American Missionary Fellowship

God has been good to bring workers to help me in various Bible Club ministries in public schools.  In order to encourage them to give “life-changing Bible lessons,” I invited the retired Child Evangelism Fellowship directors for the state of New Mexico to hold two training sessions at a local church in Socorro, New Mexico.  I invited the teachers from the school-based Bible clubs, Sunday School teachers, and AWANA workers in town to join us.

Katie came up from the Los Lunas Bible Club in Meadow Lake.  Terry from the San Antonio club hosted the event at her church.  Trisha, a helper from the Zimmerly Club in Socorro, attended.  In addition, various children’s workers in two local churches in town attended.  Avelonia from the Zimmerly Club was hospitalized, and she regretfully was not able to attend either session.  The Lord used Skip and Betty Spaulding in many ways to encourage us and to give us hands-on teaching tips.  They taught us new memory-verse games and songs.  In addition, they reminded us that it is important to ask children who respond to the Gospel invitation, “Why have you come?”

I used this question twice in December in two clubs.  Judiah, in response to the question, “Why have you come?,” said that she already had received the Lord.  The reason she had come for counseling was to receive assurance.  She wondered if Christ would leave her if she sinned.  I shared with her Hebrews 13:5, which affirms that Christ will never leave us or forsake us.  She seemed relieved and comforted.  We also discussed the importance of daily confession of sin (1 John 1:9) to keep our communication with the Lord open.

At Zimmerly, Leo responded to the invitation.  He could not remember why he had come.  I began to relay the story that I had told in class.  Then he remembered why he had come –  He had never received Jesus as his Savior, and he wanted to receive Him. I saw a joyful look on Leo’s face when he trusted Christ as His sin-bearer and Savior.

In teaching the Bible lessons in the public schools, we are not just telling Bible stories.  We try to bring the Gospel into each and every lesson, because it is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe.