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| Children in Ministries | |
Marc’s Preaching—How It All Began…
He insisted that he wants to come in as mom just left for work. I let him in, but cautioned him to lie down behind me quietly, so that he won’t be seen and heard on the camera. He agreed to it. I continued my recording. While I was about to the finish my preaching I felt his little hand touch me. I looked back and was surprised that Marc wasn’t sleeping. I just wanted to check on the computer if he was seen while I was recording, and for how long was he playing his mischief. I got a shock of my life when I realized that he was, for nearly half an hour, imitating my preaching, behind me, trying to do the same actions that I was doing. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as I needed now to re-do my recording! I asked him why he did it and not sleep as I instructed him. He said, “Daddy, I want to preach too”. I told him that he could preach when he becomes big. But he replied, “I want to preach now only!” So just to pacify him, I focused the camera on him and recorded a little, and let him speak. It was here that I realized that he already had this gift to be a preacher. Finally, Marc has preached 15 sermons, around 10 to 12 minutes each. I had to just guide him each step. He picked it instantly. He also created some sort of a record, I guess. On a single day he preached 5 messages! Seeing his potential and gifts, I had to stop my recordings and start recording Marc’s messages! While He is 3 years old, I intend to record around 150 new sermons of Marc’s. Please pray for God’s anointing on him, and that he would remain a humble servant of the Lord Jesus. It is our desire as parents that He would win many souls for Jesus! Also we hope and pray that God would use many other children around the world to share the Good News about Matthew 21:16 “And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?” Michael Pedrin |
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GOD’S LITTLE MISSIONARY
Unfortunately, we have received word from Brazil that Andressa was killed in a car accident on March 22, 2008. But her ministry did not go to waste. In fact, it yielded excellent fruits. A total of 11 individuals were baptized into the church, including her father on the Sabbath of May 11, 2008. Many will miss her ministry, but we believe that we will meet this little servant of Jesus when He comes again. |
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Kid Preacher
Recently at the Children’s Ministries Congress organized by the North Central American Union at Belize, Zabbdy preached a fiery sermon about the importance of valuing children and preparing them for heaven. He inspired the 700 delegates who listened with great amazement. Zabbdy also greatly impressed Linda Koh, General Conference Children’s Ministries Director, and Gloria Trotman, Inter-American Division’s Children’s Ministries Director. Indeed, children will be used mightily by God to preach His Word in the last days. |
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An Ardent Preacher Jordan has the gift of preaching since he was little. He started preaching to the congregation at the age of five. He preached with great passion and enthusiasm and has touched the hearts of many children and adults. Indeed, God can use a child to be his mouthpiece in the last days. Ellen G. White has this wonderful comment about children as preachers: “In the closing scenes of earth’s history, many of these children and youth will astonish people by their witness to the truth, which will be borne in simplicity, yet with spirit and power. They have been taught the fear of the Lord, and their hearts have been softened by a careful and prayerful study of the Bible. In the near future, many children will be endued with the Spirit of God, and will do a work in proclaiming the truth to the world, that at that time cannot well be done by the older members of the church.” Counsels to Teachers, pp. 166,167 |
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A PASSIONATE TEEN TEACHER
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YAUSSEL ABREU’S MIRACLE! “I love people, but I can’t touch them at all,” sighed Yaussel. “ |
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LITTLE SOULWINNER
“Oh, is that right? What do you do at your church worship?” asked Ms Taimara curiously. “We study the Bible, we pray, and we sing a lot,” explained Graciela excitedly, “let me sing you some songs.” “Jesus loves the little ones like me, me, me …” Graciela’s sweet, childlike voice touched her teacher’s heart that day. A close bond was established. Very often at recess time while other children were out playing, Ms Taimara would asked Graciela more things about the Bible. This preschooler enthusiastically shared with her teacher the wonderful stories from the Bible and the beautiful Sabbath day. “Ms Taimara, guess what I brought you today?” asked Graciela excitedly. “My children’s Bible. You can keep it for a few days, but read the stories.” Not long after that Ms Taimara and Graciela’s mother became good friends. Opportunity came when the Martinez-Suarez family opened their home to Ms Taimara to run a class in social studies for 4-year olds. After a few years of studying the Bible with her, she made the decision to be baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Today, Graciela is a junior, but Ms Taimara is actively involved in children’s ministry. Yes, children can witness for Jesus! Let’s nurture this spirit in the little ones that they can testify for Jesus. |
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Andressa Barragana Duarte, aged 14, from Brazil is indeed God’s little MISSIONARY in her community! While her peers are busy with video games, parties and television, Andressa is busy for Jesus. Each day after school she goes to minister to the seniors in an old folk’s home to share God’s love with them, pray for them, and teach them crafts like wood painting. Then she goes off to the radio station for her Bible story hour. Children who listen to her exciting stories on the radio simply love them. On Wednesday evenings, Andressa runs a small group in her home, inviting her neighbors and friends to attend. A group of 25 children and young people gather to sing and listen to Bible stories told by Andressa. She prays for them and their special needs. Her enthusiasm and life has inspired two other little girls to run their own small groups. Yes, Andressa’s life is indeed a very busy one, but what a powerful witness for the Lord!
Could you believe he is only seven years old? But he sure is zealous and animated in preaching the Word of God. Zabbdy David De Leon Rodriguez was born in Guatemala City. At a very young, his grandparents saw in him a gift of speech and preaching. So they began training him to preach simple sermons that fit his age. At the age of four, Zabbdy preached his first sermon and from then onwards he has preached at many events of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Guatemala.
An Ardent Preacher He’s an excellent speaker! He’s passionate for the gospel message! He’s not an adult. He is a 10-year-old child! Yes, Jordan Wesley was the guest speaker at the Papua New Guinea Union Mission Children’s Camp held on October 15-21, 2007 with a total of 400 children in attendance. Jordan who came with his father from the Eastern Highlands preached each evening and morning with much confidence and skill. He inspired many children to work for God. 
In the lowlands of Bolivia , Oscar Choque, age 14, has a passion for children. He loves teaching kindergarten children in the Sabbath School every week. In fact, Oscar has a vision to be a children's leader some day. Hence, he finds every opportunity to attend every teacher training seminar organized by the conference or union each quarter. Though his family is unable to finance his fares and fees, Oscar is not easily disheartened. He does all types of odd jobs to earn enough money to get himself to these seminars. In April 2005, Oscar sold potatoes to finance his trip to the Children's Ministries Leadership Seminar in Cochabamba where he met the General Conference Children's Ministries Director, Dr. Linda Koh and South American Division's Children's Ministries Director, Raquel Arrais. He shares his dream with them. Yes, he wants to be a Children's Ministries leader in the future. Wow! What a vision! What passion! 
Her beautiful voice fills the entire chapel. Her face exhibits peace and hope as she sang of Jesus’ love. Yes, God is the Rock of her life! God is her salvation! For twelve-year-old Yaussel Abreu of El Cerro Adventist Church in Cuba, being able to sing and witness for Jesus is a living miracle.
But not long afterwards Yassuel’ser health deteriorated and her family had to move her to a better hospital in the capital city of Havana. Her stay in the hospital went from days to weeks to months. It seems a pity for a child to suffer so much and never really enjoy a regular childhood. Is life really fair? 
Can children witness for Jesus? Of course, they can! Regardless of age, children can share their faith in a simple way. Graciela Martinez-Suarez from the Bolivia Adventist Church in Cuba was just five years old. She loved her Bible and the stories that thrilled her little heart about how God rescued Daniel from the lions’ den, Joseph and his wicked brothers, Paul meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, etc. Hence, she enjoyed going with her mother to visit individuals who are interested in Bible studies. Of course, Graciela couldn’t give Bible studies now, but she could in the future. Maybe in just a few more years, she could study the Bible with others.
“Graciela, does your family go to church?” asked Ms Taimara curiously.
