instructor’s guide lesson 3-3 considering children in crisis · think of some practical ideas for...

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Participantswillneed:• Bibles• Participantnotes• Writingutensils

IllustrationOptions:• Toycarorphotoofacar

withonewheelmissing• 1ormoresetsof8

“Losses”cardsonindexcardsorpiecesofpaper

• 2largesheetsofpaper(optional)

• Money(paperbilloflocalcurrency)

Instructor’sGuideLESSON3-3ConsideringChildreninCrisis

Objectives• Tounderstandthelosseschildrenincrisisexperience• ToconsiderGod’sheartfortheirsituationandourresponsibility

towardschildrenatrisk• Tobrainstormwaystoadjusttheteachingenvironmentandapproach

tobuildtrustwithchildrenincrisis• Toprayforneedychildrenintheirowncontextandbeyond

LessonOverviewWelcome&WarmUp 10minutesChildhoodLosses 10minutesWhattheBibleSaysAboutChildren 10minutesInCrisis BecomingaPersonofTrust 20minutesWrapUp&Prayer 5minutes

BeforeYouBegin• Pray.AskGodtoopentheheartsofparticipantsandtohelpyoutoshare

fromyourheartaboutthisimportanttopic.• Gatherallmaterials(seeright).Makesubstitutionsasnecessary.• Readthroughthelessontofindplaceswhereyouwillbeaskedtogivea

personalstoryorthought.Planaheadtochoosepowerfulexamples.

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Instructor’sGuideLESSON3-3ConsideringChildreninCrisis

Holdupatoycarorapictureofacarthatismissingawheel.What’smissing?Ifthiswerearealcar(oruseotherlocalformoftransportationwithfourwheels),whatmighthappenifyoutriedtodriveit?Vehicleslikethiswerecreatedtofunctionwithfourwheels.Ifoneofmoreismissingordamaged,thevehicleisheadedfordisaster.Godcreatedchildrentogrowinfourareas.(Reviewthefourareasofgrowthtogether:physical,mental,social-emotional,andspiritual.)Whenchildrenexperiencelossesintheirlivesthatstuntgrowthinoneormoreofthesekeyareas,theywillstruggletomoveforward,oftenbecomingchildrenincrisis.

Aroundtheworld,hundredsofmillionsofchildrenareincrisis.Gothroughthegloballisttogether,(orsubstitutestatisticsforyournation.)

• Extremepoverty-385millionliveonlessthan$2perday(2016)• Orphans-Nearly140millionhavelostoneorbothparents,15

millionduetoHIV/AIDS• ChildLabor-nearly220million(8.4millioninhumantrafficking,

including2millioninthesextrade)• Refugees-21millionworldwide(2016)• StreetChildren-upto150million• Childsoldiers-300,000• Noeducation-75million• Disease-29,000undertheageof5dieeachdayfrom

preventablediseases• Other:FamilyIssues,childrenwithspecialneeds,harmful

culturalpractices

Whatisyourresponseasyoulookatthesenumbers?(surprise,shock,sadness,etc.)

Whatissuesarethechildrenatriskinyourcommunityfacing?(Makealisttogether)

Wecanfeeloverwhelmedwhenfacedwiththerealityofchildrenincrisis,butGodcanequipeachoneofustoministrytothesechildreningreatneed.Intoday’slessonwewillconsiderchildrenincrisisandhowwecanbecomepeopleoftrustintheirlives.ThislessonispartofNurturingtheWholeChildonthe1for50Hand.

WelcomeandWarmUp (10minutes)

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Instructor’sGuideLESSON3-3ConsideringChildreninCrisis

Beforethelesson,makeasetof“Losses”cards–8indexcardsorpiecesofpaperlabeledwithoneofthefollowing:home,education,parents,food,senseofrightandwrong,safety,trustofadults,health.Ifyouhavealargegroup,makeseveralsets.

Inviteeightparticipantstostandfacingthegroup.Giveone“losses”cardtoeachperson.(Forlargegroups,considerdividingparticipantsintosmallergroups,eachwithitsownsetofcards.)Thesecardsrepresentthingschildrenneedforhealthydevelopment:(Readthecardsaloudandexplainifnecessary)home,education,parents,food,senseofrightandwrong,safety,trustofadults,health.

Asyoureadthefollowingstatementsfromchildren,askparticipantstothinkaboutwhatislost.Instructthoseholdingthecardstodroptheircardontothegroundiftheyfeelthechildhaslostthatthing.Giveanexamplebeforeyoubegin.

Statements:

Iwouldliketogobackhome,butsoldiersdestroyedmyvillage.(home)

IwanttobeadoctorwhenIgrowup.Myparentsonlyhaveenoughmoneytosendonechildtoschool-myolderbrother.(education)

MyfatherdiedofAIDSwhenIwas9.Mymotherdiedayearlater.Ihavetwoyoungerbrothers.Whowilltakecareofus?(parents)

Ihavenoteatenanythinginthreedays.Ijustlieonthisstrawmat,tryingtoescapethehunger.(food)

Iamachildsoldier.Tomekillinghasbecomenormal,likeshakinghandsingreeting.(senseofrightandwrong)

Iwork10hoursadayinabrickfactory.Oneboygothisshirtsleevecaughtinthemachine.Thesharppartscutoffhisfinger.(safety)

Myunclepromisedmeajobatarestaurantinanothertown.Instead,hesoldmetoaladywhoforcedmetobecomeaprostitute.(trustofadults)

Iwork12hoursadayweavingrugs.Mybackhurtsfromsittinginonepositionformanyhourswithoutarest.Itisdifficultformetobreathewithallthewoolflufffloatingintheair.(health)

ChildhoodLosses (10minutes)

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Instructor’sGuideLESSON3-3ConsideringChildreninCrisis

Debriefwiththewholegroup:Whatdidyouobserve/learnfromthisactivity?

Readthefollowingstoryorshareapersonalstoryofachildincrisisfromyourcommunity.

Whenatyphoonhithercoastalvillage,Joy’sfathermovedherupontotherooftoescapethehugewavesthatcame.Thestormtoretheroofintwo,butthankfullyJoyandherfamilyclungonandsurvived.Sherememberswithhorrorseeingthebodiesofthosekilledinthestormandthecorpsestornupfromthecemeterybytheforceofthewater.Muchofhervillagewasdestroyed,includingherhome.Lackingfoodandwater,thefamilydidnotknowwheretogoorhowtheywouldsurvive.Thefloodwatercarriedmanydiseases,andmanyvillagersquicklybecamesickwithdysentery.Ittookmorethansixmonthsforaschooltoreopen.

Discussthechild’sphysical,mental,socio-emotional,andspirituallossesasagroup.

Thinkbacktothechildrenincrisisinyourcommunity.Whatlossesaretheyexperiencing?

Weseethattheneedisverygreat,butwhatdoesGodhavetosayaboutchildrenincrisis?Let’slookattheScriptures.

WhattheBibleSaysAboutChildreninCrisis (10minutes)

Haveparticipantsformgroupsof4-5people.Intheirgroups,readscripturesrelatedtochildrenatriskanddiscussthetwoquestionsthatfollowforeachscripture: Psalm82:3-4 Matthew25:34-40 James1:27

• WhatisourGod-givenresponsibilitytowardschildren

incrisis?• Howdoescaringforchildrenincrisisrelatetoour

worship?

Letgroupssharetheirobservations.Summarizekeythoughtsforeachscripturepassage.

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Instructor’sGuideLESSON3-3ConsideringChildreninCrisis

Servingchildrenincrisisisasmuchapartofourworshipasprayer,giving,fasting,orevangelizing.Butasweseektoreachandministertochildrenincrisis,weneedtorealizethatthelossestheyexperiencecanaffectspiritualdevelopment,makingourjobmoredifficult.

BecomingaPersonofTrust (15minutes)

TraumaandSpiritualGrowth:Whenchildrenhaveexperiencedsignificantlossesduetocrisis,especiallyiftheyhavebeenexploited,abusedorabandoned,theyfinditdifficulttobelieveinaGodwholovesandcaresforthem.

Discuss:Howmighttheirlossesimpactachild’sunderstandingofGod?(Answersmayincludethefollowingresponses:)

• Adestructionoftrust(inpeopleandinGod)• Lossoftrueidentityandworthashavingbeencreatedin

theimageofGod• Feelingunlovedandincapableofgivinglove• Lackingasenseofbelonging• Lossofinnocence• Guiltovertheirbehavior• Ifthey’vebeenhurtbytheirfather,Godasa

“Father”isnotcomforting• Theybecome“stuck”spiritually

OneissuethatrelatesdirectlytothewaychildrenunderstandandrelatetoGodistheirabilitytotrustadults.ThedegreetowhichachildtrustsadultsinfluenceshisabilitytotrustaHeavenlyfather.

Activity:TrustFall

Haveparticipantspairupwithsomeoneofsimilarsizeandgender,withonepartnerstandingbehindtheother.Demonstratethetrustfalltothegroup.Thepersoninfrontfoldshisarmsacrosshischest,leansbackonhisheels,andfallsbackward.Thepersonstandingbehindputshisarmsoutinfrontofhim,breakstheperson’sfall,andpusheshimbackintoastandingposition.Letpartnerstaketurnsfallingandcatching.

Discusstheactivitywiththefollowingquestions:

• Howistrustimportantinthisactivity?• Ifyourpartnerfailedtocatchyou,howlikelywouldyoubeto

repeatthetrustfallwithsomeonenew?• Howdoestherelationshipbetweenthetwopartnersinthis

activitycomparetotherelationshipbetweenachildandtheimportantadultsinhislife?(Answersmayincludethefollowing:)

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Instructor’sGuideLESSON3-3ConsideringChildreninCrisis

o Childrenaredependentonadultso Adultsmustrecognizewhatchildrenneedandbethereto

provideforthoseneedso Withoutsupport,thechild’sneedswillnotbemeto Ifadultsfailtodotheirpart,childrenmaybeharmedo Ifachildexperienceslackofsupport,hisinabilitytotrustwill

carryovertootheradults

Youmaybetheonlyconsistent,lovingadultinthelivesofchildrenincrisis.YouaretheonewhocanhelpthemunderstandandexperienceGod’struecharacterandloveforthem.

WhatdochildrenincrisisneedtounderstandaboutGodandtheirrelationshipwithhim?(Listtogether,writingontheboard.Remindthemaboutchildren’slosses.Answersmayincludethefollowing:)

• Identityashischildren• Senseofself-worth• Securityandprotection(consistency)• Unconditionalloveandacceptance• Forgiveness• Releaseofshameoverwhathashappenedtothem

ThroughourwordsandactionswecanhelpchildrenlearnGod’sheartforthem,leadingtohealingofthewoundscausedbythecrisis.Let’sthinkofsomepracticalideasforministeringtothesechildren.Divideintotwogroups.Giveeachgrouponeofthefollowingtopicstobrainstorm,writingtheiranswersonalargesheetofpaper.

1.Waystoprovideaconsistentenvironmentforchildrenincrisis2.Waystodemonstrateunconditionalloveandacceptancetochildrenincrisis

Shareideastogether.Affirmthegoodideasgeneratedbygroups.

WrapUp&Prayer (5minutes)

ObjectLesson:PaperMoneyShowthepapermoney.Ifwefoldthismoneyinhalf(demonstrate),doesitchangewhatitisworth?Whatifweputitaside(demonstrate)andforgetaboutit?Doesthatchangeitsvalue?Whatifwedropit(demonstrate)andsomeonestepsonit?Whatifwecrumpleit?Moneygetsitsworthfromthegovernment.Itsvaluedoesnotchange,nomatterhowwetreatit.

ChildrenhaveintrinsicworthbecausetheywerecreatedintheimageofGod.Whenpeopleignorethem,belittlethem,ortreatthemharshly,doesthischangethevaluetheyhaveinGod’seyes?

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Instructor’sGuideLESSON3-3ConsideringChildreninCrisis

Closing/Whatwillyoudonow?

WhatisGodsayingtoyouaboutyourresponsetothechildrenincrisisinyourmidst?

Haveatimeofprayer.Prayforthechildrenofcrisisinyourcommunity/nation.AskGodtoshowyousmallchangesyoucanmaketodemonstratetothesechildrenthattheyhavevalue.AskGodforwisdomtoministertochildrenincrisisinwaysthattouchtheirhearts,buildtrust,andallowGodtobeginthehealingprocess.

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ENRICHMENTLESSON3-3

ConsideringChildreninCrisisChildreninCrisisMany issues negatively impact children around the world, leaving them in crisis.

ü Extreme poverty - 385 million live on less than $2 per day (2016) ü Orphans - Nearly 140 million have lost one or both parents, 15 million due to

HIV/AIDS ü Child Labor - nearly 220 million (8.4 million in human trafficking, including 2

million in the sex trade) ü Refugees - 21 million worldwide (2016) ü Street Children - up to 150 million ü Child soldiers - 300,000 ü No education - 75 million ü Disease - 29,000 under the age of 5 die each day from preventable diseases ü Other: Family Issues, children with special needs, harmful cultural practices

What issues are the children at risk in your community facing?

ChildhoodLossesFor healthy development children require:

ü Home ü Education ü Parents ü Food ü Sense of right and wrong ü Safety ü Trust of adults ü Health

What losses are the children in your community experiencing?

WhatdoestheBiblesayaboutchildrenincrisis?According to the scriptures below, what is our God-given responsibility towards children in crisis? How does caring for children in crisis relate to our worship? Psalm 82:3-4

Matthew 25:34-40

James 1:27

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ParticipantNotesENRICHMENTLESSON3-3ConsideringChildreninCrisis

Trauma and Spiritual Growth When children have experienced significant losses due to crisis, especially if they have been exploited, abused or abandoned, they find it difficult to believe in a God who loves and cares for them. How might children’s losses impact their understanding of God?

BecomingaPersonofTrustYou may be the only consistent, loving adult in the lives of children in crisis. You are the one who can help them understand and experience God’s true character and love for them. What do children in crisis need to understand about God and their relationship with him? (Think about their losses.) Through our words, tone of voice and actions we can help children learn God’s heart for them, leading to healing of the wounds caused by the crisis. 1. Ways to provide a consistent environment for children in crisis: 2. Ways to demonstrate unconditional love and acceptance to children in crisis:

LessonsfromPaperMoneyChildren have value because they are created in the image of God, regardless of the crisis they may be dealing with. What is God saying to you about your response to the children in crisis around you?