Dear Friends,
It’s the beginning of the academic year. This means that centres are starting up. Some will be new, and others, who we have been partnering with already. In this edition, we’ll let you know what happened in June and our ongoing plans for July. If you have any questions, please contact us.
We would appreciate your prayers, for the Holy Spirit’s power, guidance and provision.
If you would like to make a general donation to Shining Stars, or specifically for any of the programmes.
Sincerely,
Peter Wiig for Shining Stars (SS)
Some highlights from June 2022
Training Retreat’s: Before the beginning of each academic year, we have a training retreat with all of our partners. Our purpose is to help to equip them to understand and develop children and youth. This year we had one in Hyderabad, Telangana, and one in Gunpur, Odisha, from the 30th of May until the middle of June. We planned four days in each place. In Telangana 41 participants came, representing 19 centres, and in Odisha, 27 from 8 centres. Our hope is to run/partner with 30 centres this year.
We teach subjects like, Age Characteristics of Children & Youth, Effective Teaching Methods, The Basis and Attitude of a Counsellor, The Importance and Tips for Discipleship, The Components of a Child/Youth Development Centre, then some songs and games that can be taught to the children in their centres. This year we added “growth groups”, where the participants prepared and presented a lesson to their small groups, then we each gave each other feedback. It was a useful exercise.
After the training, we encourage the participants who would like to start centres in their location to go back and start, with the training that they have received. Over the next few months we go to visit the centres to encourage them and make sure they are on track. Subsequently, we will confirm them as partners.
We are so thankful to God that the costs of these programmes was completely covered by a generous donor.
Vision Sharing Programme: On June 21st we conducted a vision sharing programme in a place named Thirumalagiri, in Suryapet district, of Telangana. This is about 2-3 hours from Hyderabad. Fifty-five people attended this and many of them were really challenged (some even decided not to go to another meeting that was going on that day, in order to listen to this). Children’s ministry is neglected in many churches in India today. In the teaching time, the following illustration was used. “A glass is a beautiful and useful thing (like a child is/will be). However, if that glass gets broken it will be dangerous (like a child who grows up without the needed nurture).” A pastor shared with one of our staff, that it had touched him, and it caused him pain that he had been neglecting the children in his church.
Some plans for July 2022
Online Equipping for our Children: We want to make ongoing equipping of our children available. This is some material on various subjects that we feel the children need as grow and mature. Thus, on the 9th we have an online zoom meeting planned for any children in our centres who would like to attend. This week the subject of Soft Skills will be taught. This will be ongoing.
Discipleship Training: On the 16th and 30th we will have some training on some reasons and practical tips to conduct Discipleship in the centres. These will also be online and ongoing.
Vision Sharing Programmes: We have 3 vision sharing programmes planned in 3 different locations in Telangana. The costs for these programmes estimated at Rs. 16800.00.
Shining Stars Alumni Fellowship: We do our best to stay in touch with our alumni that have attended our centres. It’s impossible to stay in close contact with all of them, for practical reasons. However, in an effort to stay in touch and encourage them, we organize get-together’s and, at times, online training’s/fellowship. We would like to work this out every two month’s or so, this year. We will be organizing a casual get-together on the 23rd, with some food, games, and possibly with a small devotion to encourage all who come.
A Few Testimonies from our Training Programmes
Devendra Naik is a farmer by profession but helps some children with their studies in the morning and evening and plays some games with them. He never had a formal training like this. He said, If I had this training long back, I would have made a lot of difference in the lives of those children that I have been working with. Now this training has given me what I need to take the children in a new direction.
I am Priyadarshini Surya from the Gunupur centre. I am working as a teacher from Monday to Friday. By attending this training programme, I learnt how to teach a Bible lesson by using the lesson plan sheet. I learnt the importance of the preparation of the Bible lesson and making disciples of Christ.
I’m Sundi Srujana from Kotturu. I am a private teacher and I take tuitions. But after attending this training programme I had learnt how to reach the children to spread the gospel and to make them disciples of Christ. From now on I am intentionally planning to reach the children.
I’m Nissitha from Sirigiripally village. I’m very blessed to have this nice teaching to improve in children ministry. I learnt many things in this meeting: they are child psychology and understanding children in different age groups. How a teacher should be with a child (I mean a good teacher) and from now on I would like to practice all the things I have learnt to be a good teacher.
I’m Jayashree, this is my second time attending the Teachers’ Training Programme. I have learnt about goal and vision, how to plan and prepare a lesson before teaching, and the orderly way of presenting it to children. Especially about how to teach the application part of a story in a way that it moves the heart of the children. I also learnt about discipleship and how to invest time on children. I have realised many of my mistakes in my teaching methods and from now on I want to practice what I have learnt.
I’m Ramesh, in my village, while sharing vision about children and their importance, one statement touched my heart, from Judges 2:10, “After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” After listening to this statement, my burden increased for children, and by attending the training programme, I learnt how to do ministry effectively among these children.
