Unit 2 is Done!

I finished formatting Unit 2 for the curriculum today. Good timing considering the unit starts in 2 weeks. The majority of the work was done back in August when we did all our planning. I held off on finalizing it, though, until now because we wanted to make sure the format actually worked in Unit 1.

It's been an interesting process for me. I've spent the last few weeks analyzing, watching, talking with my husband about what he observes, questioning kids, finding feedback wherever I can get it. The problem with this, I've found, is I've focused so much on each individual lesson that I forgot about our big picture. While I heard stories about how our kids were starting to really think about what the Bible says, that they were reading their Bibles at home, and that our lessons were sticking, I felt discouraged that we weren't being relevant enough to a child's everyday life. Our lessons felt very academic.

But today, as I typed in the final lesson for Unit 2, I was reminded of the grand scheme of things... the over all picture... how it all fits together. The first half of our curriculum has been laying a foundation for what the rest of the year will bring. Unit 1 was necessary to the implementation of Unit 2. We needed to tell them why we study the Bible before we taught them how to study the Bible. They needed to know the layout of the Bible to understand that the Old Testament looks forward to the promise God made about bringing a savior for the world while the New Testament shows the fulfillment of God's promise.

As I typed the conclusion of Unit 2, and an invitation to salvation, I realized what an incredible experience this could be for our kids. So many of them accepted Jesus as their forever friend years ago. Some even have made a point to "see how many times they can do it" (despite being reminded that you only have to accept Jesus once). The majority of our kids accepted salvation with beautiful, innocent faith. Through the lessons in Unit 2, they'll get to see more of the why behind their acceptance. They're finally at an age where the wages of sin are real to them... death is something they understand. For once, the separation between them and God is tangible.

My hope through this unit is that not only will they gain the intellectual knowledge to distinguish between the Old and New Testaments and be able to explain how they fit together, but to also grasp a deeper understanding of what salvation is and why it is so important. Once this is achieved, then we can truly look (in unit 3) at the personal side of their relationship with the Lord. We can look at what sins they're struggling with and that God forgives them, as well as provide them with tools for resistance. We can understand the purpose of worship. See the need for fellowship. And finally, in Unit 4 we'll be able to help them take a deeper look at who they are in Christ--develop testimonies, learn about spiritual gifts and find out how we fit into the church.

I find myself even more excited for this curriculum than I was back in August when we initially prayed over and developed it. Last week, as I walked around our new modular unit, tears came to my eyes. What we're doing in teaching these students is so much bigger than lesson plans. It's greater than a new classroom building. It surpasses any personal achievement our team may have in the writing of it. Young hearts are maturing in their love for the Lord. Young minds are gaining insight, intelligence and information to withstand opposition as they grow older. I feel so much hope for these kids--they can be the future leaders of our church, our community, our country. They will grow up someday and teach their children the ways of the Lord. We're impacting generations.

This is so much bigger than just one lesson at a time. There is a big picture, and isn't it grand?

Thoughts about Bridge 45:

In all of our studies of children ministries, what has struck us most profoundly was the task of imparting what we hold dear, to who we hold most dear. Children are our future, the Bible makes clear the responsibility we bear, and that our inheritance is incumbent on it.

The Lord has a message for everyone in this journey we are on. He cares very deeply for the spiritual training of our children. (Deu 6:5-9 ESV) “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” This is but one commandment, there are dozens! The role of spiritual leader falls directly on the parent. That leaders in children’s ministry may come along side and bless these kids is awesome, but tertiary in usefulness to the mission. Parents in the modern church have abdicated their responsibility for spiritual nourishment hoping that youth leaders will fill the gap. This will not stand if we take the whole council of God.

The physical, ideological, and personal battles our children will win or lose start at home, and in the classroom. The spiritual skirmishes we are engaged in now will affect our children’s ultimate dispositions. The stakes are very high. The enemy is engaged. Why are we not engaged in running the good race? Schedule is part of the problem; the busy modern life makes spiritual leadership almost impossible. Apathy exists as well. The biggest problem might be fear; fear steeped in ignorance leading to inaction. Fear is overcome by exercising courage, and the judicious application of knowledge.

We need something useful, a tool (a weapon) we could give educators and parents. Our target group is fourth and fifth graders, something is missing. We see them more mature, yet less prepared. We see them more advanced, yet less resilient. We see them more afflicted and less naive. What drives the trends for the “tween” set? The post 9-11 world? Living in an age of deception, or is it bovine growth hormone? In the end it doesn’t matter. The question becomes, what are we going to do?

After searching hundreds of articles, and lengthy tomes we toyed around with many theories. Would Kohlberg’s moral development make good application to the problem? How about Fowler’s theory of faith? It all lacked substance; it was so much chasing after the wind…

We need to teach them the Bible. Who? The children! Who else? Growing up in a post-modern, technology driven society, our kids lack belonging, community, culture, pride, and meaning. Christian faith offers all these things and much more: a relationship with a loving savior. Christianity is our culture.

The Bible curriculum Jared is developing looks world class; Jill’s ability to craft dynamic learning would remind a poet of Arachne’s loom. What would I offer? At the midnight hour I stumbled upon it, dog eared, and stained with coffee. One of my more esoteric books, Newton Riddell, bore the secret. Everyone knows God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; three in one. What many people forget is that man is a reflection of Him. We are trichotomous, consisting of body, spirit, and soul. Our development is measurable. “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luk 2:52 ESV) Do you see that? He was fully man and fully God. What do we observe? He increased in wisdom, he was educated. He increased in stature, he grew tall! He increased in favor with God; He developed spiritually. Finally, He increased in favor with man; He developed psycho-socially.

At this point the light bulb clicked on. Erik Erikson had detailed human psychosocial development in eight stages of life. His theory was excellent for describing the crisis periods each individual faced in western culture. What if we applied this developmental perspective to those born again? We owe a debt of gratitude to Yvonne Bisonette from Regent University whose doctoral work made this program possible. Her research indicates that when born again an individual must navigate each life crisis again, but in the spiritual sphere. Here we have something to give small group leaders and parents; a theory of spiritual development. We are going to impress on young minds the living word of God. We will give their guardians a tool for assessing and assisting development. Bridge 45 is off to an exciting start.

Someone once said: “the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step, and a lot of griping.” I have to admit I did not want to enter into a children’s ministry project. I was afraid. I thought: what could I offer? Can I really make a difference? Shouldn’t I leave this to the professionals? Worst of all; what if I mess this up? (Matt 19:4 ESV) “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’” Like Moses on the back side of the desert I argued with God a bit, I needed some prompting from Him to get me moving. I am sure glad I decided to follow His word. As this program grows, and gains a life all its own. I covet your prayers. I know Jill and Jared do as well. Thank you.

Jesse