Bertemakan “Pemimpin yang Dinamik”, Latihan Pemimpin Pelayanan Kanak-kanak telah dilaksanakan dari 25–28 Mac 2019 di Pusat Lembah Berkat Telupid.  Seramai 411 peserta dan 21 orang AJK menghadiri latihan ini sepenuh masa.  Puji dan syukur kepada Tuhan dan terima kasih kepada semua pengkhotbah/penceramah dan semua AJK yang telah bersama-sama menjayakan latihan ini.

Khutbah pembukaan oleh Ven. Lidis, memotivasi pemimpin agar menanti-nantikan Tuhan untuk mendapat kekuatan seperti burung rajawali yang membolehkan mereka bertahan dalam pelayanan, menang menembusi badai dan terbang tinggi untuk kemuliaan Tuhan.  Rev. Samuel melanjutkan dengan ceramah tentang, satu daripada  “Kunci Kemenangan dalam hidup dan pemangkin keberhasilan dalam pelayanan” adalah Doa.

Seterusnya Kumpulan PNG (Prepare Next Generation) melengkapi para pemimpin  dengan pengajaran bagaimana membimbing dan mengajar secara efektif dengan memahami perkembangan kanak-kanak menurut usia mereka.   Para peserta didedahkan kepada  ciri-ciri kanak-kanak dalam pelbagai perkembangannya, baik dari segi fizikal, intelek, rohani, mental, dan sosial.  Di samping itu, pelbagai cara untuk memberitakan Injil kepada kanak-kanak  diperkenalkan kepada mereka.  Kumpulan PNG melengkapi pengajaran mereka dengan pelbagai cara mengajar kanak-kanak menggunakan alat-alat visual yang bervariasi dan lagu-lagu yang mudah difahami.

Latihan ini disempurnakan dengan kehadiran Bishop Datuk Melter untuk memberi khotbah penutup. Beliau mengimbau semua pemimpin untuk melayani seperti Yesus, yang melayani dengan berbelas kasihan, rendah hati dan taat yang disertai kuasa Allah.  Memetik kata-kata mutiara Mother Teresa; “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.

Berdoalah supaya pengajaran  yang telah diterima dalam latihan ini dapat menggembleng semua pemimpin pelayanan kanak-kanak untuk kembali ke gereja masing-masing membimbing dan mengajar generasi muda dengan lebih efektif dan berbuah.

The BM Children Ministry Leaders’ Training was carried out from 25-28 March 2019 at the Valley of Blessings, Telupid with the theme, “The Dynamic Leader.” A total of 411 participants and 21 committee members attended this training. Praise and thanks to the Lord and many thanks to all the speakers who together made this training a success.

The opening sermon by Ven. Lidis Sinkung motivated the leaders to wait upon the Lord to receive the strength which will enable them to endure in ministry, overcome difficulties and soar like eagles for the glory of God. Revd Samuel Sampe then delivered a number of lectures, one of which was on how “’The Key to Victory in Life and the Catalyst for Fruit in Ministry” is Prayer.

The Prepare Next Generation (PNG) team then equipped the leaders which sessions on how to guide and teach effectively by understanding the development of children according to their age. Participants were introduced to the traits of children at different stages of development, whether physically, intellectually, spiritually, mentally and socially. Aside from that, various methods of preaching the Gospel to children were introduced. The PNG team completed their training by imparting various methods of teaching children using different visual aids and easily-understandable songs.

The training was enhanced by the presence of Bishop Datuk Melter J. Tais who in his closing sermon appealed to the leaders to serve like Jesus, who served with mercy, humility and obedience, accompanied by the power of God. He drew from the wisdom of Mother Teresa, who said, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”

Do pray that the teaching that was received through this training will galvanise all the children’s ministry leaders to return to their respective churches to guide and teach the next generation with greater effectiveness and fruitfulness.

Ps Pareda Simon