14
September 2015 SR
Children’s Conference
Our Children’s Conference was excited to host over 60 kids
for fun and fellowship. The theme this year was STEADFAST,
just like the General Conference. The kids had a wonderful
week of Bible teaching, music, field trips, and outreach.
Similar to VBS, the kids rotated through various stations.
The Bible stories for the week focused on individuals who
were Steadfast in their faith. Each day a Bible character was
studied, but there was an additional story as well. The stories
of five people from recent history were brought forward for
the kids to really think about what it means to be steadfast
for God.
Paul evangelized all across his known world. Today we think
of Billy Graham as one of our greatest modern evangelists.
Moses was an obedient leader who delivered the Israelites
from slavery in Egypt...Gladys Aylward was an obedient
missionary in China who saved 100 orphans. Peter was a
disciple of Jesus who was imprisoned for his faith, which
reminds us of Frances Bamfield and John James who were
SDBs who were imprisoned for their faith. Jesus preached
and lived a message of forgiveness showing the way for Corrie
ten Boom, a Dutch woman and Holocaust survivor, to also
preach and live a message of forgiveness. Stephen was a
martyr for Christ in Jerusalem, and centuries later Jim Elliot
was a martyr for Christ in South America.
Throughout the week we prepared crafts and music to
share at two local nursing homes, Calvary Fellowship Homes
and Mennonite Homes. The residents loved hearing the
children and we were blessed to see our kids reach out to
them with the love of Christ. Other day trips of the week
included visits to the Skyline Pool and to the Landis Valley
Village and Farm Museum. At the Landis Museum, the kids
were able to learn some history in a hands-on, interactive
setting while walking through preserved buildings, taking a
wagon ride pulled by two large work horses, and tasting
some favorite Pennsylvania Dutch treats like sticky buns and
apple cider.
When working with kids, it’s always a blessing to hear the
unexpected comments that come along. On one occasion as
our bus was pulling out, a tiny yet polite Kindergarten voice
said, “Excuse me Miss Bus Driver but don’t you think that
was a little fast?” The kids weren’t the only ones who said
some memorable things. According to inside sources, there
were a few “Charlotte-isms” throughout the week as well.
Here are a few:
“I have a face that no one forgets.”
“Does it LOOK like I play basketball?”
“If you see a pregnant lady, that’s my daughter-in-law.”
“You better eat your peas at lunchtime, kids. Save me
some butter pecan ice cream.”
The Children’s Conference committee would like to thank
everyone who taught or helped out during the week. We
had a wonderful time and couldn’t have done it without
you! Thanks also to Charlotte Chroniger who organized the
curriculum, materials, staff, and program to provide a
smooth and enjoyable week for our young SDBs. Our deepest
thanks go to all of the parents and family members who
shared your kids with us. They already know the steadfast
greatness of our God. Let’s strive with them to remain
steadfast in that truth.
Submitted by:
Valerie Probasco
Children’s Conference Committee Member
SDB Church of Shiloh, NJ
