John and Christine are working in Europe.
BOOST Tours are a major part of their ministry, these tours are reaching Children and Families all over Europe!
BOOST It! Slovakia project report
To Boost is to lift, raise, bring addition, advance, break through, expand, improve and to set up.
NLI kids leadership development exists to BOOST both existing and emerging churches in reaching kids in their local communities, towns and nations.
Early May 2009 was the beginning of NLI’s ‘BOOST It!’ project in Slovakia,
held in Zvolen. BOOST It! are workshops and seminars aimed at kids leaders,
pastors and church planting projects. They highlight the importance of ministering to children and the need to address this in every church, whilst giving practical tools for establishing a relevant kids ministry in each local context. Over the next 2 years, 8 training events will be held allowing each personto develop essential skills whilst being personally challenged to reach their God-given potential from both personal and ministry perspectives.
The theme of this first training event was ‘Transformation, not just Information’. Ministry to kids is not about telling cute stories and downloading biblical facts – it is about seeing lives transformed and set apart for God. Over 40 people from 11 churches throughout Slovakia, including a number of Gypsy groups, have committed themselves to the
project. For some of these people it was the first time they had received any training in regards to kid’s ministry. Despite working with kids for many years, they often felt ill-equipped and out of their depth.
To further the success of the project we also travel to kids ministries and programs in the surrounding towns with the aim to encourage, consult and mentor. We want to experience first hand what they are actually facing every-day. We don’t just want to deliver information and walk away. Our passion is to see success in what God has called them to do in each unique situation in their own town. One such town we visited previously organised a kids outreach program seeing over 200 kids in attendance. This was all the more amazing considering the town only has around 500 kids.
However, this has currently been shut down as they didn’t know how to control the kids. Unfortunately, this scenario was also repeated in the second town visited. The need to equip leaders with ministry skills and practical tools is very apparent and replicated, not only throughout Slovakia, but across the continent of Europe. This is what BOOST is all about – providing the experience, encouragement, prayers and networks to make a difference to the thousands upon thousands of kids who are this generation!
How can I be involved?
Pray for:
The finance and resource needed to produce this event
Your involvement in BOOST Tour during August 2010 and beyond Lives to be impacted by Jesus Christ.
The continual growth of the Slovakian and European church, particularly in children’s ministry.
Sponsorship
Could you sponsor this event? In order for BOOST Tour to be a quality production that has maximum impact to the people reached we need to partner with six churches or business who will get behind this event at $5000AUD each. Part sponsorships are also a great option!
If you are interested please contact The World Missions Office on service@wm.acc.org.au
