria. “I’m happy because we met Jesus here. We used to know about Jesus in our home country, but not in the same way as here. A week ago, my son said, ‘Mommy, I have crayons, and I would like to give them to my friend because he doesn’t have any.’ So I’m happy about that. He feels with others. And he likes to help others. If somebody needs help from my son, I would like my son to help him.” It would hardly be surprising if the violence, injustice, and difficulties Maria and her family have faced caused them to feel bitter and guarded. But because of the ministry of the Nazarene Church and, more importantly, because of Christ’s work in their lives and hearts, they have hope for the future. Discussion Maria’s story is a reminder of those who have been displaced by the violence of war. How do the violence and death of war threaten our own conviction of the sanctity of life? How should missionaries and churches in war regions respond to the travesty of death? What Does the Bible Say? All life is sacred to God, because all life finds its being and purpose in His life. He holds all life sacred because He is the source of all life. A holy God gives source to holy life. A holy Creator creates holy creatures. And as the living God of all life, He constantly affirms, nourishes, and sustains it. “Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him” (2 Samuel 14:14). Indeed, the testimony of Scripture and the history of the Church is that as children of God and followers of his Son, we are called to care compassionately for all of life, especially life that is vulnerable. We are called to see and treat everyone as a neighbor, to see and treat everyone as a sister or brother in Christ or a future sister or brother in Christ. God’s people are called to love Him as they are loved by Him and to love one another (see Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Leviticus 19:18; and Mark 12:28-34). As Moses spoke to the entire assembly of Israel, he was commanded by God to tell them not to seek revenge or bear a grudge, but rather to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). God’s rescue of those who are vulnerable is a prominent theme throughout the biblical narrative. One of the psalmists, thought to be David, prayed to the Lord, “You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that humanity, which is of this earth, may terrify no more” (Psalm 10:17-18). Those who worship God, as they become holy as He is holy and loving as He is loving, will rescue and defend the vulnerable as He does and desires them to do. God’s righteousness and justice are shown to the world in His own people as they worship and work for Him. At the end of Proverbs, King Lemuel recites a saying taught to him by his mother. At the heart of the saying is this admonition: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9). There are many examples of these themes continuing into the New Testament, one of the most recognized being the parable of the Good Samaritan recorded in Luke 10. James, the brother of Jesus, says in his letter to Christians scattered around the world: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27). Discussion The story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection—the Gospel of hope—teaches us that the violence of the

world, and the world’s contempt for the sanctity of life, isn’t as deep as the love of God and God’s power to redeem and renew life into His image. What do the crucifixion and resurrection teach us about what to expect when we participate in His mission in the world? What do the crucifixion and resurrection teach us about what God means when He teaches us in Micah “to act justly”?

How can we demonstrate what we believe about the sanctity of life and encourage others to see life as God sees it?

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What About the Church of the Nazarene? Arguably, all missions work done by the Church could be linked to the sanctity of life, but here are just a few of the specific ways the Church of the Nazarene is working right now to improve the lives of brothers and sisters in Christ globally, showing them the love of God in the process. 1. AIDS Orphans and Caregivers Support—The AIDS pandemic in Africa has claimed millions of lives,

orphaning a generation of children. NCM’s Orphans and Vulnerable Children initiative provides care for many of these orphans by placing them in loving homes where they’ll have the opportunity to prosper. Livestock is provided to give milk, eggs, and meat to the caregiving family. The livestock’s first offspring is given to a needy neighbor; the rest of the offspring generates income for the caregiver and the orphaned child who has been placed in the home. Farming supplies, including seedlings and tools, are provided to plant vegetable gardens that yield food and nutrition in the form of corn, groundnuts, sweet potatoes, and vegetables. Any surplus generates additional income to take care of the children. The community’s churches also help with basic education for the children who would otherwise not have the opportunity to learn basic life skills due to the economic situation in which they find themselves. To learn more about this project, go to <http://www.ncm.org/projects/acm1571>.

2. CIS Prison Ministry Project—The prison system in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS—the

former Soviet Union) is filled with people who have been lingering in the system without hope for years. Prisoners lack basic human needs, such as adequate clothing and toiletries. Several of the men and women who have been going through the Church of the Nazarene’s rehabilitation programs in the CIS are ex-convicts who have been called to return to the jails to preach the Good News to current prisoners. Through the CIS Prison Ministry Project, NCM works to provide prisoners with Bibles, as well as personal items such as clothing and toiletries that are needed to maintain their health. You can find out more about this project at <http://www.ncm.org/projects/acm1739>.

3. AIDS Education & Prevention Initiatives—There are still frightening myths and beliefs in the minds of

people throughout Africa regarding HIV and AIDS. NCM is already active in the training of community and church leaders, as well as young people and the population in general. The ministry now plans to launch further workshops, empowering key congregations and local leaders to train others to have a tangible impact in the prevention and fight against this crippling, family-destroying, and often deadly pandemic. NCM’s goal is to produce AIDS prevention and information materials in at least five languages to be distributed among children and youth in various African countries. To learn more about these initiatives, go to <http://www.ncm.org/projects/acm1508>.

Do something that matters. (Get Involved!) Be Informed Engage <http://www.engagemagazine.com> is the global mission magazine of the Church of the Nazarene. By reading Engage you can learn more about what is going on around the world through Nazarenes who are living missionally for Christ. You can follow them on Twitter or Facebook or sign up to receive e-mail updates. Being aware of what is happening is a great way to assess the needs felt around the world and to be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading as to how you can help. Pray During your time together as a group, focus on these prayer requests. Pray that God will keep His work and workers around the world safe. Pray that God’s workers around the world will courageously share the Good News in the midst of dangerous

circumstances. Pray that missionaries and churches around the world will show God’s great love and concern for all life. Pray that missionaries and churches will be kept safe from all violence and will serve as ministers of

reconciliation and healing in the midst of a world torn apart by the madness of violence and war.

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Pray that missionaries and churches will endure danger and persecution with faith, hope, and love, trusting in God and reaching out to others no matter what the cost.

Pray that missionaries and churches will lovingly work to relieve the pain of those around them that has been caused by forces of destruction in their communities; pray that they will faithfully work to bring such forces to an end by the Spirit’s power.

Pray that all of us will be found faithful on the last day to have served “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). Donate You can review the projects at <http://www.ncm.org/projects/> to find ministries to which you can contribute. Work together as a church, small group, or family to raise money to support one of these ministries. Volunteer 1. The phrase “sanctity of life” means different things to different people. Decide what this phrase means to

you, then choose a place to live out what you believe. Possibilities might be to form friendships with nursing home residents, volunteer with a suicide prevention or domestic violence hotline, or consider becoming a foster parent.

2. Look for ways to serve abroad through Work & Witness. Embrace those times as opportunities to face danger and persecution with love and hope, believing in God’s power to bring life from death, joy from despair, and mercy from judgment.

3. Participate in the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Find out more at <http://www.idop.org/>.

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Information Sheet

Sanctity of Life WHAT IS SANCTITY OF LIFE? Sanctity of life is a phrase that many associate with the issues of abortion, stem cell research, and euthanasia. However, the phrase speaks to other issues as well, including war, genocide, creation care(caring for God’s creation), domestic violence, and capital punishment, to name just a few. To claim that life is sacred is to claim the miraculous, but of course, life is sacred because all life is of God. There is no life apart from Him. BE INFORMED Engage <http://www.engagemagazine.com> is the global mission magazine of the Church of the Nazarene. By reading Engage you can learn more about what is going on around the world through Nazarenes who are living missionally for Christ. You can follow them on Twitter or Facebook or sign up to receive e-mail updates. Being aware of what is happening is a great way to assess the needs felt around the world and to be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading as to how you can help. VOLUNTEER Decide what the phrase sanctity of life means to you, then choose a place to live out what you believe: form

friendships with nursing home residents, volunteer with a suicide prevention or domestic violence hotline, consider becoming a foster parent.

Look for ways to serve abroad through Work & Witness teams. Embrace those times as opportunities to face danger and persecution with love and hope, believing in God’s power to bring life from death, joy from despair, and mercy from judgment.

Participate in the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Find out more at <http://www.idop.org/>.

PRAY Pray that missionaries and churches around the world will show God’s great love and concern for all life. Pray for missionaries and churches to be kept safe from all violence and to serve as ministers of

reconciliation and healing in the midst of a world torn apart by the madness of violence and war. Pray that missionaries and churches will lovingly relieve the pain of those around them caused by forces of

destruction in their communities; pray that they will faithfully work to bring such forces to an end by the Spirit’s power.

Pray that all of us will be found faithful on the last day to have served “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40).

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LESSON 6: Child Labor

PURPOSE 1. To help people understand that millions of children are being forced to work to maintain subsistence living

and that this condition creates physical and developmental hazards 2. To learn what Global Mission and Nazarene Missions International are doing about child labor around the

globe 3. To help people learn how Nazarene mission work affects the problem of child labor Preparation Keep your audience in mind as you prepare this lesson. If children are usually present during the time you plan to present this lesson, talk to your pastor or let parents know that the material may not be suitable for kids. Child labor or child trafficking is a tragic issue that many people choose to ignore. Sometimes, child labor happens in full view of society, especially in cultures where it seems necessary for children to work in order for the family to survive. In the extreme, child trafficking can also include literal slavery or sex trafficking of children. As you prepare this lesson, keep in mind that this is not an issue that can be solved with fundraisers or fun events. To generate real change, people must be aware of the issue and its serious implications. Child labor and trafficking have an impact beyond the negative effects they have on the children involved. Families and communities are harmed as well. Make copies if you choose to use the lesson handout. Approach this lesson with prayer. Engage in serious research online and in libraries to learn as much as you can about child labor. Look for an interesting way to approach this subject in your lesson. Presentation Ask your group this question: What is needed for a child to grow up happy, healthy, and safe? Collect items that represent these elements. For example, a toy could represent play, a book represents education, and a food item represents health. If you have elementary school teachers in your congregation, talk to them before the lesson to learn more about how school systems concretely help underprivileged children. Distribute the lesson handout and go through it with your group. Ask group members to rank items on the list from most to least important, with 1 being the most important item needed for a family to function properly and 11 being the least important. Then ask them to imagine they could achieve all these things only if their entire family works—including all children. Ask them how their hopes and dreams for their family might change or to whom they might turn for help.

Mission Story: Responding With Love Explain to the group that you will read the following story aloud and will pause between sections, at which time the group will recite the verses listed. Gafur was a happy little boy. He lived in a village in the mountains east of Mumbai, India. His village was small and poor by many standards. The villagers grew most of their own food and made various items to sell in the city in order to make a little money. Recite together Proverbs 29:7—“The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such

concern.” Although his family was poor, Gafur didn’t know it. He had his regular chores, such as collecting water from the town well, but he also enjoyed playing as any eight-year-old would. He enjoyed exploring the fields around his village and playing with his best friends.

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Recite together Proverbs 17:6—“Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”

One day, a stranger came to Gafur’s village. He seemed very interested in the people of the village and even bought a dress from Gafur’s mother and a skinny cow from his neighbor. The cow wasn’t worth much so the villagers weren’t sure if the stranger was naïve or just nice. Everyone liked him. After a few days, the stranger gathered the parents and told them of an opportunity for their children that existed in the city. He explained that he could get the children good jobs that would pay them a wage and give them good training and experience. The adults didn’t like the idea of their children going to the city without their parents, but they saw it as an opportunity for their children to get ahead in life, so many of the parents agreed. Soon, many boys and girls were loaded into an old school bus for the trip into the city. Recite together Mark 9:37—“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and

whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” The man told the parents they would hear from their children regularly and gave them an address and phone number if they needed to contact them. After a few weeks the parents hadn’t heard anything from their children, and the parents tried to call the number. No one answered. Finally, Gafur’s father and several other men traveled to the city to find out what was going on. The men found the address, only to discover it was an empty lot. They questioned neighbors, but no one had heard of the man or seen the children. The fathers returned home without the children from the village—and were scared for them. Recite together Psalm 72:4—“He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy;

he will crush the oppressor.” The parents had a right to be scared. Gafur and his friends were taken to a carpet factory in the city. Once there, they were shown a small room with cots that would be their new home. It was small, dirty, hot, and had no windows. The children were put to work in the carpet factory immediately. They were expected to work at least 12 hours a day and received few breaks. The children had fallen into the dark world of child trafficking.1 Recite together Isaiah 1:17—“Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of

the fatherless...” Recite together Isaiah 56:1—“Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my

righteousness will soon be revealed.” Facts About Child Labor According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), 73 million children between the ages of 10 and 14 are employed in economic activities all over the world. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that if you broaden the range to include ages 5 to 14, the figure increases to 158 million working children worldwide. Here are some additional facts about child labor and trafficking: Millions of children are engaged in hazardous situations or conditions, such as working in mines, working

with chemicals and pesticides in agriculture, or working with dangerous machinery. In Sub-Saharan Africa about one in three children is engaged in child labor, representing 69 million children.

In South Asia, another 44 million are engaged in child labor. Children living in the poorest households and in rural areas are most likely to be engaged in child labor.

Those burdened with household chores are overwhelmingly girls. Millions of girls who work as domestic servants are especially vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.2

Labor often interferes with children’s education. Often, children must work so the whole family can survive. Going to school would mean no money for food or no water to drink, since children and women are generally the family members who walk long distances to collect water. Keys to preventing child labor include ensuring that all

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children go to school and receive quality educations. However, it is difficult to implement this when families don’t survive long enough for these solutions to be effective and beneficial. Child labor or trafficking is a serious issue facing millions of children around the world. It affects the health and education of children and, eventually, affects the entire nation. Discussion The Bible commands us to care for children and those who live in poverty. After hearing Gafur’s story and

the accompanying Scripture verses, how should Christians respond to the issue of child labor? It seems easy for some people to remove themselves from the issue of child labor. Although it happens in

their nation, they must search to find it. Some nations have laws in place that protect children—laws preventing child labor and requiring children to go to school. How can we keep this issue at the forefront of our minds? How can we effect change from within our own communities?

What About the Nazarene Church? What the Church of the Nazarene is accomplishing around the world to improve the lives of children in our care is astounding. In many world areas, churches sponsor child development centers and other programs to give children opportunities for learning, socialization, and fun. Following are a few ways the Nazarene Church is working for children around the world, thereby lowering the likelihood that children will have to work too young, thus keeping them safe from predators. This work is changing the futures of the children, their families, and their communities. 1. Child Sponsorship—Nazarene Compassionate Ministries’ (NCM) child sponsorships advocate for the

children and families who find themselves destitute. NCM partners with existing Nazarene congregations and ministries around the world to ensure that these children are cared for, provided with educational, health, and spiritual opportunities they would not otherwise have. Sponsors give monthly donations to improve the life of the child they choose to sponsor, and the sponsors and children can exchange letters. The funds received, as well as the ministry fulfilled by the Nazarene Church in the areas where the children live, work together to ensure that the children and their families prosper. You can find out more about child sponsorship at <http://cs.ncm.org/>.

2. Child Development—Closely connected to child sponsorships, NCM’s child development plan exists to

provide educational and spiritual growth opportunities for children around the world. Funds are used to provide food, education, health care and disease prevention, advocacy, and discipleship activities.

3. Madagascar Street Kids Center—This NCM center exists to provide a safe environment for street children

to be fed, clothed, educated, and nurtured into a relationship with Jesus Christ. The center provides hot meals every day for 340 children. Clothing is distributed twice a year to participating children. The center offers education to bring children to an educational level that will enable them to enter school. Dedicated Christian workers provide Bible lessons, chapel services, and relational evangelism to introduce the children and their families to Christ. The center also provides vocational training in woodwork, sewing, and computer operation for those who are too old to enter the educational system. To learn more, go to <http://www.ncm.org/projects/acm1267>.

Do Something that Matters. (Get involved!) Be Informed Many churches in the United States are responding by raising awareness of the issue of child labor. The more we know and the more people who know, the greater the possibility exists that nations and governments will do something about child trafficking. Engage <http://www.engagemagazine.com> is the global mission magazine of the Church of the Nazarene. By reading Engage you can learn more about what is going on around the world through Nazarenes who are living missionally for Christ. You can follow them on Twitter or Facebook or sign up to receive e-mail updates. Being aware of what is happening is a great way to assess the needs felt around the world and to be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading as to how you can help.

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Pray During your time together as a group, focus in on these prayers. Pray for increased awareness in your community and your nation about the issue of child trafficking. Pray for children around the world who must work so their families can live. Pray that the global Church will

continue to grow, providing these families with education and financial opportunities to improve the lives of these children and their families.

Pray for families in desperate financial situations who are tempted to give up their children for what they think are better lives. Pray that God would help them to know that these “opportunities” are really traps for their children.

Pray for those who force children to work against their will—both in the labor and sex industries. Pray that God will change their hearts and free the children they have enslaved.

Pray for law enforcement officials and other government officials who must face this issue. Pray for pastors and mission leaders around the world who are trying to provide safe and positive

environments for children. Donate You can review the projects at <http://www.ncm.org/projects/> to find ministries for children to which you can contribute. Or go to <http://www.ncm.org/> and select “Child Development” on the “Give” tab to find children you or your church can support. Work together as a church, small group, or family to raise money to support one of these ministries. Volunteer 1. Go on a short- or long-term mission trip that focuses on improving the lives and opportunities of children. For

instance, sign up as a church or group to go on a Work & Witness trip to build a child development center. You can research ministry opportunities at <http://www.workandwitness.org/projects>.

2. One of the best ways to address the issue of child trafficking and child labor is to raise awareness. As is the case with many who live in need, people don’t care because they don’t know. Christians can make an impact by letting friends and neighbors know of the seriousness of this issue. But how do we address it with others? Work through your local church to sponsor events and seminars that provide information and raise awareness. Invite law enforcement officials in your area who have experience with this problem to make a presentation to your group. Look for documentaries that would be appropriate to show. Set up displays. Check out the following resources for additional ideas:

<http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_childlabour.html> <http://www.anti-slaverysociety.addr.com>

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Information Sheet

Child Labor

A STORY Gafur, an eight-year-old from a village in India, was a happy little boy even though his family was poor. He enjoyed playing with his friends and tolerated his chores just like any other boy. But a stranger convinced his parents to let him work in the city to earn extra money. Like many other children, Gafur found himself a victim of child slavery, working 12 hours a day in a carpet factory. His parents never saw him again.

RECITE TOGETHER (as directed) Proverbs 29:7—“The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.” Proverbs 17:6—“Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.” Mark 9:37—“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever

welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” Psalm 72:4—“He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will

crush the oppressor.” Isaiah 1:17—“Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the

fatherless...” Isaiah 56:1—“Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness

will soon be revealed.”

LEARN THE FACTS According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), 73 million children between the ages of 10 and 14

are employed in economic activities all over the world. In Sub-Saharan Africa around one in three children is engaged in child labor, representing 69 million

children. In South Asia, another 44 million are engaged in child labor. Children living in the poorest households and in rural areas are most likely to be engaged in child labor.

Those burdened with household chores are overwhelmingly girls.

BE INFORMED Learn more about child labor and how to stop it. You can find good information and resources at the following sites: <http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_childlabour.html> <http://www.childlabor.in>

GET INVOLVED Find local agencies or ministries for which you can volunteer. Sponsor a child through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM). NCM partners with existing Nazarene

congregations and ministries around the world to ensure that children living in dire financial circumstances are cared for and provided with educational, health, and spiritual opportunities they would not have without the Church’s help. You can find out more about child sponsorship at <http://cs.ncm.org/>.

PRAY Pray for increased awareness in your community and your nation about the issue of child trafficking. Pray for law enforcement officials and other government officials who must face this issue. Pray for pastors and mission leaders around the world who are trying to provide safe and positive

environments for children.

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Living Mission CAUSE: Clean Water Why Nazarene Organizations? There is certainly no shortage of nonprofit organizations around the globe. Whether the concern is clean water in Africa, disaster relief in Haiti, or child soldiers in Uganda, one can easily be overwhelmed by the number of organizations that want our funds to effect change. Perhaps that’s not a negative, but it certainly makes choosing an organization difficult. Since its creation, the Church of the Nazarene has been concerned about the holistic transformation of people through Jesus Christ. We believe as Christians we are charged not only to preach the Gospel message to those who don’t know Christ, but also to care for the immediate physical needs of those around the world. Like Jesus, we must care for those who the world considers the “least of these.” So what makes the Church of the Nazarene different? Through its network of local congregations, the denomination is very intentional about Kingdom work. Currently operating in 156 world areas, the leadership in each world area listens to the people to determine what ministries are needed in their own area, making the Church an organic organization. Because the Church of the Nazarene is so active and present around the world, whenever a natural disaster occurs—such as the Haiti earthquake—local Nazarene congregations are not only already present in that area but are some of the first to respond. Through Nazarene efforts, the “least of these” are cared for. More than that, the Church of the Nazarene—and the kingdom of God—adds new believers each day, those who have seen Christ because of the physical care they have received. As the ministry organization that mobilizes the Church of the Nazarene for compassion, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) partners with local Nazarene congregations around the world to clothe, shelter, feed, heal, educate, and live in solidarity with those who suffer under oppression, injustice, violence, poverty, hunger, and disease. NCM exists in and through the Church of the Nazarene to proclaim the Gospel to all people in word and deed. As a result, NCM is the global Nazarene church’s ministry arm that works to provide clean water for those who do not have access to it. Preparation Before you speak to the church about this CAUSE for the first time, ask your pastor if you can announce the campaign in the bulletin a week or two before it begins or, if the members of your congregation have e-mail, send a message to let people know. Following is an idea for what you might include in the bulletin or in an e-mail:

Clean water. Most of us take it for granted, but clean water is a basic necessity to which one billion people around the world do not have access. Join us as we learn about ways to bring clean water to people around the world.

Presentation Week 1: Why Water? Ask those in the audience to close their eyes. Then say, “Take a moment and try to imagine sending your children to a school that does not have water. What would they drink? How would they wash their hands? How much more quickly would illness spread from child to child? Now imagine seeking help at a clinic that does not have clean water. How would the medical instruments and the patient waiting areas get cleaned? How might the medical staff wash their hands between patients?” Ask the audient to open their eyes and say the following,

Like so many things, access to clean water is something we don’t tend to spend time thinking about—until we find ourselves without it. The lack of safe, clean water doesn’t just make daily chores, such as washing dishes and clothes, more difficult. It makes living difficult. Where there is no clean water, people must choose between being thirsty and drinking dirty water, between not bathing and bathing in unsanitary water that is likely to make them sick, and sometimes the same water used by their livestock.

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As Christians, we desire to spread the Gospel to those who don’t know our Lord. This includes showing God’s love through taking responsibility to physically care those who suffer. Perhaps no need is more immediate, more life-threatening, than the need for clean water.

Tell your group that over the next nine weeks you will be learning together about the need for clean water, then tell the following story.

Like so many people around the world, the people of Ndvwabangeni (dwa-bahn-GEH-nee), Swaziland, did not have clean water at their school, their clinic, even their church. Without access to clean water, people were forced to bathe in and drink from the same water source as donkeys. Under these conditions, disease spreads quickly, affecting the lives of children immensely. Sick children frequently fall behind in their educations and are sometimes unable to continue attending school at all. This lack of education only contributes to the problems of a country as uneducated children grow into uneducated adults. To make matters worse, a poor electrical system creates a situation in which any small disturbance in the electric power stops the functioning of electric pump wells for weeks, months, years, or sometimes permanently. Currently 60 percent of electrical-based rural water systems are dysfunctional. What better way to power a well than with a power source that can be expected to work every day? NCM is combining its efforts in this part of the world with the Coca-Cola Foundation and Rain Water for Africa to harness the power of the sun to power life-sustaining water for the people of Ndvwabangeni, Swaziland.

What Can We Do? 1. Discuss this CAUSE with the pastor and mission leaders in your church, stating the need and asking if you

have their permission to present it to the entire congregation. If there is hesitancy, ask if you may present it to a small group within the church.

2. Talk to your group about how your church can get involved. Say the following, “There is still so much to be done, so many people who need life-giving water. Today, nearly one billion people do not have access to clean water. We hope you’ll join us as we continue to learn what our church can do to change this number as we act as the hands and feet of Jesus.”

3. Ask the church to begin praying for this CAUSE. Consider holding a regular prayer meeting during this initiative to lift up the people affected by the problems of dirty water, and pray for the equipment used to bring clean water to the people.

4. Set a monetary goal for your group to raise and announce this goal to the group. Let them know that next week you will be talking about ways your church family can be in prayer and raise money for Nazarene Compassionate Ministries’ global Clean Water efforts.

Close the session by praying that God will lead all of you to remember the people around the world who do not have access to clean water. Pray also that God will impress on your hearts and minds ways your church can get involved in Clean Water initiatives. What Do You Do Now? ‘DID YOU KNOW?’ ANNOUNCEMENT—“The Church of the Nazarene, through Nazarene Compassionate

Ministries, is already actively working to provide clean water to those who desperately need it.” PRAYER FOCUS—Continue to pray this week about how you can get involved in Clean Water initiatives and

be a voice for those who are often forgotten. ACTION ITEM—Go to <http://www.ncm.org/projects> to see what Nazarene Compassionate Ministries is

doing around the world to provide clean water to those who need it. Week 2: Clean Water Initiative Below are some ideas for how your church can get involved in the Clean Water initiative. Choose one or more of these ideas to briefly mention to the church or brainstorm and present any of your own ideas. Then get started.

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1. If you regularly buy bottled water, buy a reusable water bottle, fill it at your kitchen sink, and keep track of the money you would have spent on bottled water. Donate that money to a Clean Water initiative.

2. Love running? Organize a community 5k race with others in your church or small group. Put the information on the church Web site, in the church bulletin and at local coffee shops and fitness centers. Be sure to inform participants that all proceeds go to the Clean Water initiative.

3. Is someone in your church great at graphic design? Ask him or her to design Clean Water T-shirts and sell them. Donate the proceeds.

4. Organize a church pancake breakfast or spaghetti dinner. Encourage those who attend your church regularly to invite people from the community and also bring their own friends and family. Donate all proceeds.

5. Plan a churchwide garage and bake sale and/or car wash. Allow enough time for church members to bring in their items. Donate the proceeds.

6. If you’re presenting this lesson during the Christmas season, ask those in your church to consider spending 50 percent less on Christmas gifts and donating the 50 percent saved to a Clean Water initiative.

What Do You Do Now? ‘DID YOU KNOW?’ ANNOUNCEMENT—“Often, digging a well is the easiest part of a water initiative. Preparation

must be done before the well is installed, including selecting the appropriate materials based on the makeup of the land and offering safe use and good hygiene seminars for community members. Plans must also be put in place to make the well a sustainable solution.”

PRAYER FOCUS—Pray for those around the world who are planning to install wells in communities that need them. Pray that they will work hard to create sustainable solutions and conduct the necessary training to keep the community members safe.

Week 3: Children Need Clean Water Tell the group that the responsibility of walking to collect water generally falls on women and children. This means that children who must walk to retrieve water are unable to go to school, to play with other children. Remind the group of the ways you’ve chosen to raise money for the Clean Water initiative. Be sure to request volunteers if you need help to make an event or fundraiser happen. Depending on what event(s) you’ve decided to do, place sign-up sheets or informative handouts at the display area. What Do You Do Now? ‘DID YOU KNOW?’ ANNOUNCEMENT—“Just [insert the monetary equivalent of US$1.00] provides clean water

for 1 person for 1 year in Haiti.” PRAYER FOCUS—Pray for the children around the world who do not have clean water. Pray that they might

be able to get an education. Pray for their safety as they travel on paths and roads and through desert and woods to collect water for their families.

ACTION ITEM—Give to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) initiatives focusing on providing clean water to those who desperately need it. You can find information on NCM water projects by going to <http://www.ncm.org/projects/> and entering the keyword “water” in the search box on the left side of the page.

Week 4: A Day Without Water Encourage people in your group to try to spend an entire day without using water for anything. Every time you think of using water to accomplish a task, take a moment to pray for those around the world who don’t have access to clean water and for those who are trying to help provide it. Week 5: Healing Waters Ask if anyone who tried it would be willing to share about his or her day without water. Let people take turns sharing their experiences. Tell the following story to your group:

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On January 12, 2010, an earthquake devastated Haiti, instantly taking away the homes, livelihoods, and loved ones of thousands of Haitians. The clean water situation in Haiti was bleak before the earthquake, and it grew worse after the earth shifted, buildings crumbled, and areas flooded. Communities of displaced people have developed in areas that were once public squares or parks. These communities are called Internally Displaced Person (IDP) Camps. Each day, individuals at the camp wait in line for hours to receive one bottle of water. One bottle to use for drinking, bathing, and cooking for that day! The next day, they must again wake up and walk to the IDP Camp and stand in line for a single bottle of water. Whether standing in line at an IDP Camp to receive a single bottle of water or walking miles (kilometers) to gather dirty drinking water, the people of Haiti are struggling to simply survive. Haiti Water Project, through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, is working with local Nazarene churches to provide the people of Haiti with sustainable resources for clean, safe drinking water by building wells or cisterns (artificial reservoirs for storing water). Each well costs approximately US$5,000.

Close by praying for the people of Haiti who do not have access to clean water to fulfill their daily needs. Pray also for people in the church and missionaries in Haiti. What Do You Do Now? ‘DID YOU KNOW?’ ANNOUNCEMENT—“Once Nazarene Compassionate Ministries receives donations for the

Haiti Water Project, church leaders in Haiti determine which churches have the most immediate needs. From there, NCM contracts with an engineering organization in Haiti. The entire process, from receiving funds to building a well or cistern can take anywhere from several weeks to six months.”

(Haiti Water Project <http://www.haitiwaterproject.com/faqs/>—accessed October 12, 2010)

PRAYER FOCUS—Pray for the Nazarene church leaders in Haiti. Pray that God will sustain them as they serve people facing tragedy and difficult circumstances that are unimaginable. Pray that they will continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus for a struggling people.

ACTION ITEM—Go to <http://www.haitiwaterproject.com/> to learn more about what Haiti Water Project does and how you can get involved.

Week 6: How Much Water Do I Use? Ask group members to use the calculator found at http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/sq3.html to determine their daily water consumption and how they might choose to change some of their water usage habits. Then give a brief update on what’s going on in the church community to contribute to this cause. What Do You Do Now? ‘DID YOU KNOW?’ ANNOUNCEMENT—“In Haiti, where 90 percent of the people do not have clean water in

their homes, one well in a community can serve as many as 4,000 individuals. Installing one well at each of 500 local churches in Haiti would mean safe water for one million people.”

PRAYER FOCUS—Continue to pray for the church’s Clean Water Campaign. Week 7: Success in Marigot Tell the following story to your group:

When temporary water solutions failed in Marigot, Haiti, women and children were walking two hours for one bucket of water. The future looked dim. But clean water changed the picture. Now that Marigot has a well with clean, safe water, they have that time to spend on other things…important things, like laughter, like education, like life. Serious Problem. Simple Solution.

Pray for the people of Marigot. Pray that their well will continue to function properly and that God will help them to use the life-giving water to allow the children and women of the village to spend their time living, rather than surviving.

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Week 8: Contribution Update Update your group on the funds raised so far, ways that people have contributed to raising the funds, and ways to continue to pray for the CAUSE. Announce that there will be a celebration dinner for the community the next week after the service. Everyone who attends will be asked to contribute toward the dinner and make a small donation. (You can set a price or ask people to give what they feel led to contribute.) The funds will be added to the amount already given for the water project your church has chosen to support. What Do You Do Now? ‘DID YOU KNOW?’ ANNOUNCEMENT—“Reminder: Next week is the last Sunday of the Clean Water

Campaign! We will have a celebration meal after church.” (Include any additional information about the celebration that you would like the church to know.)

Week 9: Celebration Sunday Tell the following story to your group:

Pueblo Viejo, Dominican Republic A five-gallon bottle of water costs US$1.09 in Pueblo Viejo, Dominican Republic. Unfortunately, most people couldn’t afford this and were forced to use dirty water for drinking and bathing, straining out the bits of rock, dirt, and an occasional dead animal. All the roads were made of dirt, creating a source for mosquitoes to multiply. The dire situation of the poor was evident because of the difference between their lives and the lives of the rich in the community. Basically, the rich had clean water; the poor had to make do with what they could get for free. An aqueduct and paved roads have been the solution for this community. An aqueduct is a system of underground pipes that pulls water from an underground spring up to surface so people will have access to the water. The paved roads keep puddles from forming in the dips and crevices of a dirt road, preventing mosquitoes from multiplying. The church community in Pueblo Viejo formed an organization to work with the community to raise money for an aqueduct and road. And with the money left over, the church chose to build a water filter system and a small store where they could sell five-gallon buckets of water for less than half of the purchase price at other locations.

(Beth Luthye, “Water for the Thirsty,” NCM Magazine, Winter 2010: 6-8.) Talk to your group about how, because of your church’s efforts, NCM will be able to use funds you are sending to make more successes like this possible. Tell the group the total amount of money raised and the time that has been spent in prayer and work toward your group’s goal. Allow people to share about what the CAUSE has meant in their lives. Ask the group to pray about making the Clean Water events annual fundraisers. Remember: one billion people still need help to make this life-giving necessity a reality in their villages and cities. After the service, host a celebration dinner as described and add the amount you collect to your donation to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. Resources 1. Haiti Water Project,. <http://www.haitiwaterproject.com/faqs/>, (accessed October 12, 2010). 2. Luthye, Beth, “Water for the Thirsty,” NCM Magazine, Winter 2010: 6-8.

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Living Mission CAUSE: JESUS Film Why Nazarene Organizations? There certainly is no shortage of nonprofit organizations around the globe. Whether the concern is clean water in Africa, disaster relief in Haiti, or child soldiers in Uganda, one can easily be overwhelmed by the number of organizations that want our funds in order to effect change. Perhaps that’s not a negative, but it certainly makes choosing an organization difficult. Since its creation, the Church of the Nazarene has been concerned about the holistic transformation of people through Jesus Christ. We believe as Christians we are charged not only to preach the Gospel message to those who don’t know Christ but also to care for the immediate physical needs of those around the world in need. So what makes the Church of the Nazarene different? Through its network of local congregations, the denomination is very intentional about Kingdom work. Currently operating in 156 world areas, the leadership in each world area listens to the people to determine what ministries are needed in their own area, making the Church an organic organization. Because the Church of the Nazarene is so active and present around the world, whenever a natural disaster occurs—such as the Haiti earthquake—local Nazarene congregations are not only already present in that area, but are some of the first to respond on the ground. The Church of the Nazarene—and the kingdom of God—adds to its numbers each day, creating new believers who have seen Christ because of the physical care they have received. Preparation Discuss this CAUSE with the pastor and mission leaders in your church, stating the need and asking if you have their permission to present it to the entire congregation. If there is hesitancy, ask if you may present it to a small group within the church. Set a goal for your church to financially partner with the JESUS Film Harvest Partners ministry. Possible ideas include: Funding a $6,000 set of equipment. Taking a ministry trip to deliver a set of equipment. Funding a JESUS Film Harvest Partners team for one year ($15,000). Signing up to be a Harvest 120 sponsor ($30 a month). You can find more information about how to donate, as well as other opportunities for donation, at <http://www.jfhp.org/donate/index.cfm>. Presentation Week 1: Why JESUS Film Harvest Partners? Tell a story—or have someone else relate one—about a time you encountered something you had never seen before. Perhaps it was a kind of food, a cultural custom, or an item of technology. Talk about what you imagined this thing to be like. What did you expect the food to taste like? What was the technological device used for? Follow up this story by asking people to name all the ways we take in information visually in an average day. Examples include billboards, movies, newspapers, television, and computers, among other things. Discuss the fact that images are the universal language of humanity, but seldom are we impressed by them. Instead, we expect them. We take them for granted. Say,

Imagine this scenario: you’ve never seen a movie. Perhaps you’ve never even been introduced to the concept of movies. Not only that, but you’ve never seen a Bible. You have never been taught to read. Under these circumstances, imagine a group of people coming to your town. They set up an elaborate contraption. Curious, you and others from your town, gather to see what the people are doing.

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Hours later, you are all still there, anticipating what will happen next. Finally, they step back. Whatever they have built appears to be ready. Then, in front of you, somehow coming from this contraption, are moving, talking images on a screen. You hear the name Jesus, see the man who must be called by that name. You watch—and finish—the first movie you’ve ever seen. In a culture in which we read continually, it might surprise you to know that one-half to two-thirds of the world’s population does not read, cannot read, or will not read. The JESUS Film exists to be used in preliterate societies like this. For people around the world who neither read nor have even a basic knowledge of Jesus Christ, the JESUS Film brings them knowledge of Christ’s saving grace in their own language through visual means.

Share the following information on JESUS Film Harvest Partners with your group.

Why JESUS Film Harvest Partners? Produced by Campus Crusade for Christ in 1978, the JESUS Film has been translated into more than 1,000 languages, allowing people to not only see Jesus, but also to hear Him speak in their language. Campus Crusade experienced great success with many people making decisions for Christ. However, the organization lacked the structure to disciple new believers, so they asked for help from the Church of the Nazarene. In 1997, this partnership between Campus Crusade for Christ and the Church of the Nazarene to show the JESUS Film was born. Through JESUS Film Harvest Partners (JFHP), the Nazarene Church now provides the leadership and workers around the world to show the film, disciple new believers, and start new churches. Utilizing the Church’s existing presence in countries around the globe, millions of people who knew nothing about Christ have decided to follow Jesus, and thousands of new Nazarene preaching points have been established globally. Many other organizations have “JESUS Film” in their names and use the tool, but JESUS Film Harvest Partners is using the film with missionaries and nationals in more than 150 countries. As new believers choose Christ, new Nazarene preaching points, then churches, develop around the globe, changing communities into places of restoration.

Discussion Ask a few volunteers to tell the group something they learned today about JESUS Film Harvest Partners. Ask, “Why is immediate follow-up with and discipleship of new Christians so important?” Tell the group that over the next nine weeks, you will all learn more about the efforts of JESUS Film Harvest Partners and how you as a church can get involved in the work the global Church of the Nazarene is doing to share the Gospel around the world. Close the session by praying that God would lead all of you to remember the JESUS Film efforts this week. What Do You Do Now? ‘DID YOU KNOW?’ ANNOUNCEMENTS

o “JESUS Film Harvest Partners is the Nazarene ministry arm of the church using the JESUS Film for evangelism.”

o “If the name doesn’t say ‘Harvest Partners,’ another church or organization is funding the effort.” PRAYER FOCUS

o This week pray for the work in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. o Ask God to give the JESUS Film teams favor as they travel to various locations.

Week 2: JFHP Weekly Prayer and Praise Encourage people to sign up to receive the weekly JFHP Prayer & Praise e-mail at <http://www.jfhp.org/email/subscribe.cfm> if people in your church have e-mail capabilities. Read one of the prayer or praise reports from the most recent Prayer & Praise e-mail available at <http://www.jfhp.org/prayer/index.cfm>. If necessary ask someone to print this out.

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What Do You Do Now? ‘DID YOU KNOW?’ ANNOUNCEMENTS

o “Each region develops its own action plan for using the film to accomplish its local goals. JESUS Film Harvest Partners comes along side each region to help it achieve its goals.”

o “People hear the Gospel in their own language because the film is translated into more than 1,050 languages.”

PRAYER FOCUS o This week pray for the work in Cuba and Dominican Republic. o Pray for the new believers to grow strong in their walk with Christ.

ACTION ITEM—Read the Frequently Asked Questions about JESUS Film Harvest Partners at <http://www.jfhp.org/about/faqs.cfm>.

Week 3: JESUS Film Harvest Partners Teams Ask the group to discuss how you can work together to get involved in a tangible way with JESUS Film Harvest Partners. Review the following list with the group, and ask each person to begin praying about personal involvement. Encourage members of the group to spend some time on the JESUS Film Harvest Partners Web site <http://www.jfhp.org/>. Pray for the ministry. Give to win people to Jesus. Go on a JESUS Film ministry trip. Be a Harvest 120 sponsor. Tell others about the JESUS Film ministry. Volunteer. What Do You Do Now? ‘DID YOU KNOW?’ ANNOUNCEMENTS

o “JESUS Film Harvest Partners teams are made up of three to five nationals who take the JESUS Film in their own language to the people of their culture. The work is worldwide with more than 300 teams in more than 100 countries.”

o “Most teams work in a village or area for one month showing the JESUS Film, following up with viewers, training leaders, and helping set up preaching points to nurture new believers.”

PRAYER FOCUS o This week pray for the work in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru,

Uruguay, and Venezuela. o Pray for the Holy Spirit to go before each team to prepare the hearts of the people for the truth.

Week 4: JESUS Film Equipment Explain that a JESUS Film ministry trip is one way your church body can actively help national workers around the world to share God’s love with those who don’t know Him. A ministry trip is self-led by your local church, small group, class, or business. It is comprised of 7-10 people who join together to fund and deliver equipment directly to a JESUS Film team

of nationals who are committed to reaching their country for Christ. Trips include working hand-in-hand with a JESUS Film team on the field and may include helping with a

JESUS Film showing, equipment setup, distributing invitations, praying during the show, outreach, Vacation Bible School, compassionate ministries, etc.

Activities and needs vary by country. The equipment delivered on a ministry trip will reach thousands of people with the Gospel message. Ask people who are interested to talk with you after the service. Pray as a group about how God might desire for you to all work together to bring the Gospel to those who may have never heard it.

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What Do You Do Now? ‘DID YOU KNOW?’ ANNOUNCEMENTS

o The JESUS Film is one of the most effective evangelism tools in history. o The large equipment set weighs 225 pounds. o Equipment is delivered to JESUS Film teams by ministry trip groups from the U.S.A. and Canada. This

assures the equipment is placed in the hands of those who need it most. Your church, family, or group can fund an equipment set and deliver it to a priority world location on a ministry trip. To learn more, visit <http://www.jfhp.org/ministrytrips/index.cfm>.

PRAYER FOCUS o This week pray for the work in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. o Pray for God to open the eyes of people who worship many gods and goddesses. o Pray about helping deliver JESUS Film equipment to a team through a JESUS Film ministry trip.

ACTION ITEM—Learn about JESUS Film ministry trips at <http://www.jfhp.org/ministrytrips/index.cfm>. Week 5: Testimonies of Grace Preparation As you prepare for this lesson, ask people to read the following testimonies from around the world aloud to the group. Select as many or as few stories (shown in the “Presentation” section) as you like. Presentation Tell the group that in the Church of the Nazarene more than 10 million people have identified themselves as brothers and sisters in Christ because of the outreach of JESUS Film Harvest Partners. Following are some testimonies of real people whose lives have been changed by the showing of the film. If you are in a large gathering, ask the people who will read the testimonies to come to the front of the room to read aloud to the group. 1. My name is Luis, and this is my testimony. I am 30 years old, and my life used to revolve around pagan

religious parties and a lot of alcohol. My marriage was similar to that of my parents, with fights, alcohol, infidelity, poverty, lack of work, enemies, and so on. I felt like I was going crazy. One day, the pastor encouraged us to watch the JESUS Film. At the end of the film, the pastor invited people to come forward, and my family and I accepted Jesus. A year has now gone by, and everything, absolutely everything, has changed in our lives. Today we are serving the Lord. My children and my wife are happy. There is always work, and we have been able to influence my parents, uncles, and friends to accept Jesus as their Savior. We thank the Lord for helping us through the ministry of the JESUS Film. (Ecuador)

2. Charito and Victor saw the JESUS Film at the invitation of one of their neighbors. They are 70 years old and

have experienced a life of sadness, fighting, alcohol, witchcraft, and separation, although they lived under the same roof. Victor was the first to accept the Lord as his Savior. Victor told his pastor that his wife made his life impossible, and she had threatened him with more witchcraft if he did not leave the church. The pastor encouraged Victor to have faith in God. After church services, Victor and his pastor would spend time at the altar praying for Victor’s wife and children. One Sunday, Victor’s wife, Charito, came to church. The pastor spent some time with her and spoke to her about Jesus. She gave her heart to the Lord. Recently, Charito and Victor renewed their marriage vows in the church and have been faithful to God. They threw away all their pagan idols and witchcraft articles and have been happy since then. Their children are gradually coming to the church as well. (Ecuador)

3. Mama Brini was in spiritual warfare with the devil in her home. Mama is a woman of Christ. Her two children

had been possessed by demons that caused them to be dumb and abnormal. Mama Brini was distraught and felt hopeless. When a team came to her area to show the JESUS Film, she quickly sought the team to join with her in prayer. The team prayed with Mama Brini; and through her faith in Jesus, when she returned home she found her children freed from the demons. The next day she brought her children as a testimony to God’s power and grace. (Kenya)

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4. Mr. Samson was well known by the people of the village as a devil worshipper. This 45-year-old man was not happy when he heard that the JESUS Film was coming to the area. At the first showing, he was very stubborn, yelling bad words at the team and the people attending the film. On the third day of watching the film, when Mr. Samson saw how Jesus was crucified on the cross, he cried to the Lord for forgiveness and surrendered his life to Jesus. He said that he had been misleading people when he said, “There is no God.” Mr. Samson said, “But today I want to tell you that I accepted the Lord Jesus as my personal Savior. I have done wrong things that need to be forgiven.” When the team left that place, Mr. Samson was a member of the church. He has denounced all secrets of devil worship. He also invited his friends to join and surrender themselves to the Lord Jesus. The family and community were very happy when they witnessed what took place in that area. (Kenya)

5. My name is Iqbal. I am 50 years old. I have been a bad man. I have lived a bad life and never thought I

would change. But I am thankful to God who granted me an opportunity to change myself. One day, the team showed the JESUS Film in our village. I was interested in watching the miracles of Jesus. I saw that one disciple of Jesus, named Peter, was going to sink, but he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” and Jesus saved him. At that moment, I felt I was also sinking in sin and, if I did not call out to Jesus to save me, I would die. I repented of my sins and confessed my sins to a team member. When I did, I felt peace in my heart. I decided to be baptized. (Pakistan)

6. Mr. Elijah was planning to leave his wife and marry the schoolgirl he was dating. But he passed by a JESUS

Film showing and was touched by the Word of God. He gave his life to the Lord, and all desires to leave his wife have vanished. He loves his wife and children very much and is praising God for this realization. (Zambia)

Close by praying for the believers around the world who have come to know Christ through the efforts of JESUS Film Harvest Partners. Pray especially for believers who are persecuted because of their faith. What Do You Do Now? ‘DID YOU KNOW?’ ANNOUNCEMENT—JESUS Film Harvest Partners works with more than a dozen other

ministry entities to share God’s love with those who don’t know Him. Several partners supply orality tools for follow-up with new believers such as the EvangeCube TM, Bible Story Cloths, the Proclaimer, and the evangelism soccer ball. To learn more, visit <http://www.jfhp.org/resources/index.cfm>.

PRAYER FOCUS o This week pray for the work in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, and

Democratic Republic of Congo. o Pray for the teams to be strong in the Lord.

ACTION ITEM—Check out the current progress results at <http://www.jfhp.org/progress/index.cfm>. Week 6: Our Commitment to Give Remind your group or church about your collective commitment to provide needed funds or tools for JFHP. If you’d like, provide an update on what funds have already been given and any commitments small groups have made, such as commitments for teams to deliver equipment. What Do You Do Now? ‘DID YOU KNOW?’ ANNOUNCEMENTS

o Historical averages indicate for each US$3 [convert to your country’s currency] gift to JFHP one more person meets Christ.

o JFHP is able to work so efficiently because the Church of the Nazarene’s World Evangelism Fund (WEF) supports the infrastructure on the field that JFHP utilizes.

PRAYER FOCUS o This week pray for the work in Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, and Mozambique. o Pray for God to touch the hearts of people in these areas who have not yet heard the name of Jesus.

ACTION ITEM—Help share God’s love with those who do not know Him by making an online gift at <http://www.jfhp.org/donate/index.cfm>.

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Week 7: Showers of Blessings What Do You Do Now? ‘DID YOU KNOW?’ ANNOUNCEMENTS

o Individuals around the U.S.A. volunteer for JESUS Film Harvest Partners by serving as Ambassadors. To learn more, call 913-663-5700.

o The JESUS Film is considered the most effective evangelism tool in history. PRAYER FOCUS

o This week pray for the work in Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of South Africa, and Rwanda. o Pray about your personal involvement in the ministry of JESUS Film Harvest Partners.

ACTION ITEM—Check out the “Get Involved” section of the JFHP Web site at <http://www.jfhp.org/getinvolved/index.cfm>.

Week 8: Planning for Celebration Announce that next week will be Celebration Sunday and will be a time to celebrate the church’s efforts to partner with JESUS Film Harvest Partners. One possible option for the celebration is to have an international-themed potluck meal to celebrate JFHP’s global efforts after your church service next Sunday. At the potluck, you could also announce the amount the church has raised and encourage those attending to dig deep to reach your goal. What Do You Do Now? ‘DID YOU KNOW?’ ANNOUNCEMENTS

o More than 24,000 Nazarene preaching points are the result of JFHP teams. o JFHP is involved in evangelism, discipleship, church development, leadership training, and pastoral

education. PRAYER FOCUS

o This week pray for the work in Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

o Pray for the pastors who are leading new preaching points. Week 9: Celebration Sunday Discussion This week is the perfect time for members of the group to share what God has done in their hearts through this CAUSE campaign. Ask volunteers from the group to tell about how they have felt God challenging and leading them to be a part of the JESUS Film Harvest Partners ministry. Has an individual or a group in the church become involved—through fundraising efforts, for example—in a unique way? Has anyone committed to taking a trip to deliver equipment? This week, highlight and celebrate your church’s efforts. Announce the church potluck and encourage everyone to celebrate. Also, take the opportunity to thank everyone for their involvement. What Do You Do Now? ‘DID YOU KNOW?’ ANNOUNCEMENT—Share the number of people who signed up to receive the JFHP weekly

Prayer & Praise e-mail. Also share your target goal for the number of people signing up. PRAYER FOCUS

o Pray for the staff of JESUS Film Harvest Partners and the teams as they share God’s love with those who do not know Christ.

o Pray for those people who are traveling on a JFHP ministry trip.

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CHILDREN’S CURRICULUM

LESSON 1: AFRICA

PURPOSE To help children understand that Africa is a diverse continent with many young people who have needs similar to their own.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Fast Facts Africa is the second largest continent in the world with more than 50 countries. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and always has snow on its peak. The Sahara Desert is the largest in the world, and it is expanding southward at an average of one-half mile

(.8 kilometer) a month. Four of the five fastest animals in the world live in Africa: The cheetah, wildebeest (gnu), lion, and

Thompson’s gazelle. There is a thriving penguin colony on the west coast of South Africa. The African elephant is the largest land mammal in the world and can actually turn the pages of a book with

its trunk.

LESSON PRESENTATION

Introduction To set up the room, display magazines, books, and posters to show the diversity of Africa. Include rural, modern, and traditional scenes. Decorate with African-looking fabrics, paper, and baskets. Set up a canopy or tent to represent a thatch-roof hut. Have children sit on woven mats. Consider a safari theme. Use animal-print plates and napkins for snacks. Play African music. Note: Tigers and bears are not native to Africa. The focus of this lesson is an overview of Africa that provides glimpses into its culture and how the Gospel affects the children who live there. Emphasize the scripture: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life…” (John 8:12, NIV). When children think of Africa, they may think only of animals and a primitive culture. It is important to help children understand the modern aspects of Africa as well. While tragedies in Africa may make sensational news reports, the common, human stories of the African people also should be told. This lesson provides a foundation on which we will build. Each lesson will give a snapshot view of a vastly different and ever-changing continent. Africa is a land of contrasts and similarities. It is a place where God’s plan of salvation is taking away the darkness and despair as Christians share the Gospel of hope through Jesus Christ. Ask, What do you think of when you hear the name Africa? Encourage everyone to participate. Record all of the children’s responses, regardless of whether they are correct. After the children have shared their thoughts about Africa read the Fast Facts found in the first part of this lesson. Tell children they will learn many more interesting and surprising facts about Africa during the year. Display a world map and discuss the location of Africa. Ask volunteers to tell how many miles (kilometers) in Africa they think it is from north to south and east to west. Say, Africa is about 5,000 miles (8,047 kilometers) from north to south and about 4,700 miles (7,564 kilometers) from east to west at the furthest points. It is the second largest continent in the world with nearly 12 million square miles (19,312,128 square kilometers). Compare the size of your country to this.

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MISSION STORY: Light Shines on Happiness and Blessing by Marilyn Willis Grider

Through the following interview, learn about the daily lives of two African children. INTERVIEWER: More than half of the people who live in Africa are children under the age of 15. Today you will

meet two children who will help you learn about life in Africa. Their daily routines are often different from yours.

BLESSING: Hi. African parents love their children very much, and they give them names to show their importance to the family. My parents felt so blessed to have a son, they named me Blessing. I live with my family in a village. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins live nearby. It’s helpful to have a large family, because there are many chores.

My cousins and I take the family’s cows and goats to graze during the day. We don’t go to school. There’s no school close nearby, and there’s too much work to do. We like our job, though. We play games while the animals are eating. Yet, we have to watch the animals so they don’t wander away or get stolen.

We also have to watch for wild animals. One of the girls barely escaped from a hippo last year when she was getting water from the river. That was really scary!

HAPPINESS: Hi. My family was so happy when I was born, they called me Happiness. We live in a town. Although children don’t have to go to school, I do. It’s a privilege to attend school. The school is expensive, and students must study very hard.

I work hard at home too. I take care of the younger children, help to prepare meals, work in the vegetable garden, and boil the water to make sure it is safe to drink. But I also enjoy playing with my friends and singing in the choir at church.

INTERVIEWER: Blessing and Happiness live in different places, and their daily activities are different. But they have some things in common. They fear the dark. Blessing, tell us why you are afraid of the dark.

BLESSING: Sometimes a cow or a goat will wander off. Before we can find the cow or goat, it may become dark. It’s easy to get lost in the dark. And, there may be a wild animal or a thief. (He shudders.) I’m always glad to see the fire by our hut.

HAPPINESS: Blessing is right. It’s scary to be alone in the dark. I used to be afraid of the dark, but my grandmother told me an African story about Jesus and the light. Now I’m not as afraid of the dark anymore.

BLESSING: Oh, please tell me that story. HAPPINESS: My grandmother told me every person is born with something like a candle inside of them, but it’s

not lit. All people must find a way to light the wick of their candle while they are alive. Then, after they die, they can see the light.

BLESSING: Yes, I’ve heard a story like that. HAPPINESS: My grandmother said the Bible tells us about a light we need. In John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the

light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” When we ask Jesus to forgive our sins, He takes away the darkness of sin and guilt and brings light and peace to our lives.

BLESSING: I see. When I have Jesus as my special Friend, I’m never alone in the dark. INTERVIEWER: That’s right. Of course, you still must be careful when you go places at night, but you don’t have to

be afraid of the dark. Jesus will be with you everywhere you go. STORY DISCUSSION Have children compare the lives of Blessing and Happiness to their own. Include school, church, chores, family, and fears. Discuss how the Gospel made a difference in the lives of the African children and how it can make a difference in their own lives. Invite two young teenagers to depict Blessing (a boy) and Happiness (a girl) and an adult to interview them. Ask these people to wear traditional African-style clothing, if possible. Say, John 8:12 tells us Jesus is the light of the world, and those who follow the light will not walk in darkness. One African saying goes: “If you face the light, the shadows are always behind you.” Today, we’re going to make a picture to remind us that when Jesus is in our lives, the shadows are behind us. Have children take turns casting a shadow by sitting on a chair located between a lamp and the wall. For each child, tape a piece of paper to the wall and draw an outline of the child’s head. Have the children decorate

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their pages. Encourage older children to add the scripture verse found in John 8:12. You will need large-sized white construction paper, a lamp, drawing pencil(s), crayons or markers, and Bibles. Make an African prayer journal to use with each of the lessons on Africa. You will need: white construction paper (three-hole punched; 12 per child), yarn cut in 12” pieces (3 per child), scissors, glue, crayons or markers. Make copies of a map of Africa. Distribute construction paper, yarn, and the Africa map patterns to the children. Have each child color the map of Africa, cut it out, and glue it to a piece of white construction paper. Tell children to write the title, Africa, at the top to complete the cover page of their prayer journals. Give children the option of including John 8:12 on the bottom of the cover page. Show students how to place all 12 pages together, thread yarn through each of the holes, and tie each piece of yarn. Be sure to have students write their names on their journals. (Note: You could secure the papers by using paper fasteners instead of yarn.) Discuss ways students can add to their prayer journals if they take them home. Or explain how the journals will be used in class for all of the lessons on Africa. Give students the opportunity to pray for the children of Africa. Say, Let’s pray that the children of Africa will know about God’s love and about Jesus who died so they can be forgiven of their sins. Distribute Activity Sheet 1, “The Many Faces of Africa.” Give children several minutes to locate and circle all the faces of Blessing (boy) and Happiness (girl). Or, have the boys look for Blessing and the girls look for Happiness. Tell students they will find the two children wearing different clothing, depending on their location in the picture. Have students tell the number of times they find Blessing (answer: 5) and Happiness (answer: 5). Discuss the various scenes of Africa—the modern versus the traditional; the rural versus the urban; the animals, people, houses, and transportation. Compare the scenes with those where your students live. Let children color the many scenes of Africa.

PRAYER TIME Encourage children to use their prayer journals as a guide during prayer time. Let volunteers share prayer requests for the people of Africa. Suggested Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for helping people who have lived in spiritual darkness receive the light of the Gospel. We pray that the children of Africa will experience the light of salvation and then share the news about Jesus with others in Africa.

LESSON 2: CAPE VERDE

PURPOSE To help children understand that God calls people from other countries to serve as missionaries.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Fast Facts Cape Verde was the first country in Africa to have a Church of the Nazarene. Salt and fish are two important natural resources in Cape Verde. Cape Verde consists of 10 large and 8 small islands. The small islands are so tiny, they often do not appear

on maps. The Cape Verde islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles (644 kilometers) west of the

African mainland. There are active volcanoes on these islands. The main language of Cape Verde is Portuguese. The island of Brava is said to be shaped like a heart.

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LESSON PRESENTATION

Introduction Decorate the classroom with a fishing motif. Hang fishnet around the room, or use it to decorate a bulletin board. Add fish and shells. Use blue paper or fabric to create a makeshift lake. The focus of this lesson is the story of Eugénio [yew-JEEN-ee-oh] Duarte [dwahrt] and how God called him as a young African boy and then led him to become a missionary leader on the Africa Region and then a general superintendent. Use the following scripture: “‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men’” (Matthew 4:19, NIV). Eugénio Duarte, a Cape Verdean, became a Christian when he was a child. He received his call to preach when a missionary visited his home church. Eugénio prepared to serve God by attending a Bible college. He became a pastor, a missionary, a regional director, and eventually became a general superintendent. Eugénio often wondered why God called him, an African boy, to be a missionary, while most missionaries were sent only from Europe or America. Eugénio is a good example of how God guides children who are obedient to His call. Make six copies of a fish pattern. Write a Fast Fact (in Background Information) about Cape Verde on one side of each fish and place a magnet on the other side. Tie a piece of yarn to the end of a stick or dowel rod and attach a magnet to create fishing poles. Before the children arrive, place all the fish, fact side down, in the makeshift lake (created out of blue cloth or paper.) If magnets are not available, use paper clips on the fishing poles and have a leader stand behind a wall or curtain to attach the fish. In order for more children to participate: Separate some of the Fast Facts, make fish with duplicate facts, have children throw their fish back after they read the Fast Fact, or have some children catch the fish, but let others read the Fast Facts. Say, During this lesson, we’re going to learn about an island country of Africa. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles (644 kilometers) west of the African mainland. The country is called Cape Verde, which means “green cape.” Fishing is very important to the people in this country made up of islands. Today we’re going to “fish for facts” about Cape Verde. Demonstrate how children should use their fishing poles. After each fish is caught, let a child read aloud the Fast Fact. Say, Today our story tells about a fun way teachers take attendance in Cape Verde. We’re going to be like Cape Verdeans. When I call your name, recite one of your favorite memory verses. For example, if my name were called, instead of saying “here,” I would say, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, NIV). If you can’t think of a verse, you may say the title of your favorite song. Make sure children understand the directions before taking attendance. Ask a volunteer to demonstrate how to respond. You’ll need an attendance book. Write out favorite verses and place them on the walls. Encourage each child to say a different verse, let children suggest verses for others to say, or say them say their verses with a partner.

MISSION STORY: A Missionary from Africa by Marilyn Willis Grider

Say, Today we’re going to learn about Eugénio Duarte. When he was a young African boy in Cape Verde, he was obedient and said yes to God’s call to serve Him. “Eugénio, come on!” his sister called, running toward the beach. “What do you want?” he replied, as he threw his fishing net toward the water. “It’s time to go to Sunday School,” Madalena [mah-duh-LAY-nuh] told him. Several months ago, for the first time, she had taken Eugénio to Sunday School at Central Church of the Nazarene. He had enjoyed going, but he was often so busy playing with his friends that he forgot the time. “Is it time already? Thanks for calling me. I don’t want to be late,” Eugénio said. “Let’s go!” he called to his friends. “I have a great verse this week!” The boys brushed the sand off their clothes and headed for the church.

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Their teacher, Don [DOHN] Antonio, had a fun way of taking attendance each week. Instead of saying “here” when he called their names, the children responded with verses they had learned during the week. Eugénio could hardly wait for his turn. Finally, Don Antonio said, “Eugénio?” Eugénio replied, “‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men’” (Matthew 4:19). After roll call, Don Antonio asked Eugénio to tell why his verse was special to him. “It sounds like the verse was written especially for people who live in Cape Verde,” Eugénio explained. “We know all about fishing, just like the disciples. But Jesus called them to be fishers of men instead of fishers of fish. “We are like the disciples when we invite our friends to Sunday School and tell them about Jesus. Isn’t that what Jesus meant when He said to be fishers of men?” “That’s right, Eugénio,” his teacher replied. “Jesus wants us to tell other people about Him. That reminds me that I have exciting news to share with you. What do we call a person who goes to another country to tell others about God and His Son, Jesus?” Daniel waved his hand. “I know!” he exclaimed. “Tell us, Daniel,” Don Antonio said. “A missionary!” Daniel shouted. “That’s correct.” Don Antonio smiled. “Next week a missionary will visit our church. So invite your friends to come.” The following Sunday, the boys sat together and listened to the missionary. He explained how a person can ask God for forgiveness of sins. Eugénio felt miserable. He had never asked God to forgive his sins. Yet he felt God was calling him to preach the Good News to others. Although Eugénio was confused, he decided he did not need to understand everything to be saved. “I need to ask God to forgive my sins right now,” he thought. Eugénio prayed, and he became a Christian. However, he did not tell anyone about his call. He decided to wait until he understood what God wanted. It was many years before Eugénio understood his call. During those years, Eugénio served God in many ways. And God prepared him for what was to come. One day, as Eugénio prayed about becoming an engineer, he heard a voice saying, “I don’t want you to be an engineer. I want you to be a minister.” Eugénio listened and obeyed God. He enrolled in the Bible college to prepare for the ministry. Eventually, he became a pastor, a district superintendent, and later a missionary leader on the Africa Region. In 2009, he was the first general superintendent elected from outside the United States and Canada. STORY DISCUSSION Ask children if they have ever felt God was speaking to them. Discuss the response we should give when God wants us to do something that we don’t think we can do. Have children tell of ways they can serve God. Distribute Activity Sheet 2 to children for a game of Island Detectives. Point out the 10 Cape Verde islands identified only by a picture clue. Read the directions and review the list of island names. Ask volunteers to read the Bible verses. Help children find the key words, and discuss how they are used as clues. Have children match each island with its name, and then write the name of the island on the line beside it. Allow children to color their maps. Key Words 1. Boa Vista [BOH-uh-VEE-shtuh]. Answer—Fishing with a net at the beach. This is a common way of

fishing throughout the country. “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen” (Matthew 4:18).

2. Brava [BRAH-vuh]. Answer—Heart. Brava is said to be shaped like a heart. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34).

3. Fogo [FOH-goh]. Answer—Mountain. Mount Fogo is the highest point in Cape Verde. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7).

4. Maio [MY-yuh]. Answer—Seed. Corn is one of the most common foods grown in Cape Verde. “But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Matthew 13:23).

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5. Sal [SAHL]. Answer—Salt. Sal means salt, which is mined on the island. “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men” (Matthew 5:13).

6. Santo Antão [SAHN-tow AN-toung]. Answer—Fruit. Bananas are a fruit commonly grown in Cape Verde. “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:16).

7. Santa Luzia [SAHN-tuh LOO-zee-uh]. Answer—Light. Lighthouses are important fixtures on the islands. “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light” (Luke 8:16).

8. Santiago [sun-TEE-ah-goh]. Answer—Government. Praia [PREE-uh], the capital city of Cape Verde, is located on Santiago. “I urge you, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

PRAYER TIME

Ask the children to write “Cape Verde” on the first inside page of their prayer journals, and encourage them to decorate the page with a fish because so many Cape Verdeans earn their living by fishing. Then have them write one or two prayer requests for Cape Verde on the page. Ask volunteers to share prayer requests. Encourage each child to say a sentence prayer for missionaries like Eugénio Duarte. Ask students to pray that children in Cape Verde will learn about God’s plan of salvation and be obedient to His call.

LESSON 3: SWAZILAND

PURPOSE

To help students realize that God gives all children unique talents and abilities.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Fast Facts Summer in Swaziland lasts from October to February. English is the primary language of government and education. People stand close together when they talk. Personal privacy is not considered very important. Children wear uniforms with specific colors to represent their school. Using the left hand to eat, greet, or receive a gift is extremely rude. The traditional beehive hut found in Swaziland is made by bending bunched sticks to form a large dome and

then covering it with woven grass mats.

LESSON PRESENTATION

Introduction Create a school classroom setting by placing the chairs and tables in rows. Display educational posters (math, history, science, the alphabet, etc.) around the room. Or use poster board to create your own posters. Have a marker board or chalkboard available, or create one by hanging a large piece of black or green paper on the wall. Place a stack of firewood in a visible place. Some school children in Swaziland have to bring wood to school each week. The wood is used as a source of energy to cook lunch in the kitchen. Education is not taken for granted in Swaziland. The Church of the Nazarene operates many schools in order to educate and share the Gospel with children. The Swazi people understand education leads to a better

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life. Yet many children who are eligible do not attend school because it is not required, and it is not free. At schools started by the Church of the Nazarene, children learn how to read, write, and think, but they also hear the Gospel. Christian teachers help students realize that God created them as unique individuals. Scripture: “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139:13-14, NIV). Write “True” on one piece of the poster board and “False” on another piece. Label each half of the room by posting the “True” and “False” signs on the wall. Say, Today, I want to find out how much you know about Swaziland and its schools. When I read a statement, decide if the statement is true or false. If you think the statement is true, stand by the sign that says “True.” If you think the statement is false, stand by the sign that says “False.” Statements: 1. Swaziland is located in the southern part of Africa and is bordered by South Africa and Mozambique.

(TRUE) 2. Using the left hand to eat, greet, or receive a gift is extremely rude in Swaziland. (TRUE) 3. Summer in Swaziland lasts from June to August. (FALSE—It is from October to February.) 4. English is the primary language of government and education. (TRUE) 5. School children wear uniforms with specific colors to represent their schools. (TRUE) 6. Traditional huts in Swaziland are called beehive huts. (TRUE) 7. Most children live close to a school in Swaziland. (FALSE—Many children have to walk several miles

[kilometers] each day.) 8. Some schools require children to bring firewood to school each week. (TRUE—The wood is used for

cooking food in the school kitchen.) 9. Education is free is Swaziland. (FALSE) 10. People stand close together when they talk. (TRUE) Before class, hide the following school supplies: pencils, crayons, rulers, pencil sharpeners, erasers, paper clips, rubber bands, and small firewood logs. Say, School in Swaziland can be very different from your school. Many students must pay to attend school. Some families choose to pay with cabbages, eggs, chickens, squash, or corn. The food is used for lunches for the students and teachers. All Swazi schools require students to wear uniforms and learn English. And most schools allow students to sing Christian songs. While there are some differences, there are also some similarities. Swazi children take tests, walk to school, and have a spring break (usually in September or October). Swazi children also need school supplies. Many of these supplies are like the ones you use at school. Divide the class into teams. Tell them they have five minutes to find school supplies that are hidden in the room. When the five-minute timeframe is complete, let each group show what they found. If the class did not do the previous activity, explain the need for firewood as a school supply. Discuss other school supplies used by your students (computers, calculators, hole punch, stapler, scissors, markers, glue).

MISSION STORY: Sipho by Jo Doerr

Say, Today’s story tells how a young African boy sees himself for the first time as a unique creation of God on the outside, as well as the inside. It was still dark when Sipho [SEE-poe], a common Swazi name for a boy or man meaning “Gift,” rolled up his blanket and grass sleeping mat. He placed them next to the wall of the mud hut where he lived in Swaziland, a country in Africa. Sipho would have to hurry to arrive on time at Endzingeni [en-zing-AY-nee] Nazarene High School. The walk over mountain paths would take two hours. But Sipho loved going to school. He learned about being a Christian and how to serve Jesus.

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Two weeks ago, the missionary English teacher gave Sipho’s class a writing assignment—an essay about something important they had seen. But what Sipho saw in his small village was the same day after day. Women cooked mealies (cracked corn, a common food for Swazis), went to the river to get water, started cooking fires, and carried babies on their backs. Some men hunted with bows and arrows, and some men had jobs. In the evening, everyone gathered around village fires to discuss the events of the day. There was nothing important to write about. After days of praying and thinking, Sipho began to worry. His assignment was due in two days. On Saturday, everything changed. Sipho’s father had planned to walk to the bus stop and take the bus to Mbabane [em-buh-BAH-nay], the largest city in Swaziland. He had been saving money for almost a year to buy supplies for his family. The long journey would take an entire day. But on Saturday morning, Sipho’s father woke up feeling sick. To Sipho’s surprise, his father asked him to go to the city instead! Sipho gladly accepted the responsibility. After all, he was 18 years old and graduating from high school at the end of the year. Maybe along the way, he would see something to write about. If he was really fortunate, he might even see the king. Sipho’s father told him what to buy, reminded him to be careful, and gave him the money. When Sipho was ready, he walked down the long road to catch the bus. It was so crowded that some passengers had to stand. Sipho pushed his way down the aisle and stood alongside the others. The bus ride was so exciting and bumpy! Sipho saw tall, beautiful Swazi mountains, swift rivers, wild and domestic animals, cars, and lorries (trucks)! There were so many people. They were walking, working, playing, and riding bikes and motorcycles. “Maybe I can write an essay about these things,” Sipho thought. “No. I’ll keep looking for something more important.” Finally the bus reached the city of Mbabane. Instead of mud huts, there was street after street of shops full of good things for Swazi families. Sipho went from shop to shop purchasing the supplies and goods his family needed. “Can I write an essay about the shops?” Sipho wondered. “No. I’ll keep looking for something more important. Most Swazis know about these things.” Soon it was time to carry the heavy load of supplies back to the bus stop. Sadly, Sipho realized he had not found anything to write about. But he wanted to remember everything he had seen. As he turned to look at the city one last time, he saw a strange reflection in a shop window. The window was large, starting at sidewalk level and reaching to the top of the roof. The reflection was his own! Sipho’s family did not have glass windows or mirrors in their hut. For the first time in his life, he saw his full reflection from his shoes to the top of his head. He put his heavy load down on the sidewalk and turned from side to side. He looked at his reflection in the shop window for a long time. “I know what to write in my essay!” Sipho exclaimed. “I’ll write about myself.” Sipho felt proud. He was a Christian on the inside and a handsome Swazi man on the outside. Sipho described every detail about himself in his essay. He titled it “Sipho.” STORY DISCUSSION Say, Sipho wrote a story about something he saw that had a great impact on him. There are many things in our world that influence the way we feel and think, including books, movies, music, television, Internet, parents, friends, and video games. Think about something you have seen or heard that has changed your thinking or the way you feel. Give children time to discuss. If possible, share a personal experience of your own (an important event, an achievement, an answer to prayer, or a traumatic experience). Have children write short stories or draw pictures to illustrate their reflections. Remind children to thank God for the good influences in their lives. Ask them to pray for students in Swaziland to learn more about God and how they are created in His image. Read Psalm 139:13-14 to the class. Say, God made each of us special and unique. We’re going to draw an outline of each of you as a reminder that God loves you and has given you wonderful talents and abilities. It will provide an opportunity to thank God for the way He made you. Lay pieces of butcher paper (large brown paper) on the floor large enough for a child to lie on. One at a time, have the children take turns lying on their own piece of butcher paper. Trace the outline of each body with a crayon. Have children write Psalm 139:14 in the middle of their outlines. Then tell the children to write or draw inside their outlines things they like about themselves and things they do well.

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As the children describe themselves with words and pictures, add your comments to each child’s outline. Encourage the children by pointing out the qualities that make them unique individuals. After the children are finished, allow them to tell about of the things they have on their outlines. Display the outlines to reinforce how God created us. Say, Whether you are in Swaziland or any other country of the world, God loves you and wants you to be a part of His family. Say, Since we are learning about schools in Swaziland, I’m going to give you a language test. It is just for fun! The test includes 10 SiSwati words. SiSwati is one of the official languages of Swaziland. Try to guess the correct meaning to each of the SiSwati words or phrases. Distribute Activity Sheet 3. Allow children to check their answers with a partner before giving students the following answers: 1. Sawubona [sow-BOH-nuh]; a, hello 2. Yebo [YAY-boh]; b, yes 3. Unjani? [oon-JAH-nee]; b, How are you? 4. Cha [click-AH] This click is hard, made with your tongue at the top of your mouth; a, no 5. Gogo [GOH-GOH]; a, grandmother 6. Ngiyacela [Ngee-yah-click-AY-lah] This click is soft, made with your tongue at the front of your teeth; b,

please 7. Ngiyakutsandza [ngee-yah-koo-TSAHN-zah]; a, I love you 8. Kunye [GOON-yay]; b, 1 9. Ngikhona [ngee-KOH-nah]; a, I am fine 10. Sala kahle [sah-lah-GAH-thlay] (Make the TH sound by relaxing your tongue on the bottom of your mouth.

Then, blow air through your teeth); a, Good-bye Discuss some of the challenges of learning a new language. Remind students that missionaries face these challenges in countries where they serve.

PRAYER TIME Ask the children to write “Swaziland” on the second inside page of their prayer journals, and encourage them to decorate the page with a beehive hut described in the lesson. Then have the children write one or two prayer requests for Swaziland on the page. Let volunteers pray for each of the requests.

LESSON 4: ZAMBIA

PURPOSE

To inform children of ways Nazarene Compassionate Ministries helps orphans in Zambia who suffer from AIDS.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Fast Facts Zambia is called the “African butterfly” because of its shape. There are at least 27 species of snakes and several hundred species of butterflies in Zambia. Crocodile farming is common in Zambia because of the demand for its meat and skin. The magnificent Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and is nearly one mile (1.6

kilometers) wide.

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Zambia is one of the largest producers of copper in the world. One of the first Europeans to explore Zambia was the Scottish missionary, David Livingstone.

LESSON PRESENTATION

Introduction In Zambia, peanuts are called groundnuts because they grow underground. The groundnuts are an excellent source of protein, and children love to eat them. Sometimes the children make homemade peanut butter by mashing the groundnuts. When the children arrive in your classroom, have a large bowl of peanuts-in-the-shell ready for them to enjoy. Note: Be sure to check with parents about food allergies. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries is helping hundreds of orphaned children and their caregivers throughout Africa in the ongoing crisis brought on by the AIDS pandemic. Although AIDS affects people around the world, the problem is catastrophic in Africa. Many mothers and fathers die from AIDS, leaving their children without parents, homes, and food. These children are called orphans. Orphaned children are fed and clothed by caregivers. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) works to help those who are suffering. NCM provides support to caregivers through gifts of food, garden tools, and seeds for planting. NCM also provides sewing machines and livestock when needed. Statistics show that NCM has helped thousands of caregivers and orphans. Scripture: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14, NIV). Write the Fast Facts (in the Background Information) on small cards. Make two or more copies of each card. Before students arrive, hide the cards in the classroom. Tell the children that they will learn about the country of Zambia, beginning with some Fast Fact cards located in the room. Tell each child to find one card, then find other students who have the same Fast Fact on their cards. Ask a volunteer from each group to read the fact. Discuss the facts as they are read. 1. Have a child locate Zambia on a map of Africa. Note the shape of Zambia—like a butterfly. 2. Ask volunteers to share their experiences with snakes or butterflies. Some children may have pet snakes or

collect butterflies. 3. Ask children if they have ever seen a crocodile, eaten crocodile meat, or seen clothing made from its skin.

(Crocodiles are found in Africa. Alligators are found in the Americas.) 4. Tell students that Victoria Falls is located on the southern border of Zambia. Note the other six natural

wonders of the world: Mount Everest in Nepal, Grand Canyon in Arizona, Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Northern Lights, Paricutin volcano in Mexico, Harbor of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

5. Ask students to tell what items are made from copper (jewelry, pennies, kettles, the bottom of cookware, and pipes that carry water).

Say, Lusaka is the capital city of Zambia. Edwin K. Wissbroeker and his family were the first Nazarene missionaries for the Church of the Nazarene in Zambia in 1958. Today we have many Nazarenes throughout the country.

MISSION STORY: Nomsa by Joanie Doerr

Say, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries helped a pastor and his wife care for Nomsa [NOHM-suh], an orphan who lived in Zambia. “Congratulations, Nomsa!” exclaimed the principal. “You have achieved the highest scores in math.” It was awards night at Kaundra Primary School. The ceremony was always held on the last day of school in December. In Zambia, the school year begins in January and ends in December.

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When Nomsa stepped forward to receive her certificate of achievement, the audience applauded. Nomsa smiled and gave a quick wave to Pastor Matongo [muh-TOHN-goh] and his wife, Auntie Mary. As Nomsa sat down, she heard her sister’s name called; and later in the program, two of her brothers received awards for their work in geography and science. It was a night for celebration for Nomsa, her four brothers, three sisters, and Pastor Matongo and Auntie Mary. When they arrived at home, the brothers built a small fire in the yard. Auntie Mary brought out a huge pan of groundnuts. Pastor Matongo gave Cokes to everyone. The family sat around the fire visiting. “Pastor Matongo, please tell me again about my mother and my father,” said Nomsa. Her eyes were shining in the light of the fire. “I love to hear that story.” Eleven-year-old Nomsa had been part of the Matongo family for seven years. Her father had died of pneumonia when Nomsa was a year old. Six months later, Nomsa’s mother died from AIDS. Nomsa and her two brothers went to live with their grandmother, who was a Christian. She told the children stories about Jesus. Every Sunday they attended the Church of the Nazarene in her town. Pastor Matongo and Auntie Mary often visited the children and their grandmother. The Matongos became concerned about the children when they realized the grandmother was too old to care for them. And the grandmother never had enough food in her small garden to feed them. Pastor Matongo and his wife began to pray for Nomsa and her two brothers. One day, Pastor Matongo had a visitor from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. The visitor told Pastor Matongo how the church could help Nomsa, her brothers, and others like them who had no parents. He explained that Nazarene Compassionate Ministries could provide garden seeds and tools for a large garden full of vegetables. The visitor also promised to help the pastor buy chickens and a few goats. Soon after that, Pastor Matongo and his wife invited Nomsa and her two brothers to become a part of their family. During the past seven years, the church family had helped to tend the large garden which fed the Matongo family. They often took gifts of food and clothes to the Matongos as well. The children were dearly loved and supported by the church family and by Pastor Matongo and Auntie Mary. Pastor Matongo looked at Nomsa as he began to tell her story. “Your daddy worked in the copper mine in Chingola. One day, I met him as he arrived home from work. I was inviting people to come to church. Your two brothers ran out of the house first. Your daddy reached out and picked up both boys in his arms. Then you appeared, Nomsa. Your daddy put the boys down, scooped you up, and held you high in the air. You giggled with joy. Your daddy loved you and your brothers.” Pastor Matongo paused, then added, “From that day on, your daddy was my closest friend.” For a moment, it was quiet. Then Auntie Mary said, “It’s time for bed.” The announcement sent the children scampering toward the house. But before Nomsa left the fire, she turned to Pastor Matongo and softly said, “Thank you for telling the story. And thank you for letting me live here with you and Auntie Mary.” STORY DISCUSSION Have children tell how NCM helped Pastor Matongo and Auntie Mary as caregivers. (NCM provided food, garden tools, seeds, chickens, and goats.) How did NCM help Nomsa as an orphan? (NCM helped to provide a home, food, clothes, and people who love her.) Say, Many children in Zambia lose their parents due to an incurable disease called AIDS. Other family members or friends become their caregivers, sometimes without much to give. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries helps the caregivers by supplying some of their daily needs and teaching them how to grow their own food. You can help children like Nomsa by supporting NCM. Distribute Activity Sheet 4. Tell children that cards with “NCM” in the background show items they supply to caregivers, and cards with “YOU” in the background show ways children can support NCM. Have the children cut apart the cards, scramble them, and lay them facedown on a table or floor. Let the children find the matching cards. Say, Let’s play this matching card game to help us remember the needs of children in Zambia, ways NCM helps caregivers, and ways we can support NCM.

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PRAYER TIME Ask the children to write “Zambia” on the third inside page of their prayer journals, and encourage them to decorate the page with a butterfly since there are so many butterflies in Zambia. Review the Fast Facts about Zambia and the way Nazarene Compassionate Ministries helps orphaned children and their caregivers. Have the children write one or two prayer requests for Zambia, orphaned children, and their caregivers on the page. Read Matthew 19:14. “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Close with prayer for the children of Zambia.

LESSON 5: KENYA

PURPOSE To help children know God has a plan for their lives and may call some of them to serve as missionaries.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Fast Facts A person can stand with each foot on the opposite sides of the equator in Kenya. Most Kenyans do not live in the country in grass huts. They live in cities. In Kenya, people can enjoy a wildlife safari, big game hunting, bird watching, mountain climbing, and scuba

diving. Kenya is home to more elephants, giraffes, antelopes, and zebras than any other place on earth. Elephants cannot jump. A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue. It doesn’t have one.

LESSON PRESENTATION

Introduction Create a jungle scene. Construct a palm tree using a cardboard rug roll (or pole) for the trunk. Cover the trunk with brown crepe paper. Attach an umbrella to the top and cover it with green-fringed paper fronds to represent leaves. Decorate the walls with branches from real trees and with pictures of African animals, people, or scenes of the country. Display African artifacts for children to touch, hold, and examine. Somewhere in the room, hang a large sign with the Bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11. Make palm fronds by cutting long ovals and fringing the edges. Print one Fast Fact on each palm frond. Also find out how long it would take to fly from where you live to Kenya. Teach children the scripture verse: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). The focus of the lesson is on Tim Eby, a missionary in Africa, who was called by God to serve others in a unique way. God not only calls adults to mission service, He calls children too. Young boys and girls who have answered God’s call to serve Him have remained true to the call throughout their lives. As you teach children about the beautiful country of Kenya and its people, help children be glad for those who have been called to serve as missionaries. Encourage the children to seek God’s will for their lives and to be obedient to His call to serve Him. Say, Jambo! That’s how people in Kenya say hello. Say it with me. Jambo! Today we’re going to take a make-believe trip to a country that has many missionaries. The country is Kenya. It is located on the continent of Africa.

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Point out Kenya on the world map, and note the distance between Kenya and where the children live. Ask, How many hours do you think it would take to travel there? Count the hours of flying time with me. Move the hands on the clock as you count each hour with the children. Say, Let’s learn some facts about Kenya. Give the palm fronds to volunteers, and have them read the Fast Facts. Tell children that the matatu (Swahili word for bus) is a type of public transportation. Matatus usually carry 10-30 passengers. They are painted with colorful pictures of anything that is popular at the time. “There is always room for one more” is the matatu driver’s motto. The drivers are famous for squeezing towers of luggage, food, animals, and people into their matatus.

MISSION STORY: I’m Listening, Lord by Tim Eby

Say, Today’s story tells how missionary Tim Eby was called to serve God as a missionary pilot in East Africa. As the small airplane came to the end of the grassy strip, I shouted to my sister, “This is going to be great!” I was so excited. My missionary parents, my sister, and I were going to the coast for a vacation. I was 6 years old, and this was my first airplane ride. I looked over the pilot’s shoulder and watched him flip one switch after the other as he prepared for takeoff. Suddenly, the captain released the brake, and we went bouncing down the airstrip at Kudjip [KOO-jip], Papua New Guinea. My stomach sank as we climbed above the trees, then above the mission station where my family lived, and then up over the valley. The cars and people looked like little ants running around. We crossed the beautiful mountains, soared above the clouds, and safely landed at our destination. “What a ride!” I exclaimed. When I was 9 years old, I had another great experience. I accepted Jesus as my Savior at the Kudjip Nazarene Church. Two weeks later, I was baptized in the river near our mission station. It wasn’t long before I felt God calling me to serve Him. With my dad’s permission, I taught a Sunday School class for kids who were slightly younger than me. Sometimes I played my guitar, and they sang choruses. Most of the kids couldn’t read. So I told them Bible stories, using pictures my mom drew. Since I had been born in Papua New Guinea, I spoke their language. That made it easy and fun for me to teach. And I wanted the kids to know about God’s love and His Son, Jesus. When I was 12, my family returned to the United States for a year’s furlough. As part of the youth group in Covington, Kentucky, I learned more about God’s love and made new friends. Dave, Frank, and I played together and prayed together. One night I told God I was ready to serve Him anywhere and do whatever He wanted me to do. He filled me with His Holy Spirit that night. As a high school student, I began to think more about my future. I loved God, and I really loved to fly! “I could serve the Lord as a pilot,” I thought. “That would be the greatest job I could ever have.” God began to show me that someday I would be a missionary pilot. To prepare for this job, I enrolled in the flight-training program at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas. I worked hard, and God helped me to complete my training. When I met Michelle Buess, I learned God had also called her to be a missionary. I married Michelle, and we asked God to help us prepare for mission work together. God answered our prayers. For nine years, I flew as a commercial pilot and worked as a mechanic. Then my wife and I and our four children moved to Africa. I became a pilot with the Church of the Nazarene in East Africa. I was so excited to begin the work for Nazarene Mission Aviation in Nairobi, Kenya. I flew to the most remote areas of East Africa to share God’s love. It wasn’t easy, but God gave me a promise: “...Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31). God helped me through storms, in difficult landings, and every time I was challenged by government authorities. I’m thankful I listened to God and obeyed Him. He had a wonderful plan for me.

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Say, Today Tim Eby and his wife are missionaries in Senegal on the Africa Region. He is no longer a missionary pilot, because the Church of the Nazarene no longer has an aviation ministry. However, God is still using Tim Eby to teach people about God’s love, Jesus’ sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit. STORY DISCUSSION Tell children God has plans for each person’s life, and He uses important steps in calling someone to be a missionary. Say, When Tim Eby was a young boy, he had no idea God was going to call him to be a missionary. Display the following six poster board strips listing ways God prepared Tim for mission service: 1. As a young boy, Tim accepted Jesus as his Savior. 2. Tim was obedient to God. 3. God gave Tim a desire to serve Him and a love for others. 4. God gave Tim an interest in flying. 5. God helped Tim prepare to become a pilot. 6. God made it possible for Tim to serve as a missionary pilot in Africa. Say, God had the best plans for Tim’s life, and He has plans for you too. The things you do today will help you serve God in the future. Children love to draw airplanes. Distribute paper, and ask children to draw a picture of Tim’s trip to Kenya. On the board, write a list of the things to include in their pictures. (Airport, Tim’s plane, earth, sky, trees, flowers, an outline of Kenya on one side of the picture) Have the older students make a timeline at the bottom of their pictures using the six steps listed on poster board: salvation, obedience, a desire to serve God and a love for others, an interest in flying, preparation, missionary pilot in Africa. Encourage children to listen and follow God’s plans for their lives. Children often want to do something for God, but they might not know what to do or how to do it. This activity provides an opportunity for students to participate in a service project. Ask, Have you wanted to do a grown-up activity, but thought you were too young? Remember, Tim Eby wanted to do something “grown-up” for God. When he asked his dad if he could teach Sunday School, his dad said, “Yes.” Can you think of something you could do for God? Could you take cookies to a new neighbor or weed an elderly person’s lawn? Ask your parents to help with the transportation. With the students’ input, make a list of ways children can help others. Ask each child to choose one of the ideas as a project. Distribute Activity Sheet 5. Read and discuss it, and then have students fill in the project ideas they selected. Remind students how Tim Eby’s experiences, such as working with children in Sunday School, helped him later on the mission field. Tell children the things they do today will help them serve God in their future. Have the children look up Jeremiah 29:11 and read the verse together.

PRAYER TIME Ask the children to write “Kenya” on the fourth inside page of their prayer journals, and encourage them to decorate the page with a mutatu because Kenyans travel by mutatu so much. Have the children write one or two prayer requests for Kenya and for Tim Eby and his family. Remind children that God works through our missionaries to help people in Kenya who are lost and in need. Pray especially for the children in Kenya and that the people of Kenya will know God’s love in their lives. Encourage children to listen as they pray, let God lead them according to His will, and answer His call to serve Him.

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LESSON 6: ETHIOPIA

PURPOSE To make children aware that most missionaries must have language training in order to serve in other countries.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Fast Facts Ethiopia is a country located in what is often called the Horn of Africa. You will find pizzas, hamburgers, and Pepsi-Cola for sale in the capital city of Addis Ababa. In Addis Ababa, you can shop at one of the largest outdoor markets in Africa, where you will find jewelry,

clothing, fruits, vegetables, and much more. The Great Rift Valley in Ethiopia is home to over 850 different kinds of birds. There are more than 80 languages spoken in Ethiopia. Although Ethiopia is one of the oldest Christian countries in the world, more than half of the people today are

Muslim.

LESSON PRESENTATION

Introduction Language training can be challenging and difficult for the missionary family and sometimes affects the way they live in another country. People who come from one country to live in another may experience isolation until they learn to speak the language of the place to where they have moved. Missionaries face a similar situation when they move to another country. Sometimes it takes several years to adapt to a different culture and learn a new language. This lesson focuses on how missionaries and their children face the challenge of learning the language of a different culture. Tell children that Ethiopia is a beautiful, mountainous country located in eastern Africa. Explain that Ethiopia is one of the oldest Christian countries in the world, yet more than half of its population is Muslim. Read the other Fast Facts. Say, Missionaries go to countries like Ethiopia, knowing some things about the culture. Because they can’t know everything, there are some things they must learn. Learning the language is one of the biggest challenges missionaries face. It takes time, effort, and patience to be able to speak comfortably with the people. To help us understand how missionaries learn a new language, we’re going to learn to count in Arabic, one of the languages Ethiopians use. As you say the numbers in your language, write the Arabic words on the board. Have children repeat the words after you say them: One—Wahid; Two—Ithinin; Three—Thalatha; Four—Arba’a; Five—Kamisa; Six—Sita; Seven—Saba’a; Eight—Thamania; Nine—Tisa’a; Ten—Ashara. Give children Activity Sheet 6, and instruct them to cut out the words in their language and in Arabic. Have children mix up their words, then match them to the Arabic. After completing that activity, erase the words from the board and have students mix and match their words again. Ask what methods they used to remember.

MISSION STORY: Talking About Jesus by LeCrecia M. Ali

Say, This story is about a missionary family and how learning a new language affected their lives. “Why do we have to move to a country halfway around the world?” complained Grant, my eight-year-old brother. I had to admit, even though I was older and excited about being an MK (missionary kid), I was a little scared.

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“Well,” began Dad, “we’re moving to a place where people don’t know about God’s Son, Jesus. They don’t know Jesus came to forgive our sins and to tell people about God’s love.” Grant perked up. “So we’re going to tell them about Jesus?” “Yes,” Mom answered. “I love to talk about Jesus. It’s my favorite thing to do,” I replied. “Emma, we’ll have to choose our words carefully,” continued Mom, “because some people won’t like for us to talk about Jesus. We’ll share God’s love through our actions more than our words until He sends someone who will listen. God will help us.” I wasn’t sure about choosing the right words. But I soon forgot my worries. And before I knew it, we were on our way. After a long trip, we arrived in a city filled with many different smells, sights, and sounds. Grant and I quickly realized we couldn’t understand the people! As we rode in the taxi to our new house, Grant asked, “What were those people saying?” “I’m not sure,” Mom replied. “The people here speak Arabic. We must learn their language.” “What!” Grant and I exclaimed. Dad laughed at our scrunched-up faces. “Many people here do not speak English. We’ll learn their language so we can talk with them.” “And tell them about Jesus,” I whispered to Grant. But I whispered too loudly. A deep voice from the driver’s seat asked, “Do you know about Jesus?” I panicked as I remembered what Mom had told us about choosing our words carefully. Grant and I looked nervously at each other. Dad answered calmly, “Yes. We do.” The driver was silent. Then he said, “My name is Khalid [kah-LEED]. Welcome to my country!” I let out a big sigh. Khalid spoke English very well. He offered to teach Dad Arabic. Soon they were talking together like old friends. When we arrived at our new house, Khalid said, “Tomorrow I’ll show you the city. You will meet my wife, Amina, and my children. And you will eat with us.” “I sure hope he has a boy my age who likes to play soccer,” Grant said, as he waved good-bye to Khalid. That night, Dad prayed, “Lord, thank You for a safe trip and for a friend to help us in an unfamiliar place. Help us to learn the Arabic language so we can tell people about Jesus. Give us wisdom to choose the right words and know when to speak them.” With laughter, hugs, and kisses, we said good-night and went to sleep in our new house, knowing God would take care of us. The next morning, Khalid took us on a tour of the city, and then he took us to his house for lunch. Grant was excited when he learned that Khalid had three sons, not just one, who loved to play soccer. Grant couldn’t understand what they were saying, but soon they were playing soccer in the backyard. One of Khalid’s daughters, Leila, was my age. We quickly became friends. Mom helped Amina prepare lunch. Amina spread a cloth over the beautiful rug in their living room. Everyone sat down on the floor to eat. “This is like a picnic,” Grant said. I agreed. “It’s like Jesus’ feeding the 5,000. Oh, no!” I gasped. I knew I hadn’t chosen my words carefully. Khalid looked at Amina and nodded. Amina said, “I had a dream. In my dream, a young girl came to tell me about the Jesus I’ve been longing to know.” Khalid leaned toward Dad. “Please tell us about Jesus! We’ve been waiting so long for someone to come and tell us the truth about Him.” STORY DISCUSSION Ask the following questions: 1. If you could take any three things with you to visit a country where you don’t understand the language, what

would you take? (A language dictionary, a friend who knew the language, a picture book with names of items under the pictures)

2. Pretend you are in a place where people speak another language. Give directions to your house without talking. How does it make you feel to use gestures instead of words?

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Say, If you were going to a new country, what would you fear most? Finding a place to stay? Finding your way around the country? Learning how and where to buy food? Knowing how to call for a taxi? All of these things depend on a person’s ability to speak the language. This is why language training is so important. Missionaries cannot tell people about Jesus unless they can speak their language. Tell children, As missionaries begin to learn a new language, they practice by talking with people and making friends. Activities, such as inviting neighbors home for dinner, playing games, eating at restaurants, and going shopping, give missionaries the opportunity to talk personally with the people.

PRAYER TIME Remind children that it is important for missionaries to learn the language of the people they serve. Language is the channel for sharing God’s love. Ask the children to write “Ethiopia” on the fifth inside page of their prayer journals, and encourage them to decorate the page with an Ethiopian cross (you may have to look up what they look like) and remind them that Christianity has been in Ethiopia for a long time. Have the children write one or two prayer requests for Ethiopia. Ask volunteers to pray for missionaries who learn new languages so they can tell people about Jesus.

LESSON 7: UGANDA

PURPOSE To help children understand the importance of working together, sharing what God has given to them, and serving others.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Fast Facts A typical breakfast may include tea, bread, eggs, and fried bananas! A popular delicacy in Uganda are de-winged, salted, and fried white ants or grasshoppers. Uganda is famous for gorillas that live in the Bwindi [BWIN-dee] Impenetrable Forest Gorilla Sanctuary. Approximately 1 million Ugandans live as refugees. That’s enough to fill 10 of the largest professional soccer

stadiums in the world. Instead of using their hands to point, sometimes Ugandans will point with their lips. Uganda is called the Pearl of Africa because of its history, geography, and people.

LESSON PRESENTATION

Introduction Prepare the room by creating a refugee camp atmosphere. Place large cardboard boxes in the room to represent shelters or huts for refugee families. Position the boxes close together and on their sides so the opening faces out. Lay plastic tarps over the tops of the boxes to “rainproof” them. Clutter the room with items, such as buckets, tools, and chairs. Give the room a crowded, cramped look. Approximately 1 million people have been forced from their homes and live as refugees in Uganda. These people cannot lead lives like most of us. Most refugees live on the food and water brought to the camps by relief trucks. Survival is the refugees’ major concern. Men leave camp each day looking for odd jobs, women gather wood for cooking, and older children take care of the younger ones. Currently, there are Nazarene churches in Uganda, along with missionaries, providing spiritual and material aid to Ugandan refugees.

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Christians are called to model true community life by sharing, caring, serving, and loving those around them. Say, Refugees are people who are forced to leave their homes due to war or violence. They often only have time to gather only a few things to take with them. Often refugees travel to refugee camps, places where they can live until they are allowed to return to their homes. When refugees settle in a camp, they must immediately build their own homes. The refugees build small homes right next to other refugees, using whatever materials they can find. Relief organizations provide plastic to cover the roofs to keep them waterproof. If you have decorated the room like a refugee camp, divide the class into groups. Let them build a home for their “family” group, using supplies they find around the room. Tell children their groups must work together to accomplish the task. When children finish building their “homes,” discuss the fears and challenges refugees have. (Finding food, water, and supplies; working and living with others; uncertain future) Tell the children that many refugees must live in camps for months, sometimes years, before returning home. Ask, What do you think it would be like to live away from home for a long time?

MISSION STORY: Living in a Refugee Camp in Uganda by Barbara Messer

Paulo and Lukio, two refugee children, model community life as described in Acts 2:44-47. “Paulo, are you going to the water hole?” called Lukio [lew-KEE-oh]. “Yes,” replied Paulo. “Come on!” Paulo and Lukio were from the Democratic Republic of Congo. When the government began fighting rebel soldiers near their village, the boys’ families fled for their lives to a refugee camp in nearby Uganda. Each family had built a two-room mud house with a grass roof. Relief organizations donated plastic tarps to place over the roofs. When it rained, the heavy plastic caught runoff water to use for cooking and drinking. Living in the camp was hard, but it was better than sleeping in the open fields. Paulo and Lukio each carried a bucket to get their family’s daily water supply. “I’m thirsty,” Lukio said. “I brought my tin cup. I hope I can get some extra water to drink on the way back.” “Me too, “replied Paulo. “I’ll be glad when the rains come again. Then we can get more than one bucket of water a day.” As Paulo and Lukio walked down the dusty path to the water hole, they met another boy. He had a “soccer” ball made from pieces of rags and strings tied together. The boys kicked the ball back and forth, pretending to be famous soccer players. Paulo and Lukio walked an hour and a half before reaching the water hole. While they waited in line, someone began singing, “Hallelujah! Jesus saves me.” The boys joined in. “I like that song!” exclaimed Paulo. “I’m glad Pastor Otieno [oh-tee-EN-oh] comes to our camp every week for a service. I can’t wait to hear the Bible story tomorrow.” After an hour of waiting, Paulo and Lukio each received a full bucket of water. But there was no extra water to drink. The boys walked home carefully, trying not to spill one drop of the precious water. Finally, they reached Lukio’s house. “Paulo, do you want to visit Yusufa [yew-SOO-fuh] later?” asked Lukio. “Sure,” answered Paulo. “I’ll come back for you as soon as I see if Mother found maize (cornmeal) and my sister found firewood.” Paulo and his sister arrived home at the same time. “Look what I found only three miles (almost five kilometers) from here!” Provia [proh-VEE-uh] called. She was carrying a load of firewood on her head. “Good,” replied Paulo. “I hope Mother returns soon. I’m hungry and thirsty.” It had been more than 24 hours since the family had food to eat and water to drink. Finally, Mother arrived. “I waited all afternoon for the food trucks to come. I received maize and beans. We’ll eat well tonight. Thank you for bringing the water.” “Mother, may I go visit Yusufa while you and Provia prepare our food?” “Yes, Paulo. Please take my cup of water to Yusufa. I know he gets thirsty.” Paulo decided he would share his cup with Mother later.

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Paulo and Lukio quickly ran to Yusufa’s house. Yusufa had been their friend before they fled their country. When the rebels came, they found Yusufa in the trees near their village. Since the rebels knew that many young boys fought in the army, they thought Yusufa must be one of them. They decided to make an example of him so other boys would not join the army. They cut off his ears and nose. Then they cut off his fingers and thumbs so he could never fire a gun again, even though he had never served in the army. Paulo and Lukio felt sad about what happened to Yusufa. They were happy to share their water with him. Paulo held the cup of water to Yusufa’s mouth and helped him drink. “Thank you, Paulo.” “Will you go to the service with us tomorrow?” asked Lukio. “Please come, Yusufa. We miss you,” begged Paulo. “But I look horrible. People will make fun of me,” replied Yusufa. “We’ll stay with you,” promised Paulo. “Please come.” “I have missed the Bible stories and the songs.” “OK,” said Paulo. “Lukio and I will come for you when we hear the bell ring. Good-bye. Sleep well.” STORY DISCUSSION Ask the children to tell how Paulo and Lukio modeled the Christian life. Before class, prepare an obstacle course using cones to walk around, bags to step over, things to walk under, and other items that can be traversed while carrying a pie tin full of water. Say, Water is a valuable resource, especially at a refugee camp. People must get water from wells, relief organizations, or collect rainwater when it rains. Refugees do not waste a drop of water. Remember how carefully Paulo and Lukio carried their buckets of water back to the camp. It was the only water they would have for their families until the next day. Today, I’m going to divide the class into teams and give each team a pie tin filled with water. This will be the only water you’ll receive during class. But before your team can drink the water, the team must travel together through an obstacle course. You may drink the water you have left in your pan. Discuss the following rules, then proceed to the obstacle course: 1. Each member of the team must have at least one hand on the pie tin at all times. 2. Groups must complete the course within a set amount of time. 3. Groups must complete every obstacle. 4. Divide the class into groups, distribute the pie tins, and fill each team’s pie tin with water. Let the group take

turns completing the course. When the activity is complete, give each child in the groups a cup and divide the water among them and allow them to drink it. Say, When people are forced from their homes because of violence and war in their country, they become refugees. Most refugees are forced to leave with little or no time to gather their belongings or valuables. They begin a long search for a new place to call home. Sometimes they must travel hundreds of miles (kilometers) away from home to stay safe. During their journey, they must find places to sleep, food to eat, and shelter from the heat, rain, and wild animals. When they live in a refugee camp, their struggle to survive continues. Distribute Activity Sheet 7 and have students complete the maze. Ask, If you were forced to leave your house and could take only one item with you, what would it be? What do you think refugee children miss the most?

PRAYER TIME Say, We have learned many facts about Uganda—some fun facts and some disturbing facts. As we pray for Uganda, remember to pray for the people who have been forced to leave their homes and become refugees. Ask the children to write “Uganda” on the sixth inside page of their prayer journals, and encourage them to decorate the page with a gorilla, since Uganda is famous for gorillas living in that country. Have the children write one or two prayer requests for Uganda. Ask for volunteers to pray for Uganda and people living in refugee camps so they will learn about Jesus

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LESSON 8: CÔTE D’IVOIRE

PURPOSE To help children understand the importance of telling people about Jesus and showing His love.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Fast Facts Côte d’Ivoire is located on the western coast of the “hump” of Africa. Abidjan is a major port city for all of West Africa and is filled with skyscraper buildings. Hunting elephants and selling the ivory from their tusks is now illegal in Côte d’Ivoire. Côte d’Ivoire is one of the world’s leading producers of coffee and cocoa. Almost half of the people are 14 years old or younger. The people’s life expectancy is only 55. The first Christian missionary, a Catholic priest, arrived on the shores of Côte d’Ivoire just over 100 years

ago; the first Nazarene missionaries arrived in 1987.

LESSON PRESENTATION

Introduction Create a “clinic” atmosphere. Tape a sign on the door to the classroom that says: “WELCOME” “Dr. Ron Farris Memorial Health Center.” Arrange chairs in rows as in a waiting room. Place a pencil and “sign in” sheet on a small table near the door. If possible, have a cot set up with a small blanket folded at the end. To add to the effect, it would be helpful if the person giving the lesson could wear a white coat or other accessories that would look doctor-like. As the children enter, have them sign in and be seated in the “waiting room.” Nazarenes in Côte d’Ivoire show God’s love as they tell people about Jesus at the Nazarene health center. First John 3:18 tells us that we should love with our actions not just with our words. If siblings say they love each other, but constantly argue, or if children say they love their parents, but disobey them, they are showing love with words instead of actions. We must be careful to show love through our actions when we tell people about Jesus. Many times missionaries share God’s love through their actions first, then with words.

MISSION STORY: Love Passed On! by Linda Seaman

Say, Nazarenes want to preach and tell people about Jesus, but we also know we must show His love. Today our story is about the African Nazarene doctor Helene Kra. “It is so hot!” Dr. Helene Kra thought to herself as she climbed the steps of the Dr. Ron Farris Memorial Health Center. The center is found in the beautiful city of Abidjan, a city located in the country of Côte d’Ivoire [COAT deev-WHAR]. Pastor Maloula [muh-LOO-lah] was at the health center and had already unlocked and rolled up the heavy, wide, metal “shade” that protected the entrance. Dr. Kra greeted the rest of the staff with a friendly “Bonjour!” She thanked God again for all the Nazarenes from other countries who had given their money, time, and skills to build and supply the equipment for the center. How grateful she was to be a part of the Nazarene family! Pastor Taki [TAH-kee] was the pastor of the church next door to the center. He was also an experienced nurse and had worked faithfully at the health center since its beginning days. Dr. Kra finished adjusting the instruments near the examining table. She briefly prayed, asking God for special strength and wisdom. She could hear Pastor Maloula, leader of a Nazarene church across town and the center’s business manager, beginning to share the story of Jesus with the patients who were waiting to see her. She knew that even in this modern city of more than 5 million people, more than half of the people knew little or

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nothing about Jesus. On busy days like this one, she was glad to know that patients in the waiting room would be hearing about God’s love. She turned toward the door when she heard a baby’s sobs and saw the fear on the mother’s face. She knew right away that this baby needed immediate help. The most deadly animal in Africa is the tiny mosquito. In Africa, thousands of children and adults die every day from malaria. You get malaria from the bite of a mosquito. Thankfully, this mother, Fatou [FAH-too], had been to the health center before. She knew the signs of malaria and had brought her son Baya [BIE-yuh] to Dr. Kra right away. As the doctor gently examined him, she felt the heat from his high fever. She knew he was also in danger of dehydration, which means a dangerously low level of fluids in the body. Dr. Kra wrote out a prescription and walked Fatou over to the center’s pharmacy to get the malaria medicine. Baya would be feeling better soon. As she started back to her office, she felt Fatou touch her arm. “Merci beaucoup [mair-SEE boh-koo] (thank you), Dr. Kra, for helping Baya! I think I will come to your church next Sunday. If Jesus is like you, I want to learn more about Him. I will leave Baya with my mother, but can my other children come with me?” “Mais oui [MAY-WEE] (of course), Fatou! We have classes for the children during our worship, and they will love the singing! I will be watching for you. You can sit with me!” Dr. Kra rejoiced as she returned to her office. Then she thought about the way God had worked in her life: A friend told her about Jesus, Dr. Farris supported her dream of becoming a doctor, and members of the Nazarene family paid for her last year of medical school when funds had run out. She had been told about Jesus, and she had been shown His love in many ways by many different people. Dr. Kra said to herself, “This is why we are here!” STORY DISCUSSION Copy Activity Sheet 8 (enough for one per child), and distribute the sheets to the children. Have the children cut apart the cards and take turns selecting one card and telling how the person or object relates to the story. (The answers are on the cards.) Store the cards in envelopes or small bags. Encourage the children to take home the cards and use them to tell their family about the story. Point out that the health center brought two kinds of hope. The people received medical care and the hope of a healthy life. They also learned about Jesus and the way to have a right relationship with God. This brings the hope of eternal life.

PRAYER TIME Ask the children to write “Côte d’Ivoire” on the seventh inside page of their prayer journals, and encourage them to decorate the page with an elephant. The country’s name is French for Ivory Coast. Ivory came from the tusks of elephants and was used for trading purposes. Ask, How did the people in our story show love through their actions? Let the children respond. What are some of the ways we can put our love into action? Let the children respond. Say, One of the ways we can show our love for others is to pray for them. Ask, How should we pray for our Nazarene brothers and sisters in Côte d’Ivoire? Have the children write requests in the prayer journal. How should we pray for those around us? Have the children write requests in the prayer journal. Stand in a circle and pray together as a group. Use sentence prayers and encourage everyone to participate. Before leaving, repeat 1 John 3:18.

LESSON 9: BENIN

PURPOSE To help children learn how Nazarenes start churches in other countries.

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION Fast Facts Benin is a finger-shaped country. The Church of the Nazarene began in Benin in 1998. There are only a few television stations in Benin. Benin is the birthplace of voodoo, a religion that worships evil spirits. There are only 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) of paved roads in Benin. Fewer than 3 people out of 10 call themselves Christians in Benin.

LESSON PREPARATION

Introduction Often in planting churches in West Africa, tents are initially used. Children love making tents. Have some sheets or blankets available, and let the children be creative. Find some simple drums the children can use to tap out the rhythms of the songs you sing. Nazarenes in Benin often march around in a circle at the front of the church when they sing, waving white handkerchiefs. Since there are so many different languages, the leader usually sings a line of the song, and then the people repeat it. The “Victory Chant” would adapt nicely to this if you would like to incorporate music “West-African style” into your worship time. Scripture: “The gospel must first be preached to all nations” (Mark 13:10). Have the children repeat the scripture after you. Missionaries and African Nazarenes worked together to “plant” the Church of the Nazarene in the country of Benin. Say, In our Bible verse today, Jesus is speaking to His disciples. He is telling them that He will return to earth some day. Before He comes again, “The gospel must first be preached to all nations.” The Church of the Nazarene is working very hard to take the message of Jesus to “all nations.” Show a map of Africa. Have the children locate Benin. Say, Today we are going to learn about how the Church of the Nazarene began in the West African country of Benin (buh-NEEN). Ask, Did you know there are thousands of towns and villages “all across the world” where there are no Christian churches? There are even some countries where not even one church can be found that preaches about Jesus. In some countries, the government will not allow the preaching of the Gospel. If government officials find someone sharing about Jesus, that person can be put in prison or even killed. Let’s repeat our Bible verse again. Did you hear Jesus’ words about “all nations”? Do you think He meant that the Gospel must be preached even in countries where it is against the law?

MISSION STORY: How to ‘Plant’ a Church by Linda Seaman

Say, People who go to new places to start a church are often called “church-planters.” Today we are going to learn the way the Church of the Nazarene was “planted” in the country of Benin, West Africa. Moise [moh-EEZ] dug his long fingers into the damp earth and felt its warmth. The moist soil felt ready to receive the new seeds he was planting that day. He laughed softly to himself as he thought about how much starting the Church of the Nazarene in Benin was like working in his garden. No wonder they called it “church-planting”! As he gently buried the seeds, his mind wandered back to the day he had given his heart to Jesus. A few years earlier, Moise had moved from his home in Benin to the neighboring country of Côte d’Ivoire [COAT deev-WHAR] to find a job. He settled in the small rural village of Amanikro [ah-MAH-nee-kro], about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the big city of Abidjan [ah-BEE-john]. One Sunday Moise was invited to a small Nazarene church. Jesus had forgiven his sins! His new Nazarene family welcomed him, just as the warm soil

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welcomed the tiny seeds he was planting. His pastor taught him God’s Word. Moise began to grow into a strong and healthy Christian. It wasn’t long until he met the Laly [LAH-lee] brothers who were also from Benin. They began to talk about how much their families in Benin needed to hear about Jesus. They had also heard that the president, who was a Christian, had asked churches to come and help. The brothers began to pray that the Church of the Nazarene could go to Benin. Two missionaries and a church leader from Côte d’Ivoire received an hour’s audience with President Kerekou [kair-ah-KOO]! The President granted permission for the Church of the Nazarene to enter Benin! It was the beginning of many months of prayer, planning, and preparation. The first “church” in Benin met in the Lalys’ house in the city of Cotonou [COH-toh-new]. Soon family and friends in a village outside the town asked for the church to come there. By this time, God had called Moise and his friend Felix to be pastors. They traveled for more than an hour on their small motobécanes [moh-toh-BAY-kahn] to take the message of Jesus to the village. Motobécanes are small, motorized bikes used for transportation. Soon word came that another village wanted to hear about Jesus. The group of Nazarenes in the second village grew so quickly that the very first church building was built there. Money to build this church came from Alabaster offerings. Moise was now responsible for 12 churches in this part of Benin. He knew from experience that it was only a matter of time before these churches would grow strong and provide new church “plants” in the towns and villages in the East and West. Moise looked forward to the day when the church would also be planted in the countries in the North. He knew some governments would not allow the message of Jesus to be preached. But Moise wasn’t worried. He had seen God answer prayer for Benin. He knew that God would make it possible some day for the people in every nation to hear the good news of Jesus’ love! STORY DISCUSSION Hand out Activity Sheet 9 and crayons or markers. Instruct the students to place the sheet in front of them with the title of the page at the top and let them know that this is a diagram of Benin’s flag. Have the students color the flag of Benin as follows: The rectangle on the left is green, representing hope and revival. The top rectangle on the right is yellow, representing conservation of the country’s resources. The bottom rectangle on the right is red, representing courage of the ancestors. Optional: Cut out pieces of green, yellow, and red felt, and have the students glue them to the activity sheets. Say, People take pride in their flag and their country. The people of Benin are proud to say they are part of that country. We also want the people of Benin to know about God’s love and forgiveness. We want those who have accepted God’s love and forgiveness to be proud to be called a Christian. Say, Most of the people in Benin cannot afford to buy a car, so they get around on small motorized bikes called “motobécanes.” The drivers carry other people as well their belongings. Sometimes there will be a person sitting on the handlebars, on the driver’s lap, and/or behind the driver. Each person will be carrying or holding something in their arms or on their backs. If you are in a car and stop at a stoplight in town, you are immediately surrounded by hundreds of motobécanes. As soon as the light changes to green, the motobécanes race to the next light! The drivers never lose their balance or lose anything or anyone they are carrying with them. Let’s see if you are as good at moto-peddling as they are! Divide your class into teams, each with a tricycle and lots of lightweight items to load on their “motos.” Have team members choose a driver and load on as many items as they can, using the bungee cords or string. When everyone is ready, blow a whistle and have the “drivers” peddle to the “finish line” without tipping over or losing anything they are carrying. Say, Churches around the world can be as different as cars and motobécanes. The one thing that stays the same is our love for God and our gratitude for His willingness to forgive our sins.

PRAYER TIME If the children made a tent when they first arrived, gather inside the tent for a time of reflection and prayer. Say, The Church of the Nazarene now has churches in more than 155 world areas. Does that mean we

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can stop now? Why? (Let children respond.) Say, Let’s repeat Mark 13:10 together. We know that Jesus calls us to go to all nations. How would you feel if you were one of those asked to “plant” a church somewhere? Would you be excited or scared? Our verse reminds us that we must keep working together until the people of all nations have heard that Jesus loves them. Ask the children to write “Benin” on the eighth inside page of their prayer journals, and encourage them to decorate the page with a person on a motorscooter, since that is how many people in Benin travel. Have the children write one or two prayer requests for Benin. Say, God still needs “church-planters” in our own country and all across the world. It is important that we be willing to do whatever God asks us to do. Let volunteers pray for Benin, church planters, and boys, girls, men, and women who will carry the good news about Jesus to others.

LESSON 10: SOUTH AFRICA

PURPOSE To help children understand that it is good to build friendships with people from other cultures.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Fast Facts South Africa is called the “rainbow nation” because of all the cultures in the country. Johannesburg is called the City of Gold because of the gold mines that are found there. In 1867, a child found “a pretty pebble”—the beginning of an enormous diamond mining operation still in

existence today. The best place to see a wide variety of African wildlife is in Kruger National Park. Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa, is where the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean meet. Early missionaries to South Africa rode on enormous ships that first docked in Cape Town.

LESSON PREPARATION

Introduction Find a large map of Africa and hang it on the bulletin board. Have pushpins with tags on them to locate key places in South Africa. Tags should be made before class. Tags should include: Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Cape Town, Cape Agulhas, Durban, Johannesburg, Kruger Park, Lesotho, and Swaziland. As children enter, they can place the tags into the appropriate places on the map. Teach this verse to the children: “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array” (Genesis 2:1). Say, Our Bible verse for today says that God created the heavens and the earth in all their vast array. “Vast array” means that God made a huge variety of everything in creation. He made a huge variety of flowers. He made a huge variety of animals. God also made a huge variety of people. This lesson will help us remember that God created all of us and that we can learn many things from people who are different from us. Point out the country of South Africa. Say, We have much to learn about South Africa. Missionaries in South Africa have to learn how to work with people from many cultural backgrounds.

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MISSION STORY: Finding a Bridge Between Cultures by Joanie Doerr

Say, Today our story is about three children in South Africa. Can you guess which child is from the United States? (Discuss the vocabulary words before sharing this story: Pap porridge [POP]—a thick cornmeal porridge much like cream of wheat; Bakkie [BAH-key]—the word for a small pick-up truck in South Africa; Petrol station—a gas station; Jersey—a word for sweater.) “Time to get up!” called Mother. “This is the day you go to camp.” Vincent and Maisy crawled out of bed quickly and threw on their clothes. Mother had steaming bowls of pap porridge ready for them. Vincent and Maisy hurriedly gobbled their porridge, then they ran down the hall to brush their teeth and get their bags for the trip. Just then they heard the “hoot-hoot” of the Izuzu bakkie, indicating the arrival of Andy and his dad. Vincent and Maisy slipped into their jerseys and headed for the door. “Don’t forget your lunches,” Mother reminded them. After grabbing their sack lunches, Vincent and Maisy jumped into the bakkie. “What is the campsite like?” asked Andy. “Will we be by a lake? Are there cabins and boats?” Maisy chuckled. “The camp will be in a rural part of the country, and there won’t be any electricity.” Vincent spoke up, “And there won’t be cabins either. We are meeting at a school. The girls have to sleep inside, but the boys sleep outside. It’s a blast!” The bakkie bounced along on the concrete highway. They were headed for Acornhoek [A-corn-hook]. “What is the food like?” asked Andy. “Early in the morning they will give us fat pieces of bread and a cup of tea. At noon there will be pap with either chicken or spinach. In the evening we have either bread or pap,” spoke Maisy. “Some of the ladies from the church will cook over a log fire.” “Speaking of food,” said Andy’s dad. “Let’s have a snack.” He pulled into a petrol station called a Super City. While Andy’s dad filled the bakkie with petrol, the children bought Cokes. It was nearly noon as they drove back onto the highway. After a short time, the bakkie turned off the main highway onto a dusty, dirt road. Billows of red dust blew around the bakkie as it bumped along the road. Vincent turned to Andy’s dad and asked, “Is it true that you are bringing the sports equipment to camp?” “Yes. I have everything in the back of the bakkie. There are soccer balls, volleyballs, and a volleyball net. I even brought along several baseballs and baseball bats. I thought it would be fun to teach the game of baseball at the camp.” It was Vincent and Maisy’s turn to be confused. They had heard about baseball. One time they even saw part of a game on television, but they did not know any of the rules for the game. Suddenly, the bakkie hit a huge pot-hole, jolting everyone in the truck. Andy’s dad swerved the truck to avoid the deepest part of the hole. The rainy season had eaten away large chunks of the road, making the road difficult for travel. “Hey, Dad,” Andy said. “I am looking forward to seeing Pastor Kanenungo [kah-neh-NOON-goh] again.” Andy turned toward Vincent and Maisy. “We know him from when we lived in Zimbabwe. His father was the district superintendent for a while. They are a neat family! My dad says that Pastor Kanenungo is the special speaker at the camp. At least I know that much about the camp!” Everyone laughed at Andy’s statement. “He will be an excellent speaker,” added Andy’s dad. “Besides the worship services and the sports times, we are going to do some Bible quizzing. It is going to be the best camp we have ever had!” The bakkie rounded a bend, and there was the school. The children were already gathered on the hillside for a devotional time. There were children from many parts of South Africa. They came from many different kinds of homes and families, but they were sitting together on the hill because of their love for Jesus. Jesus was the bridge between their cultures. Review the Bible verse and say, It is always important to remember that God made all of us in “vast array.” We can learn from each other.

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STORY DISCUSSION Hand out Activity Sheet 10, “Going to Camp.” Have children find the way through the maze and then color the pictures. Say, How would you like to live in a country that has all of these animals living in natural habitats? Which of these animals would you not like to be near you? (Let children respond.) Say, Africa is a continent with many different animals.

PRAYER TIME Ask a volunteer to quote or read the Bible verse for this lesson. “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array” (Genesis 2:1). Have the children tell you the main theme of this lesson. It is an adventure to have friends from other cultures; Jesus is the bridge between all cultures. Ask the children to write “South Africa” on the ninth inside page of their prayer journals, and encourage them to decorate the page with drawings of diamonds, since diamonds are mined in South Africa. Have the children write one or two prayer requests for South Africa. Have the children pray for the children of South Africa, especially those who attend the children’s camps. Thank God for the missionaries of South Africa, and ask Him to help all the children who come in contact with these missionaries and African Nazarenes.

LESSON 11: MOZAMBIQUE

PURPOSE To help children learn more about Mozambique and how we can respond with compassion to the needs of its people.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Fast Facts Most of the people in Mozambique work as farmers to grow the food they will eat. Much of Mozambique faces the Indian Ocean. Most of the land is found in a long strip along the coast. Many Mozambicans follow their country’s traditional religions. But more than 30 percent of the people are

now Christian. Mozambique depends on the assistance of other countries to feed its people and care for its needs. The official language of Mozambique is Portuguese. Extended families often live together in the same house, even if space and resources are limited.

LESSON PRESENTATION

Introduction Make the classroom seem empty with very few objects in it. Consider setting some simple farming tools near a corner. This may include shovels, hoes, spades, etc. Set up the classroom chairs in a semicircle facing the corner. In the 1970s and 1980s, millions of Mozambicans fled as refugees to nearby nations. Civil war and destruction during the early 1990s left villages and families in ruins. Recent floods and droughts have left many of the people dependent on shipments of food and supplies from North America, Asia, and Europe. The story of the Flood of 2000 tells the loss, fear, and needs common to many people in Mozambique.

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Christians have responded to the needs of the people in Mozambique by sending needed food and supplies. In doing so, Christians fulfill the Lord’s command to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and care for those who suffer. Show a map of Africa. Have a volunteer find Mozambique. Read the Fast Facts.

MISSION STORY: The Mozambique Flood of 2000 by Douglas Perkins

Say, Today we will hear about one of the sad and difficult times the people of Mozambique faced a few years ago. The day started with the sun shining brightly. But then I noticed the birds seemed unusually restless. And our dogs, Fritz, Ben, and Rollie, were pacing back and forth under the big mango tree. I could tell they sensed that something was about to happen. “What is it, Fritz?” I asked. All of a sudden, I heard a voice yelling from a loudspeaker on top of a car. “Flood coming! Flood coming! Flood coming!” the announcer warned. “Get to higher ground IMMEDIATELY! There’s a huge wall of water coming down the Limpopo [lim-POH-poh] River. Everyone must go to higher ground. Hurry!” At that moment, I saw helicopters approaching. They began circling overhead. Several minutes later, a three-foot wave of water came down the Limpopo River. It caused only a slight rise in the water level and was rather calm. I saw Mr. Brown, a large South African fisherman, jump into his boat. The big boat was outfitted with two 75-horse Yamaha engines. Mr. Brown began racing full speed up and down the flooded river, rescuing families and their pets. One hut was surrounded by three feet of water. Mr. Brown ran the nose of his boat up to the door, ramming the door partially open. He looked inside. When his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw a mother, a father, nine children, and a grandmother huddled together. They had gathered their goats, sheep, a cow, a flock of ducks, and a bunch of gardening tools. The family clung to each other in the ceiling boards. Three of the children were very young. The mother held one of them in her arms. Fear shone on all of their faces. “Please get in the boat!” Mr. Brown cried out. “I’m here to help you!” Mr. Brown waved his hands, pleading with the family. The family was quiet. “Do you understand what I’m saying?” asked Mr. Brown. “Go away,” answered a deep male voice. “Leave us alone.” “Please come out!” Mr. Brown shouted. “I want to take you to a place where you’ll be safe. There’s a big wall of water coming. It’s big, really big! Get in the boat. Please let me help you,” begged Mr. Brown. “No. We will not come out,” the voice replied. “If we leave our animals and other belongings, they will be stolen. We will not come out. Now go away, please.” Mr. Brown backed his boat out of the family’s doorway and headed for safety, tears streaming down his face. A few hours later, the peaceful Limpopo River became a churning, 27-foot wall of water. It swept everything in its path far out to sea—into the Indian Ocean. The family Mr. Brown tried to rescue, along with their animals and hut, was swept down the river and into the sea. They were gone forever. Many people died even though helicopters raced to rescue entire families from trees. And many who survived lost everything they owned. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) worked with our missionary families to distribute blankets, clothing, corn and bean seeds, garden tools, and money to help rebuild and repair homes and churches. More than 5,000 families, totaling more than 40,000 people, received help. People also received spiritual help. Results were noticed immediately by the increase in church attendance. Hundreds of people, perhaps thousands, became Christians and were saved from demonism (the worship of evil spirits) and ancestor worship. They learned to live by faith and trust God. The spiritual impact was great. Much credit goes to NCM and to those involved in the flood relief effort.

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STORY DISCUSSION Ask children if they have ever experienced a flood. Allow them to share experiences or perceptions they have gained from floods or newscasts showing floods. Express thanks to God for the people who show compassion and generosity during times of crisis. Divide the children into two groups: one group will be the church sending food to Mozambique and the other group (opposite side of the room) will be the villagers receiving the shipment. On seven chairs between the groups, place a piece of paper with one of each of the following steps in the transport process (do not place them in the order below). Ask both groups what order the steps should be in to complete the mission, and let them place the pieces of paper in the proper order. The correct sequence is as follows: 1. Pray that God will supply the money, supplies, and connections in order to get the food to Mozambique. 2. Locate and purchase the food from a supplier. 3. Arrange a transport company to pick up and transport the food to a costal port of the sending country. 4. Contract with a ship to transport the supply to a port in Mozambique. 5. Hire an agent to move the food through customs and out of the port in Mozambique. 6. Hire a Mozambican shipping company to load, transport, and deliver the supplies to the receiving village and

its people. 7. Report the results of the process to the giving congregation and offer prayers of blessing and thanks to God. After mapping out the process, have the children review it through a series of “moving” gestures. Have them pass construction paper “grains” from the “sending” group to the “receiving” group. Conclude by saying, God wants us to help those in need. Our Bible verse says, “I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy” (Deuteronomy 15:11). Give each child a copy of Activity Sheet 11. Ask the children to imagine they are sending relief supplies to people surviving a terrible disaster. Instruct the children to circle the items the people will need most. Encourage the children to share why they believe the items chosen were the best choice for the shipment. Say, Without the generous help of others, some people in our world may not stay safe or healthy. Thank God for the generosity of all who gave to the people of Mozambique.

PRAYER TIME Gather the children around a map of Africa. Point out the location of Mozambique. Say, Today we learned some things about Mozambique. We learned about some sad things the people of Mozambique have experienced. But we also know that no matter where we are or what may happen, God will help us when we call to Him. Ask the children to write “Mozambique” on the tenth inside page of their prayer journals, and encourage them to decorate the page with a drawing of a person in a boat as a reminder of people helping each other during the flood in Mozambique. Have the children write one or two prayer requests for Mozambique. Let volunteers pray for these requests. Encourage the children to continue to pray at home for the people of Mozambique. Close by praying, Lord, You command us to be openhanded toward our brothers and toward the poor and needy. Help us to understand the best ways we can show Your love and care for others. Amen.

LESSON 12: MADAGASCAR

PURPOSE To help children love and understand God as a loving Father who has a particular concern for orphans.

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION Fast Facts In past centuries, Madagascar was a main port where pirates stopped, met, and sometimes buried treasure. The people of Madagascar do not consider themselves Africans. They have some ancestors from other

island nations of the Indian Ocean. Some parts of Madagascar have frost in the winter months. Other parts include desert and rain forest. Malagasy families like to have many children. Fourteen is the number of children many will try to have! Malagasy people like to make surprise visits with each other. They often visit a friend’s house without

warning. Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island.

LESSON PRESENTATION

Introduction Bring in a plastic tarp and pour a few pounds of sand on the tarp. Include other items that one might find at the beach. Use butcher paper and cotton balls to create frost. If time permits, create a paper cactus shape to color and tape against the same wall. These items can represent the wide range of climates found in Madagascar. Bring in objects that the children in your group would use to clean, clothe, or nourish themselves while at home. Malagasy traditions call for each husband and wife to have 14 children. However, this is economically unrealistic. Many children are left on the streets to beg and steal for their survival. Madagascar’s social services do not provide for these children. Nazarene missionaries recognized their duty to care for the needs of these children. As they care for the children, they demonstrate God’s love and introduce children to God, their Heavenly Father. Read the Fast Facts. Let a volunteer find Madagascar on the map. Gather the children into a circle. Say, Today I want you to think about yourselves as children in another country of the world. Let’s start by thinking of all the things you do in a regular day. Ask the children to relate a day this past week they particularly enjoyed. Encourage them to think about how this day started. Ask them to think about all the items they used before they even left their home in the morning. As the children share, show the objects you brought with you. These include all items used to clean and prepare for the day and items that provide comfort, protection, and nourishment for the day. Give thanks to God for providing for each child’s need as he or she finishes speaking. Point out that God generally uses parents to provide for many needs that children have every day. Ask, Who takes care of children whose parents are not available? (Answers may include grandparents, relatives, social services, legal guardians, etc.) Say, Today we will hear a story of how God is using the Church of the Nazarene to care for some children whose parents are not available. Before or during class, hide bag(s) of rice in a space that is challenging to find. Gather the children together. Say, In Madagascar’s capital city, many children live on the street. They do not have fathers or mothers to care for them. They are orphans. No one helps them find food. These children are hungry and steal food just to survive. Today I have hidden a food that people in Madagascar eat almost every day. See if you can find this food. Explain the boundaries within which the children may make their search. Encourage everyone to return to the same area when the food is found. Then dismiss the children to the search. After the children have returned with the bag of rice, have them sit in a circle. Say, No meal is considered complete in Madagascar unless it includes rice. But many of the children who live on the streets in Antananarivo [ahn-tah-nah-nah-REEV-oo] are lucky if they can find food for each day! God wants us to look after orphans. In fact, today’s Bible verse says, “Religion that God accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27, NIV). When we care for their needs, we are truly being Christian! Allow the child who found the bag of rice to go and hide it in another location. Dismiss the group to search for the bag again. You may repeat this activity as often as time and interest permit.

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MISSION STORY: Missions in a Pocket by John Cunningham

Say, Today we will hear a story about what happened to our first missionary to Madagascar during a visit to the city of Antananarivo. Tana [TAH-nah] is a short name for the city. White umbrellas surrounded us as we walked on the broken pavement in downtown Tana [TAH-nah]. I was happy to be back in the capital city of Madagascar [ma-duh-GAS-car]. “John, this is the second largest open-air market in the world,” said Richard [REE-shard], my Malagasy [ma-luh-GA-see] friend. “Would you like to come back here and see it?” “Of course I would!” The next morning we went sightseeing and shopping at the market. “They call this place the Zoma [ZOO-mah],” said Richard. “Zoma is the Malagasy word for Friday. Since the market is only open on Friday, they call it the Zoma. During the night and early hours of Friday morning, hundreds of people unpack their umbrellas for the busy day ahead.” There were thousands of huge, white umbrellas. They were held up by bamboo poles so shoppers could walk under them. The market venders stood under their umbrellas and shouted to us as we walked by, “Bon prix, Monsieur [BOHN PREE, mohn-SIR] (Good price, Mister)!” You could find anything you wanted to buy in this market. Beautiful hand-embroidered tablecloths and clothing were draped on wooden racks under the umbrellas. Wood carved necklaces lay on cardboard countertops. Cassette music of the latest singing groups blared from loudspeakers suspended under the umbrellas. Carved game boards with polished semi-precious stone playing pieces were stacked everywhere. Brightly painted pottery arranged on burlap sacks covered the pavement. A tall carved bird caught my attention. “Richard, what is this bird made from?” “It’s carved from the horn of a zebu [ZEE-boo].” “A zebra?” I asked, puzzled. “I didn’t know zebras had horns.” “No, not a zebra,” Richard laughed. “A zebu.” “What’s a zebu?” “That’s our name for cows here in Madagascar.” After bartering with vendors over the cost, we finally agreed on a fair price, and I bought the odd bird. As I put my money back into my belt pouch, the vendor leaned closer and said, “Be very careful with your money, Mister. There are many street kids here today.”

We ducked under umbrellas until we came to the basket section. I wanted to buy something to hold all the items I bought. There were hundreds of woven baskets of every color, shape, and size. I found a deep basket with strong handles and asked how much it would cost.

When we finally agreed on a price, the woman pointed at the money pouch on my belt. “Be careful,” she scolded. “You could lose all your money to the pickpockets today and not be able to buy any more baskets from me.” Surprised, I looked down and saw my Malagasy bills sticking out of my pouch. I quickly grabbed the money, paid her for the basket, and put my zebu bird into the basket. Then I carefully zipped my pouch closed. “Why was the money hanging out of your pouch?” Richard asked. “I didn’t leave it out. I’m sure I zipped it closed after buying the zebu bird.” “I wonder if the pickpockets were trying to get your money,” Richard murmured. “Let’s go over and look at the hand-made games,” I suggested. Richard stopped in front of me and pointed to the many Malagasy game boards. One particular game interested me. It had many large seeds from the baobab [BAH-oh-bob] tree. They were placed in hollowed-out pockets on the wooden board. Richard said it was an old game that everyone loved to play. “I’ll teach you how to play it, if you want.” I bartered for the game and then bought it. As I reached down to take out my money, I exclaimed, “Richard! Did you open my pouch?” “No, I didn’t touch your pouch.” “Then why is it open again with my money part-way out?” The game seller looked up at me from his cardboard seat on the ground. “It’s the pickpockets!” Richard nodded. “Yes, they’ve been at work again.” “But I didn’t see them,” I sputtered.

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“The street kids are professional pickpockets,” explained Richard. “You usually don’t know they’re here until you see your money is gone.” As we wound our way back through the sea of white umbrellas, I thought back to my previous visit to Madagascar. God had definitely called me to minister to the street children. I turned to Richard with tears in my eyes. “Right here is my mission field. I know what God wants me to do.” STORY DISCUSSION Ask your students to name some things a children’s center might need to stock to provide for needy children. Give each child a copy of Activity Sheet 12. Encourage the children to find the street children located in the open-air market. As they finish, ask what it might feel like to be in a crowd where everyone is a stranger. Point out that God sees and cares for us whether we are alone or in a crowd. Say, No matter where we are, God sees and cares for us. We can pray for the many people and children in Madagascar who need God’s protection and the love that Jesus wants to share with them.

PRAYER TIME Ask the children to write “Madagascar” on the eleventh inside page of their prayer journals, and encourage them to decorate the page with a drawing of a lemur. (You may need to have a photo or illustration of one available.) Lemurs live on the island of Madagascar. Have the children write one or two prayer requests for Madagascar. On 11 pieces of paper, write one name of each of the African countries studied this year. Put these in an open container. Have the children use their prayer journals. Take time to review two requests for each country. Let volunteers tell one thing they have learned about each country in Africa. Let volunteers select the name of a country out of the container and pray for that country. Close by thanking God for missionaries who carry the good news about God’s plan of salvation to other cultures. Thank God for Christians around the world.