Isn’t it fun when you get a glimpse of how God actively orchestrates the details of your life to bring about good?
I never imagined when I sent a Facebook message to another Indiana member of my authors’ group, Joni Wolf, that it was the beginning of great things, things God had planned to bless orphans.
Joni is the author of “The Immanuel Quilt: A True Story of One Ordinary Woman, One Unique Quilt, and One Extraordinary God.” I recognized her story from an article I’d read somewhere before: In her dream, Joni was given intricate details of a quilt she was to make, portraying the names of God. She was to travel and share this quilt as her ministry.
I can tell you that The Immanuel Quilt is breathtaking. Trimmed in purple, each square represents a different Biblical name for God, from Good Shepherd to Morning Star.
I was excited to connect with an author who shared my mission of sharing Christ’s love. We decided to meet up and swap stories, and that meet-up lead to a shared purpose.
It turns out, God was leading Joni to write a children’s curriculum that could be used in VBS, Sunday School, Bible Clubs, small groups, etc. Since I have a little experience in that area, she asked if I would contribute…and if I’d like to use the curriculum in our orphanages! Convinced that these visual cues would aid children in remembering the names and associated Bible stories, I happily agreed.
A partnership was formed.
On our recent trip to Kenya, we piloted “The Good News Reporter” curriculum. Encouraging children to tell the good news about Jesus Christ, this curriculum introduces 30 names of God, but focuses on the names Word of God, Creator, Immanuel, Savior, and Dwelling Place. Lessons for each of the five names are included along with suggestions for games, crafts, songs, and activities.
As you can see, the children at El Shaddai enjoyed making the crafts, playing Names of God Bingo, doing the God Speaks worksheet and hearing the Bible stories. The content lead to great discussions in the older groups, and lots of fun in the younger ones. I’d call it a success!
What’s more, Joni has generously offered to donate 15% of the sales from her books sold along with the curriculum to The Boaz Project toward supplies needed for our VBS trips. So, if you’re looking for a great, Bible-based curriculum to use with children—even at home!—I have to recommend The Good News Reporter.
Learn more or make your purchase at Immanuelquiltministry.com
Believing in miracles,
April Jurgensen
Executive Director, The Boaz Project