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Children’s Ministry Strategy Meeting
(Various children's ministry leaders from the region gathered
in Phuket, Thailand for a time of strategy and planning)
Missionaries from across the Asia Pacific Region gathered
in Phuket, Thailand,  May 5–9, 2009, with one focus—ministry
to children. After several days of intense discussion and
analysis of children’s ministries in the region, attendees
left excited to do more than ever to reach and disciple children.
The meeting was led by children’s ministries (CM) coordinators
Steve and Mindy Benintendi. Special guests included David
and Mary Boyd, Jay and Debbie Risner, and several children’s
pastors from churches in the States. Sessions were held addressing
a variety of topics, including creative methods for communicating
to kids, illusions with a message, making cool objects from
balloons, and raising funds. Each day small group discussions
were held to address strengths and weaknesses of ministry
to children in the various countries represented.
As we concluded the meeting, it was
determined that all our missionaries could do some specific
things to enhance
and support CM. We are asking our missionaries to:
1. Reexamine their ministry, regardless of its nature,
to determine where and how to emphasize CM ministries
can be
emphasized through their  area of expertise, such as:
- Health care
- Bible college
- Church construction
- Church Planting
- Children's outreach/discipleship
- Classes and exposure to CM
- Children's classrooms in every church
- CM training for every new church plant
2. Seek to identify or build at least one great example
of CM done well.
3. Endeavor to find, build, and support national
workers gifted and passionate about CM and support
their efforts
to champion CM for their nation.
4. Emphasize the creation of CM training events designed
to speed up influence of and passion for CM.
5. Strive to influence Bible college committees and other
national leadership bodies with the importance of CM.
6. Seek true examples of national leadership who were won
to Christ as children. Gather testimonies that will form
the basis for a written document designed to demonstrate
that people won to Christ as children have a whole life
to live for Christ. With a solid, early start, many turn
into
powerful leaders.
As the meeting concluded, everyone
agreed we have much work to do . We also agreed to meet again
next year at
this same
time to celebrate what we have accomplished and to strategize
for the coming years.
The AGWM theme for 2011 will incorporate
an emphasis on children around the world, and the Asia
Pacific Region
has already
started strategizing for this important year.
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