Imagine the following scenario: delays, canceled flights, rescheduling, waiting, stress. In the midst of all this, a mother and son just wanted to get home. What, at first, may have caused a "headache" was a strategy used by God to direct them to another destination.
Upon landing in Manaus, Brazil, Letícia Batista and Mateus went to the hotel and continued their journey the next day. It was on this occasion that they met Pastor Assis Gonçalves, evangelist for the northwest region, and teacher Priscila Costa, director of Children's Ministries also in the northwest region, both with a certain destination: the city of Ji-Paraná, Rondônia, to participate in Kids Evangelism. Coincidentally, it was the same city where Letícia and her son would stay.
On a drive of at least five hours, many subjects came up on the agenda, including the event already mentioned, as well as its purpose. This caught Letícia's attention, and she immediately made herself available to take her son to participate.
On the day the event took place, to Priscila's surprise and joy, there they both were. "What was my surprise when she sent a message and a photo saying, 'We are already here.' It was wonderful to see how receptive they were to the knowledge of God's Word," she says.
Letícia pondered that the meeting was a true blessing from God. "It is not by chance; I think it was all planned by God to have put us on each other's path. It was wonderful—a blessing!" she exclaims.
"God has prepared! There is no way we can doubt that He is in control of everything and He knows the right time for all things. He prepares these moments so that your children receive the light and instruction at the right time," says Priscila.
Kids Evangelism
Theme "The Best Adventure," the meeting brought together about 180 children. The program followed a playful, easy-to-understand line for children. According to Professor Rosangela Fabri, director of Children's Ministries in southern Rondônia, the fundamental proposal of Kids Evangelism is to motivate, train, and awaken the interest of the child in becoming a missionary.
For this, four pillars are actively established: intercessory prayer, missionary pairs, small groups, and a child preacher. The children are motivated to develop their skills as missionaries within the area with which they most identify.
Rosangela explains that the greatest differential in this process is the parents. "They are the ones who must be the disciples so that their children become missionaries and true disciples of the Lord."
Child Preacher
Pedro Miguel is an example of the commitment of his mother and grandmother in the discipleship process. The family's dedication and support have helped the boy develop his preaching skills. For Rosangela, the way he spoke to the children about his story as a child preacher was simply inspiring: "I am sure that Pedro Miguel's speech was more important even than that of the other adults, because it is a child inspiring other children, and that is what Kids Evangelism is."
Children's Missionary Bible
The newest tool to help little ones develop their talents and skills is the new Children's Missionary Bible. It is full of interactive resources for personal fellowship and evangelism. The accessible language and colorful pages will help little ones share with their friends about Jesus. As Priscila explains, "The Bible came with the purpose of helping our children to be evangelists within the Kids Evangelism project."
Do you remember Mateus? He was the first child in southern Rondônia and the entire northwest region to receive the new Children's Missionary Bible. Priscila reports that she was thrilled to deliver the gift. "I am sure that Mateus received this Bible at the right time so that he can deepen his knowledge of God's Word."
The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Portuguese-language news site.