Kids Vision and Baptist Union join together to present @ctiv@te Children’s Leadership Conference

@ctiv@te runs in conjunction with their Children’s Camp, which attracts over 200 children from schools, churches and the community. Part of your time at @ctiv@te will be spent learning through participation in the camp. You will have the privilege of putting @ctiv@te Workshops and Electives into practice as you observe, journey, teach and experience ministry first hand with these children.

Venue: held in the beautiful bushland setting of
The Tops Conference Centre, Stanwell Tops NSW just 56kms south of Sydney.

Cost: $250 (includes accommodation and meals for the 4 days

WHY THIS CONFERENCE? BECAUSE…

• busy ministry leaders NEED time out to pray and think about their ministry
• they LEARN from sharing their joys and challenges with other leaders
• they LOVE to sit back and watch top class ministry with real kids that they haven’t had to plan
• they GROW in skills and confidence by trying new skills in a safe setting

 AT CONFERENCE YOU’LL…

• See effective ministry to primary aged children modelled
• Learn skills through practical application and evaluation
•  Have hands-on experience in a safe, supportive environment
•  Be challenged and equipped to minister to children with special needs
•  Have time and space to think about and evaluate your ministry goals
•  Get lots of support and encouragement!

Download the Activate 2010 Flyer for more information and to register.

Here are some suggestions and your ideas and feedback would be appreciated.

For babies:

Baby Blessings Bible by Alice Joyce Davidson

A board book with removable soft cover. Brightly coloured and textured, so babies can look, hold, chew, taste and get to know this Bible. A great gift at baptism because it is likely to be read and enjoyed by the family and not put on a shelf to gather dust.

For young children:

The Little Children’s Bible retold by Anne de Graaf and published by Scandinavia Publishing House

A charming version of many Bible stories with things to do that help children relate to the story.  For example at the beginning of Genesis when God changed the darkness into light, it suggests turning the light off and on again. When Mary is visited by an angel, it invites children to close their eyes and hold their breath and imagine an angel standing next to their bed. Or when talking about the fact that nothing is more important than the love of God, to hug someone you love.

Scripture Unions

The Big Bible Storybook by Maggie Barfield contains 188 Bible stories to read with young children.

Another good one is The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm.

Zondervan have recently published a version of the Bible for children called Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones and they also have Faithgirlz and The Adventure Bible for older children in backpack versions.

For children who are learning to read there is the Learn to Read Bible for Rocket Readers by Paul Bellet. For children who are visual learners try The Lion Graphic Bible and for older children the Comic Book Bible and Manga Bible.There are a range of magazine format Bibles (Biblezines) for different age groups including preteens and these make good graduation presents for primary age children starting high school: Blossom for girls and Magnify for boys, and Refuel for teen boys and Revolve for teen girls.

Of course most children now get information from a computer screen and so the Sandbible.com website and the Zondervan Jesus Storybook Bible are available on line. The Children’s Animated Bible is available as two DVDs.

It is a high quality resource to support families to share their faith with their children. Faith Family is produced by a national team of people from various Christian faith traditions including Uniting Churches, Lutheran, Anglican and Catholic.

Faith Family is an A3 glossy sheet folder over to A4 size. Each copy costs 25c and 4 copies are produced each year. It is distributed to congregations, schools and organisations who present it as a gift to families associated with them.

To find out more, to get a free sample copy or to subscribe please fill in the form below.

The stories are told very simply, with simple props, and without interpretation or moral instruction. After a story is presented, the children and the storyteller wonder together about aspects of the story that draw their interest.

For more information go to the website: http://www.godlyplay.org/