A child in North Korea explains to her
teacher that she did well on a test "by
God's grace." Later, she arrives home
to find her parents have disappeared.
Such stories in a new Vacation Bible
School curriculum from persecution
ministry Voice of the Martyrs have
some children's spirituality experts
questioning whether it encourages
children's faith or burdens them with
inappropriate information.
Launched last year, the ministry's Kids
of Courage curriculum "came about
as a result of churches' desire and
[our] desire to tell the story of
persecuted Christians in an age-
appropriate way," said media director
Todd Nettleton.
Church for the Harvest in Alexandria,
two hours northwest of Minneapolis,
used the curriculum last summer.
Children's director Katy Kiger is a
former missionary to South Africa and
liked that Kids of Courage includes
stories from China, Egypt, India,
Nigeria, and North Korea.
For example, stories from Nigeria talk
about Muslims converting to
Christianity as well as terrorists
attacking churches.
Many of the children in Kiger's
program attend public schools where
they face a milder form of
antagonism. Still, she said, "It was
awesome to hear how kids talk about
their own struggles."
"The kids here need to know what is
up in the world today," said Jalil
Dawood, pastor of the Arab Church of
Dallas, whose members and their
families have faced death and severe
persecution in their home countries.
His church hasn't used the program,
but Dawood says it is important for
American children to learn about the
challenges of being a Christian in
other parts of the world.
It is important for children to confront
difficult or challenging topics, says
Scottie May, professor of Christian
spirituality at Wheaton College and co-
author of Listening to Children on the
Spiritual Journey . However, she said,
"I have concerns about materials that
might introduce pain, torture, and
death to a young child without a
context for them."
Ginny Olson, director of youth ministry
for the Covenant Church's Northwest
Conference, agrees. She said, "There
is no way a teacher can be attuned to
the differing levels of sensitivity of a
group of children. Little kids need to
experience scary stories in the
presence of a parent who can protect
them."
Still, telling stories of God's presence
with his people who suffer on his
behalf has a long history. "Jewish
children heard the stories of Daniel
and Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego," said Holly Allen, professor
of Christian ministries at John Brown
University and author of Nurturing
Children's Spirituality . Stories of
suffering in the mission field have
been told to children in recent
centuries.
"Six- or seven-year-olds can hear and
process these stories," Allen said. "We
have mis-represented God's work in
the world when we avoid telling
stories where God does not save. The
deeper, more foundational truth
must be told: God will not abandon
us, even in our death."
teacher that she did well on a test "by
God's grace." Later, she arrives home
to find her parents have disappeared.
Such stories in a new Vacation Bible
School curriculum from persecution
ministry Voice of the Martyrs have
some children's spirituality experts
questioning whether it encourages
children's faith or burdens them with
inappropriate information.
Launched last year, the ministry's Kids
of Courage curriculum "came about
as a result of churches' desire and
[our] desire to tell the story of
persecuted Christians in an age-
appropriate way," said media director
Todd Nettleton.
Church for the Harvest in Alexandria,
two hours northwest of Minneapolis,
used the curriculum last summer.
Children's director Katy Kiger is a
former missionary to South Africa and
liked that Kids of Courage includes
stories from China, Egypt, India,
Nigeria, and North Korea.
For example, stories from Nigeria talk
about Muslims converting to
Christianity as well as terrorists
attacking churches.
Many of the children in Kiger's
program attend public schools where
they face a milder form of
antagonism. Still, she said, "It was
awesome to hear how kids talk about
their own struggles."
"The kids here need to know what is
up in the world today," said Jalil
Dawood, pastor of the Arab Church of
Dallas, whose members and their
families have faced death and severe
persecution in their home countries.
His church hasn't used the program,
but Dawood says it is important for
American children to learn about the
challenges of being a Christian in
other parts of the world.
It is important for children to confront
difficult or challenging topics, says
Scottie May, professor of Christian
spirituality at Wheaton College and co-
author of Listening to Children on the
Spiritual Journey . However, she said,
"I have concerns about materials that
might introduce pain, torture, and
death to a young child without a
context for them."
Ginny Olson, director of youth ministry
for the Covenant Church's Northwest
Conference, agrees. She said, "There
is no way a teacher can be attuned to
the differing levels of sensitivity of a
group of children. Little kids need to
experience scary stories in the
presence of a parent who can protect
them."
Still, telling stories of God's presence
with his people who suffer on his
behalf has a long history. "Jewish
children heard the stories of Daniel
and Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego," said Holly Allen, professor
of Christian ministries at John Brown
University and author of Nurturing
Children's Spirituality . Stories of
suffering in the mission field have
been told to children in recent
centuries.
"Six- or seven-year-olds can hear and
process these stories," Allen said. "We
have mis-represented God's work in
the world when we avoid telling
stories where God does not save. The
deeper, more foundational truth
must be told: God will not abandon
us, even in our death."
