I Remember Wondering If This Was Worth My Time

Glennis Coulter: (Continued from the latest newsletter)

Some years we had thirty students, some years twelve or sixty.  Then there was the year we had only 6 boys, many of whom came only to get out of class. But there were the special ones that you knew God had their attention by the way they listened. You pray each year that God will hold onto each one as you may only get them for a month till their parents move or they graduate into middle school.

The year with the six boys was especially discouraging. I remember going home one day after school wondering if this was worth my time and effort, when God quietly brought to my mind, "We walk by faith and not by sight."  We fervently prayed for more students. The next year God answered and sent us twelve boys!

(Picture from Ladd Acres PREP4Kids class)

Because we had only women on our team, we planned two summer outings with some men from my church. One day was planned for hiking and canoeing. The boys had a blast, but I spent the day counting heads to be sure none were left or lost from this wild, crazy bunch.  God got us all back home safe and sound.

God is impressing on me that we work for an invisible God who works in invisible hearts and is totally in charge of the work and the results! I think otherwise I could be tempted to claim result as if they were due to my efforts.

What I Like Most!

“What I like most about PREP is it teaches you a lot about the Bible and the stories about the people in it. I also like that it helps me understand more about Jesus. The stories are really valuable & informational. Now, because of PREP I know & understand more about the Bible and everyone in it.” Anayla, 5th grade

In a recent letter from Luis Palau, he stated,
“Our hope lies in the Lord...but also in our young people. If we don’t take the message of Christ to them…..if we don’t model for them the importance and power of evangelism...who will?”

Merry Christmas

PREP4Kids classes are enjoying the wonderful story of Jesus birth during the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Are your children able to enjoy the Reason for the Season with their friends each week? Let the PREP4Kids office know if you would like to enroll your student/s or start a class for your child's school.

(Picture taken from Firm Foundations/PREP4Kids curriculum)

PREP4Kids Class in Oregon City

Is PREP4Kids Making a Difference?

"I had lots of problems before I came to PREP. Now I'm doing good. I'm having a blast. I teach my brother about Jesus." Jason, Grade 5

"PREP has changed my life; it's the only place I want to go to learn about God. PREP has showed me things I wouldn't have learned if I didn't come here." Vitalis, Grade 4

"What PREP means to me is it is a place to come learn about God. So far I have learned that Jesus loves me and about in the beginning." Haley, Grade 5

Sharing PREP4Kids at Starbucks!

"Just wanted to share that a young mom of a 3 year old and a baby saw my PREP4Kids shirt at Starbucks and asked me about it. She was excited to know that there was something like this offered around here. She is looking at Christian preschools right now, but probably will be putting her kids in public schools someday. It was a nice sharing time, and I didn't even initiate it!"

So...... Wear your PREP4Kids t-shirts!!

from our Sherwood Coordinator, Kacy Glenn

BE ENCOURAGED…
God answers prayer!

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God is with you.” 1 Chronicles 28:20

It would be easy to get discouraged by the fact that we have lost PREP4Kids volunteers in some classes; or the fact that many classes have dwindled in size since the Christmas break; or the fact that teachers are telling children not to leave class to attend PREP4Kids.
But consider this fact ...
GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!
Let’s remember to be specific in our praying, not generalize. Ezra assembled the people of Israel to return them to Jerusalem. But first they humbled themselves before God asking Him for a safe journey: “So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer…the hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way”. Ezra 8:23,31
God indeed answers prayer—according to His will--when we come to him with specific prayer requests.
For example:
· David & Darlene Mai presented the urgent need for more volunteers by showing the PREP4Kids DVD to their church. As a result 3 new volunteers responded!
GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!
· The Tualatin/Byrom class had to postpone starting up in the fall due to not having enough volunteers to hold a class. But God brought 3 new volunteers as a result of the Celebration Dinner so that this class is re-opening this month!
GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!
· Shaun Dyler, volunteer in the Deer Creek class, felt God leading him to start a PREP4Kids class at Twality Middle School…first time PREP4Kids has been in a middle school in 8 years! That class opened this fall, currently with 9 students, with overwhelming support from the school and staff.

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!
THANK YOU prayer supporters, who continually pray for His workers in the harvest field.

Be Encouraged, and keep praying for PREP4Kids because . . . GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!

THANK YOU

Thank You for encouraging your children to grow in godly ways. Attending PREP4Kids class is a positive approach to life as we all look to God's Word for instruction in how to be a part of changing our world.

Memorable Evening!

The celebration of 25 years of Reaching Kids4Christ was a wonderful time of looking back at what God has done, what He is doing now and the many children He will reach in the coming years. The growth we have seen since 2007 (22 schools) to 2009 (39 schools!) is amazing! Praise God with us for the thousands of children who now know who God is and that He has a plan for their lives. Odon is just one of those children whose life has been changed and as a result his whole family has come to know Jesus as Savior and become part of a local church.

Celebration Dinner 2009

What a great Celebration was had by all 250 of us at our 25th Anniversary, Nov. 7th. Be watching for pictures to be added soon!

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS

PREP4Kids is CELEBRATING 25 YEARS REACHING KIDS4CHRIST

God is still showing His faithfulness through PREP4Kids as students

in public schools are taught the Word of God each week.

This year there are 35 schools where students are learning from the book of Genesis.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

Genesis 1:1

PARADE PICTURES

SUMMER WITH PREP4Kids

This summer was a busy time for everyone. Entering community parades has been a great opportunity to share PREP4Kids with neighborhoods. Parades in Oregon City, Sherwood, Gladstone, Tualatin and Banks were well attended. Children walked, rode bikes, wagons and in one parade a golf cart! Each one wore a PREP4Kids t-shirt, helping advertise the program to new families. The weather was great and the crowds were responsive. Children threw candy and the adults handed out fliers with PREP4Kids information (and in one parade PREP pens-NO LITTER!) In September Beaverton and Gresham will host parades also. We all enjoy sharing the opportunity for children to attend a Bible class during their school day, and parades are wonderfully 'kid-friendly' ways to do it!

Tualatin & Byrom Students

Tualatin and Byrom students are totally engaged as teacher Sheila Gardner shows a video to illustrate the transformation that happens in our lives when we trust Christ as Savior. Sheila also read from her Bible the places the Apostle Paul visited on his journeys, while the children plotted the cities on their own maps.

A few weeks ago the students planted beans in plastic cups filled with dirt. Sheila made the analogy of planting seeds of God's Word in their lives. Each week they check to see any progress. The little plants are just starting to pop up, so the kids think that's great! They planted some extras in case new kids came . . . they were just put into use . . . so very good planning! Interactive lessons are important to keep the kids learning and growing.

NEW CLASS BEGINNING APRIL 15th in LAKE OSWEGO!

Beginning Wednesday, April 15, the Lake Oswego Christian Center will host a class for Bryant Elementary School students!

This is an answer to prayer which began last summer--that there would be 30 schools with PREP4Kids classes during this school year. Pray for them as they begin.

PREP4Kids Volunteers are CREATIVE!!!
Juanita Buckles crafts a poster each week (related to the Bible Class Lesson: John 1:5) and Raffles it off to the class.
Each student gets a ticket The winner is discovered, and, with great ceremony, gets to take the poster home!

Dick Clark, PREP4Kids coordinator, purchased "The Easter Story Cube" to give out to Ventura Park PREP4Kids students.
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Creative gifts that present the true meaning of Easter is an excellent way of getting God's words into the hearts and homes of PREP4Kids students.
Great idea Dick!

Scripture memory is an important piece of the PREP4Kids Bible Class. Here Trevor Lancaster is listening to a student reciting Romans 4:8.

Do You Want To Share Christ With The Nations?

Portland-area public schools bring together
children from all over the world:
Asia, Russia, Africa, Latin America,
Europe and the United States.
Many of these children have never held a Bible in their hands
or heard of Jesus Christ in a positive way.

God has opened the doors for sharing about Christ
to all nationalities and ethnicities
through the local public school children in your neighborhood.

A school near you may not have a PREP4Kids program.

For more information about the opportunity for your neighborhood school,
contact the PREP office at 503-281-7764,
or look for opportunities on the website at www.prep4kids.org

Westside Coordinators Meeting

Everyone enjoyed hearing from other coordinators how their classes are going. Lots of ideas were exchanged on what works in such a short time. Peg, Shannon, Angela and Lori had great suggestions. We plan to use this format again! Hope you can all come next time...Save the first week in February for the next one.