Today we have a guest post from another one of the amazing CEF staff we get to serve on a daily basis as missionaries, this time from Caris Bramwell who is the national leader in the Cayman Islands.
The last meeting of Good News Club was held on March 10. All schools were closed as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. However, as the children were home and doing virtual learning, this opened the much sought-after opportunity for us to relate to them,
Having received some highly creative and engaging materials, these were forwarded to all club leaders, some teachers, parents and children. Some team leaders have established different platforms to keep in touch with the children. These include Whatsapp groups with children and parents, Zoom and Teams GNCs. In these clubs the CEF resources are utilized.
However, some are using the resources quite appropriately and are receiving particularly good results. The following brief reports come from parents, students, and team leaders.
PARENTS One parent uses them for ‘break time’ activity, from schoolwork, for her self and the children. She calls it “Church Time”. As they go through the school day and arrive at a certain time she would call out “Church Time!” the children shift from school work and get ready for church. They watch the videos, read and discuss the devotionals and enjoy the hands on activities together. Her children are loving the information they learn and are being encouraged to trust God more. The children are twins. They say they enjoy the videos and would encourage every child to spend some time watching the programs because they are helpful to know more about the Bible.
Another parent shared with her friends and reported that all the children like the activities and along with parents find them remarkably interesting.
A single mother said that she and her nine year old daughter started watching the videos, which have been of great interest to them. She said as they watched them, they discuss the story which helps them to understand more about Jesus. Her daughter pointed out to her, something very important, that in the story where a father did not believe in the miracles that Jesus did, her daughter asked her, “ Why don’t the father go and see for himself”.
They both say the activities are all so very interactive and full of fun.
TEAM LEADERS I have managed to set up WhatsApp groups for the clubs I co-ordinate so I can make regular contacts with club members. Relevant CEF resources are shared with them. Some children are good at confirming that they receive the materials and watched them by placing a “thumbs up” as requested.
A very crucial milestone has just recently been reached. Virtual GNCs via Teams are being facilitated by a Principal onto the school’s Teams platform. This will enable more club members and other children from other schools to join. The first virtual meeting was a success with 23 children on. The Bible story, Memory verse and songs were all from CEF videos. Zoom club meetings will also be continued using the materials from CEF. Two children in the second virtual club have indicated that they believe in Jesus. Another team leader wrote, “The Lord has been good and has drawn many children to His Son Jesus Christ, at her school. The children are overly excited as they study the series “God cares”. One student was so touched he believed in Jesus as His Savior and asked to be baptized.
COVID 19 has caused everyone to be home. In spite of this unprecedented situation, the children are still being contacted and are receiving the GNC links and materials. Team leaders have also been sharing the materials with other teachers, who use them as devotionals or as part of their Religious Education lessons. Children are aware that their teachers are available for Zoom conferencing to clarify and support them in their learning and discipling them to trust in Jesus.
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Praise the Lord with us! He gets all the glory. Will you pray for Caris Bramwell and the CEF National Board of the Cayman Islands as they lead the ministry there?
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