Three weeks ago, we had a special skit for the Sparks and Truth & Training kids at AWANA. Each year as Christmas approaches, I try to have a skit that specifically highlights the gospel in a way that the kids can understand. I’m not very good at it, but I always have some kind of ‘altar call’ in which the kids have an opportunity to choose to accept God’s gift of Salvation in a public way.
This year we re-used a skit we had performed before, called The Gift. Our mighty and elite Drama & Serve Team performed it; they did a great job, as usual (especially considering that I made them do it without scripts). Afterward, I explained the skit, and asked the audience of some 80 Sparks and T&T kids if any of them wanted to accept the Gift of God, and if so, to come forward.
Who wouldn’t want a gift like this one? Especially if they knew who was inside?
Fifteen kids came forward. I explained to them how to accept God’s gift (Admit, Repent, Believe, Tell), and walked them through a simple prayer. It was chaotic, and I was un-prepared for such a large group of kids. I had planned (as is my usual practice) to give them each a Bible, but Kathy suggested we do something different, especially since so many of them were Sparks (Kindergarten through 2nd Grade). She had been told by several of their parents that they were getting Bibles for Christmas, so I promised the kids I would have something else for them, when next we met.
Today was the first AWANA meeting since Christmas. I bought some dog tags from Christian Book Distributors so the kids who had become Christians could wear them and be reminded that they are now children of the King. And Kathy found a cool blessing on Etsy, wherein the text of Numbers 6:24-26 was modified to include the name of each child. We spent a few hours constructing our own version in Publisher, and framed them for the kids. My hope is that they will display the blessings in their room, and remember that they belong to a God who loves them, whenever they see it.
This is the ‘girl’ version of the blessing we made, modeled by Sarah.
Serving in our AWANA program is a huge privilege. Even though I know that some kids don’t really understand the choice they are making, and others have already made the choice, but wanted an opportunity to make it more publicly — still, I rejoice to know that some fifteen hearts have said ‘Yes’ to God’s gift of Salvation.
A somewhat clearer version of the blessing for Sarah.
As Jesus said:
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Project 365, Day 7
Tim
God at work through you, dear Timothy!!
Glad that those kids have accepted Christ!
Great to hear and I really like the signs you made for the kids.
I have never been able to attend a counsel time, but I did that night. Watching those kids boldly come forward one after another was an amazing sight that made the Christmas season that much more wonderful!
Those are great!!