From time to time, I (Shirley) write a special message of encouragement or teaching to share with our overseas partners and others interested in the ministry. Here are some of the most recent. I would love to hear your comments, so please e-mail me!
If you read the personal information in "About Us", you will learn that we, Gerald and Shirley Davis, started in children's ministry some 25 years ago. With our own SIX children, our involvement grew rapidly as we took God's commandment seriously in Deuteronomy 6:7, and also wanted to reach out to other children, especially those whose parents did not feel the same responsibility. As many people do, we both started teaching children in Sunday School.
History
Visions and direction
Through the years, as I, Shirley, have come to recognize more and more the leading of the Lord, whether through a little "nudge" in the spirit, or a sudden "knowing" after maybe weeks of worried prayer and bible reading, I have learned that I truly can trust HIM, my Lord Jesus, to carry me through whatever comes. Our Heavenly Father really does know the future, and so NOTHING that happens to us takes Him by surprise! Of course, we have free will and can make our own decisions and choices, but He already knows what they will be, and has a plan ready to help us, whenever we turn around and seek His guidance. He even lets us know a little in advance at times!
When we TRULY are able to release more and more of our life into His care, and trust in the Word as the TRUTH even when we can't understand it or what is happening to us, then we can experience God's peace and see Him really move in our life. That is when we can really begin to KNOW God rather than just know ABOUT Him, and we want to follow HIS way, rather than any good idea of our own.
The words "vision" and "prophetic word" can mean many things in many churches, but here I want to share some of the revelations or understanding that God has given me periodically through the years. They are not so much great prophecies of future events, rather just a picture or maybe a few words that move my heart to be burdened in a new direction. It is only looking back, that I can see so clearly that those moments were actually turning points along the way as the ministry developed.
But more than that, when trials come and the going gets rough (inevitable when we serve Jesus), we can remember that experience or "word" from God and know without a shadow of doubt that we MUST continue! Without that, we would truly be confused and doubt. I hope that maybe in some way the experiences that I share here will be of help and encouragement to you.
We well know that in some countries there are many churches with good programs for children, that reach out into the surrounding communities. However on the other hand, we know that in the majority of 2nd and 3rd world countries, most churches focus on constructing a building, getting Bibles and preaching to adults - and maybe even just surviving persecution! In addition, in many of these countries, because of wars, malnutrition, AIDS, and poverty, a great many children die before reaching adulthood. SO THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE! We already have another challenge that reaches to EVERY part of the world--THE "4-14 WINDOW" - that is: all children from the ages of 4 to 14 who need to hear about Jesus Christ.
New methods and technology
Through our personal experience of teaching in such areas outside of the United States, we have seen the need for helpful, dynamic teaching ideas that can be readily adapted to different cultures and are not dependant on understanding American ways. In addition they must utilize only materials that are commonplace and readily available ANYWHERE in the world! We have visited places where even crayons and paper are a rare luxury in children's ministry, and where obtaining bibles (or any other Christian material!) is a practical impossibility.
Resources available
In our experience of sending printed materials overseas (even by airmail) there is a considerable percentage that get lost "en route" in many countries, and even with the arrival of Internet cafés in many remote areas, faithful Christian workers are limited by how many MINUTES online they can buy at a time!
Therefore over the past year or two, we have begun to develop new resources that can be shared free of charge via the Internet, and in a format that can be used most easily (and most economically) in many places around the world. We have developed resources that both train children's ministers, and also provide them with new ideas and teaching materials. They can be easily downloaded and printed out onto regular copy paper and then photocopied for use in churches and other areas of ministry. We also try to share important links to other online resources that would be especially beneficial.
Resources
Children's ministry partners
During our more than 6 years living in Mexico, and then through our various mission trips since then, we have had the privilege to meet (and often stay in the homes of) many WONDERFUL brothers and sisters in the Lord. Although we come from totally different backgrounds, have had different experiences, and minister in different cultures with different obstacles and problems, it is always amazing just how much we have in common - the same conviction and passion, and similar gifting to produce new ideas and "find a way" to reach children with God's love and teaching! Individually we may not be understood by others, but we "connect" immediately when we meet, and feel like we are truly firm friends!
Partners
More photos and dynamic ideas
If you have finished reading our web pages concerning children's ministry but would still like to see more of our photos and dynamic ideas, go to our special site http://angelfire.com/tx4/worldkidsoutreach/
