What is Encounters with Jesus?
"Encounters with Jesus" is a pilot, mini series of stories for children’s and family ministry created during the first lockdown. They feature Andy Frost, director of Share Jesus International, who also works with Care for the Family on the Kitchen Table Project. Andy is a good friend of PCI having been over to Ireland to speak at a number of our events and provided video material for the denomination. Andy has generously shared this material with PCI and allowed us to add our own introduction to each session from Ruth Bromley, PCI Children’s Development Officer.
What is included?
Each video includes a local voice introducing the theme, Andy’s lively telling of a Bible story in which someone encounters Jesus, followed by a retelling of the story using footage from LumoBible project.
Stories include:
- Tree climbing (Zacchaeus)
- Hungry Tummies (Feeding of the 5,000)
- Smelly feet (Jesus anointing with perfume)
- Gone fishing (Jesus and the miraculous catch of fish)
- 12 years (Jairus’ daughter and the woman in the crowd)
- Sisters (Mary and Martha)
The videos end with five practical ideas to engage with the biblical text as a family, although these could also be adapted for children’s ministry settings.
Follow up activities can be downloaded above.
How to use this material in present circumstances
Options for using these videos as a congregation in present circumstances while navigating ongoing Covid-19 restrictions may include:
Digital children’s and family ministry
If your children’s ministry is currently online the material could be used to engage with children and parents. The follow up activities could also be circulated. Other resources suchas worksheets, activities, crafts or songs could be offered to supplement this material.Inviting families to post photos of their use of the resources on Facebook, including the clips in online services or on a congregational church family WhatsApp group could encourage other families to become involved.
Returning to in person children’s ministry
If gradually recommencing in person children’s ministry on Sunday mornings, this material could be used as the teaching element, reducing the need for leaders to prepare a lesson while navigating the challenges of extra hygiene, social distancing etc. Simply putting together a worksheet and/or some activities that would go with the themes from the stories would provide all that is needed for a varied content. Links to the videos could be sent to parents to watch again with their children at home during the week, also offering the family resources handout that goes with each story.
Videos
Encounters Notes: Tree Climbing (PDF)
Encounters Notes: Hungry Tummies (PDF)
Encounters Notes: Smelly Feet (PDF)
Encounters Notes: Gone Fishing (PDF)
Encounters Notes: 12 Years (PDF)
Encounters Notes: Sisters (PDF)