instructor’s guide lesson 3-3 considering children in crisis · think of some practical ideas for...
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page1TWELVECoreTraining
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?