This past Sunday was a big day! I debuted the Missions Reporters program at my home church, Redeemer Montclair. We had a blast learning about the Who, What, When, Where, How and Why of Missions. We even had time at the end for the kids to write their own creative newspaper articles about missions.
For those who are more interested in the Missions Reporters Program I'm posting general information about the program below. I'd love to debut this program at your church. Post a comment or drop me an email to find out how I can visit your church.
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Summary – The Missions Reporters mini-missions adventure is an interactive program for children in 1st-6th grade to learn about missions and missionaries. Through this adventure students learn who missionaries are, what missionaries do, where missionaries go, how they as children can be missionaries and why God wants everyone to be a missionary.
Students are charged with the responsibility of becoming “missions reporters” as they visit three interactive stations to play games, take part in group activities and participate in teacher led discussions centered on the theme of missions. Karen Jacobsen, Food for the Hungry missionary candidate to Kigali, Rwanda facilitates the Missions Reporters mini-missions adventure with the help of three youth workers or Sunday School teachers from your church.
Students are given “reporter’s notebooks” and are encouraged to record what they’ve learned in order to write newspaper articles about missions.
The Adventure – A Synopsis
WHO – are missionaries? (5 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through a true/false game show format geared at the whole group, Karen will help students understand that missionaries are normal people from all walks of life, with real struggles who have accepted God's mission to share the good news– overseas or in their own neighborhood.
WHAT – do missionaries do? (15 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through a memory game pairs of students learn what missionaries do. They learn that while, some missionaries are pastors and teachers others are videographers, musicians, nurses and airline pilots. Children learn that God can use everyone’s skills and training in missions work.
WHY – does God want us all to be missionaries? (15 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through Bible Verse puzzles small groups of students learn why God wants everyone to be missionaries. Students will examine Psalm 105:1-2 and Romans 10:13-14 and learn that God wants people to be missionaries to make known all of his wonderful acts and what he has done and because people need to hear about Christ in order to believe in him. Through a teacher led memory verse activity, students will be challenged to memorize Psalm 105:1-2
WHERE – do missionaries serve? (15 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through small group board games students will learn more about the countries that your own church’s missionaries serve in. Students will gain a global awareness of the world that God has created and learn about ways they can pray for the world.
WHEN – can I be a missionary and HOW – can I be one right now? (10 minutes)
Teaching Objective: Through a large group discussion students learn that they can be missionaries now by telling their friends about Jesus. In pairs, children will come up with creative ways to tell their friends and family about Jesus to share with the whole group.
TAKEAWAYS - Each child will be given their own missions reporter notebook as well as a double sided newspaper article. One side will tell about Karen’s upcoming ministry to Rwanda. The second side is left blank with spaces for writing and pictures for children to write their own articles about what they have learned.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
My Name is Miss Jacobsen Again!
The biggest change in my life lately (besides deciding to go to Rwanda) has been the decision to return to teaching. In late February I accepted a new job at the Geneva School in Manhattan to teach fourth grade. This was a big change for me since I haven't formally taught in five years; though I've taught ESL, Sunday School and done curriculum development in that time.
The Geneva School is a classical Christian school in midtown Manhattan. It's a great school - academically rigorous yet a small welcoming atmosphere. I have ten students in my class who are all bright, precocious and talkative! I have to say, I'm loving it!
The transition from a desk job back into the world of teaching has been challenging yet rewarding. Since I'm going to Rwanda to do curriculum development this is a great opportunity for me to transition back into the world of formal education. As always, I'm enjoying the lesson planning and curriculum development aspect the most. There's nothing I enjoy more than finding creative ways for children to learn!
With that passion in mind I'm especially excited that curriculum development is going to be my job and my ministry in Rwanda. I can't think of anything I'd rather do then find creative ways for Rwandan children to learn the truths of the Gospel!
The Geneva School is a classical Christian school in midtown Manhattan. It's a great school - academically rigorous yet a small welcoming atmosphere. I have ten students in my class who are all bright, precocious and talkative! I have to say, I'm loving it!
The transition from a desk job back into the world of teaching has been challenging yet rewarding. Since I'm going to Rwanda to do curriculum development this is a great opportunity for me to transition back into the world of formal education. As always, I'm enjoying the lesson planning and curriculum development aspect the most. There's nothing I enjoy more than finding creative ways for children to learn!
With that passion in mind I'm especially excited that curriculum development is going to be my job and my ministry in Rwanda. I can't think of anything I'd rather do then find creative ways for Rwandan children to learn the truths of the Gospel!
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