"Can I pray?....No I want to pray!"

In the final moments of Good News Club at Creekside, we were planning to close off the club in prayer. I asked my teaching partner to pray. Before she could begin, Destiny (see article: Destiny: The girl who almost forgot about GNC") raised her hand and asked to pray. Then Yorel said no I want to pray. Fantasically surprised, both kids prayed. Destiny prayed first and she spoke so freely to God. It is so clear from this prayer that Destiny was speaking to her friend- God. It was so natural. Then Yorel prayed "Thank you God we can come to GNC and have fun Oh God and thank you that they [my teaching partner and I] came to our school so we can learn more about you." What a great way to end our GNC at Creekside! Praise God for what He is doing in the lives of these precious children.

"He needs me! He needs me!"

Yesterday at GNC, we finished the missionary story of Abner Pineda. My teaching partner told them, "By the time you become an adult, Abner will need someone to take his place." Without missing a heart beat, Yorel raised his hand and said, "He 'll need me. He'll need me. I want to be a missionary. In fact, I want to drive their now." Praise God that someone Yorel's age has such a passion for missions. I pray that God will continue to guide him. After all, I was about Yorel's age when I first learned of missions and expressed a desire to get involved in missions.

Kids learning to pray

This week I have been overwhelmed by the move of God in the lives of the kids I am teaching in Good News Clubs and AWANA. Many of these kids in these clubs are beginning to understand what prayer is and the importance of them praying. When given an opportunity to pray this week at GNC on Monday, Yorel volunteered and prayed the Lord's Prayer perfectly. We have never covered this in GNC. Tuesday also, we had Tommy volunteer to pray to close the GNC. Tommy prayed a prayer that just was amazing. Tommy is about 3rd grade, maybe 4th. He prayed to God so confidently and elloquently. My GNC teaching partner for that club turned to me later after the club in utter amazement. So it is great to see that kids like Yorel and Tommy in my GNC are coming from good solid Christian homes. Sadly this cannot be said for all the kids I reach in GNC or AWANA.

For my AWANA kids, it has been an up hill climb understanding who God is, because most of them came to us not knowing much of God at all. It has been a slow process, but just last night in our lesson series on prayer, the kids each one by one volunteered praying to God. It is such a blessing to hear kids who a few months ago did not understand much about God, praying to HIM!!!!!

"How do I know what God wants me to do?"

During the gospel application of my Bible lesson this week at Good News Club, Sophie raised her hand and said " How do I know what God wants me to do?" We were discussing that sin is breaking God's law. Sophie had no idea how she was to know what God wanted her to do. So, I replied, "We find that out in the Bible, God's Word". Sophie replied, "What if you don't have a Bible." This was a fresh reminder to me. Some kids come to GNC and have really no idea who God isl, let alone know about the Bible. I gave Sophie a Bible along with a Wonder Devotional book. Pray that Sophie will continue to have this desire to know about God. This stands as a testimony to the truth that lack of knowledge of God crosses all social, cultural, and economic barriers. All kid need to learn about God.

Destiny: the girl that almost forgot GNC

Destiny is new to Good News Club this year. Each time the Bible is taught, Destiny is so focused and really listening to God's Word. Typically, Destiny is one of the first kids to come into GNC. Yesterday, as GNC began, she was not there. Another girl Jaime was not there either. Jaime's brother Jaylun was at GNC. So, we had to get her off the bus. It turns out that Destiny and Jaime are on the same bus. Both girls had forgotten about GNC. Destiny, who almost forgot about GNC, sat and entered into the club. When the invitation to receive Christ was given, Destiny responded and received Jesus as Savior! Praise God!!!! It is just like a good friend of mine, Bill Allison, says Destiny "had a divine appointment with God" and nothing could stop her from keeping that appointment.

Good News Clubbber desires to live for HIM

I just spoke with Ruth Johnson, GNC teacher at Union Elementary School in Joliet. For several times now Malik has come back to talk to Ruth about becoming God's child. Malik tells Ruth about how much he loves God and desires to live for Him. Malik brings his Bible each week and will tell you that he is reading it. The only thing, however, is the Malik does not recognize or yet understand what sin is. All of us have tried talking to him about this, but Malik is not ready. So, we are praying for him. Please pray that God would do a work in Malik's heart and life

A break through with Kyle

Kyle has been coming to my SPARKS program since September. He is a very active child with a vivid imagination. Often times throughout the year Kyle would answer questions with the most odd comments like "I've been to Heaven. My dad took me there." The comments have gotten more and more strange. Most of these comments come in response to a question when we as teachers ask the class a question during the Bible lesson. Recently, we have made the switch to pre-school lessons from CEF PRESS. Last night we had a lesson about Nehemiah and the importance of prayer in every situation. During the Gospel application, I asked "What did God do to prove His love for you? " Kyle raised his hand. With fear and trembling, I called on Kyle. He answerd "Jesus died on the cross!" When we heard that every leader in the room applauded Kyle. Kyle still has that vivid imagination, but the Gospel is finally starting to click with him. I am just in amazed at how God is working in the lives of Kyle and the rest of my SPARKIES.

"Why do we sin?'

For the last several weeks I've noticed that they kids in my SPARKS group were not really understanding what was being taught during the Bible Lesson. So, last week I taught using the Preschoolers Can Know God series. They seemed very much more engaged in the lesson. During the Gospel application in my lesson, I posed the question "Why do we sin?" Then one girl raised her hand "because we are not perfect!" WOW. I never really understood if this girl was understanding what was being taught! But God did. I was so encouarged to hear this precious first grade girl, who never said a word before during the Bible lesson, give such a great answer! YOu never know what God is doing through you!

1st grader with a passion for the lost

Walker's Grove Good News Club started yesterday with a huge response. 13 kids came for the first meeting! One girl Kristen blew me away by with her own testimony. Kristen, a first grader, responded to the invitation to receive Christ as Savior. When she came back, she stated that " I want God in my life." As we continued it became evident that she is already a believer. Her next words were a pleasant surprise! Kristen spoke about her friend Rachel and how she really wants Rachel to come to know and love God. So, Kristen told her about God but Rachel didn't want to listen. Burdened for Rachel to come to God, Kristen told her parents and then they got involved telling Rachel about God. School vacation or something happened. Then Kristen began looking for Rachel to talk to her more about God. Unfortunately Rachel moved away!

How awesome to have a first grader with such a passion for her friends to come to GOD!!!!

"God wants tto spend time with me?"

"God wants to spend time with me?" Jaylun asked at Good News Club yesterday. Jaylun attended GNC last year, but this year things are starting to sink in with him. I wish you could have seen the look on Jaylun face when he said this! Jaylun seems to be interested in GNC but is having some problems paying attention and really listening. Deep down Jaylun wants to hear and learn more about God, but there is something is keeping him from doing so. Please pray with me for Jaylun, especially on Mondays when he is at GNC.

Teaching to Change

I had just begun my Bible lesson on Naboth's Vineyard at Chaney Monge Good News Club when Hannah raised her hand. I just finished teaching that coveting, wanting what someone else has, is a a sin. Hannah raised her hand and said " My mom says that it is ok to want what someone else has." I was not expecting that. I had to think fast, but couldn't. The Holy Spirit gave me this "At first just wanting what someone else has is ok, but when you starting thinking about it and dwelling on it, then it becomes a problem." During the rest of the lesson, I watched how Hannah responded to the Bible lesson. By the end of the lesson, Hannah finally understood. She saw how coveting could be a problem and left with ways she deal with coveting when it arives in her young Christian life. What a joy it was to watch God work in her life that day!

This is a reminder that I am simply God's vessel so that His work can be accomplished!

A 4yr old prayer warrior

Four year olds can pray! Especially young Mark. Mark received Christ as His Savior at three years old. Mark was not rushed into anything. He knew he was a sinner and wanted to be forgiven of his sin. Since then, Mark has really been growing, phsyically and spriritually. Young Mark attended a party club that I had recently. The theme was being ready for Christ's return. Right before we had our snack, Mark volunteered to pray. The following is his prayer. I hope this encourgaes you as it does me. "Dear Jesus, thank you for our snack. take care of us for the rest of our lives until we go to be with you!" AMEN!