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ew Gilead Friends Good News!

for
! “Train up the child in the way he should go…” Proverbs 22:6
2010
June 2010 Volume 1 Issue 6

Church—Let’s Celebrate Planet Zero!

The following was submitted by: Dina Snow
Greetings from Planet Zero!
Although it may sound like science fiction or a place in a favorite video game, Planet Zero is where kids in grades 1-6
come to worship in their own space. Since last September, we have been using a curriculum called 252basics, which
draws from Luke 2:52: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and favor with God and men.” Each month
features a particular virtue, such as honesty, discipline, friendship, and individuality, with songs activities, Bible stories
and scripture that drives home the point about that virtue. We open with all the kids together. There is typically a
skit or funny action going on to introduce the Bible story for the day. Sometime, the opening skits include volunteers
from the audience, and we have several willing participants each week!!! The large group activity also includes singing
and prayer. The kids then break up into small groups based on their grade. This is always a fun time of activities,
games or crafts that get the kids thinking more deeply about the virtue or memorizing a Bible verse.

Some of Scott Morrison’s goals for Planet Zero were focused on getting parents to partner with us to make
the most of this worship time for the kids. Ways you can do this include:
1.. Encourage your children to come— having a large energetic group builds excitement. With so few children
attending Sunday School, it is one of the only times some are hearing the Bible stories or learning the verses.
It is also a rare opportunity for children from different schools to get to know each other rand bond over the Word
of God.

2. Teach them about the importance of worship—particularly singing. This is currently our most difficult
area, so we are trying to work hard to acquire more of the music that Planet Zero curriculum recommends.
Please tell them that it is ok for boys and men to praise the Lord through song.

3. Consider being a small group helper. Helpers come for one month three times a year. It is a great time to get
to know the kids better and share with each other. All the lessons are planned, and while leaders may occasionally
ask some of the more experienced teachers to gather their own supplies or make copies, we will work with you if
you’d like to give it a try. Our goal was to have a small group helper for each grade, but so far, this has not
happened.

4. Pray. This year has not gone like we had hoped due to Scott’s illness. Those of us who have taken on this project
know we can’t ever live up to the creativity and gifts that Scott has to reach the kids, but we are committed to
keeping the Planet Zero alive.

It is our prayer that kids come to look forward to this time that is set aside just for them, and we pray that
the older kids realize that they can be great leaders and great examples for their younger friends. We have a great
group of kids and we love spending time with them. We especially loved the song we sang last fall based on 1Timothy
4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in
life, love, in faith and in purity.”

—Submitted by Dina Snow, on behalf of Jim Card and Steve Curts and all the Planet Zero team!

Sonshine Express—many details—
many faithful hands!
Excerpts from an article submitted by Kitty Halfhill
For a few years I had done summer Backyard Bible
Clubs in Cardington, but as I was praying about what to
do, telling the Lord I was too old to run after straying
kids, He impressed on my mind that a bus would be just
the ticket.
The phone calls began—Don Chapman, Pastor Phil
Hurlburt, then eventually Pastor Phil Batten, the foun-
der of this ministry came to present his work and en-
courage to do the same.
The beginning steps were more easily taken with the
help of two wise women, Jean Smith Cardington and our
own Liz Hart. Joe Gliem gave us the name. The idea
was taken to our GFC Outreach Commission, then our
Ad Council—Our pastors have been supportive and
most encouraging in this work—we were on our way!
Our 30 foot bus, purchased from Fredericktown School,
was a bit handicapped yet through the course of one
year, it was transformed into a darling classroom.
With efforts from Jack Fishburn, the Sonshine Bus has
been restored and painted meticulously and intricately
by one John Clawson—bright Kubota orange, Koehring
yellow, and Clark green! It is the most beautifully re-
stored bus our expert Pastor Batten has ever seen!
Seats were removed by Bob Stiffler and Joe Gliem,
welding done by Allen Brokaw, carpet squares given by
Kent McLain and installed by Jim Card. LOTS of man
(and women) hours have gone into THE BUS. Duane
Williams, along with other wonderful people, keep it
maintained! Keith Linnabary stored the Sonshine Bus
in his barn—so many details—Praise the Lord!
Finding CDL drivers for the bus was a new challenge—
however, Disciple Shop’s manager, Karen Leavitt, told
us her husband, Jerry, needed something to do! WHAT
A FIND! Soon he was having so much joy! And now
Jim Walter has joined our driving team! SUPER!!
Each week we minister to kiddoes in Dunham Green
and Lincoln Court in Cardington. Our driver beeps the
horn and plays music to alert them that we have arrived.
Then the kids pile on the bus and we sing, recite the
Pledge of Allegiance, present a Gospel message, give
opportunity to accept Jesus into their hearts, and exit the
bus to partake of donated snacks. After our goodbyes
we head to the Disciple Shop in Fulton. Then on to
Mount Gilead’s Chartwell Greene. Our last stop of the
day is Johnsville’s Hickory Grove Community and plan
to park the bus behind Johnsville Mennonite Church on
Wednesdays to catch the children after the library’s
summer reading program.
Our message is to proclaim God’s love to children who
might not come to church. We give them the opportu-
nity to know Jesus as Savior. Already this spring we
have had as high as 32 attentive and well-behaved chil-
dren! It is so exciting!
We still have needs! Teachers, cookie bakers, drivers
with CDLs, puppet people and Praying People. Can
you help once a month? Please sign up in the foyer!
Blessings! Kitty
Gilead Friends Good News! May edition, page 2
Prepare to Celebrate with VBS...
and please come to help
spread the Good News!
The following was submitted by Jenni See
For the last several years I have been blessed to be a part of
Vacation Bible School, a children’s summer ministry. Our
goal is to reach the many children in the area and teach
them about our Savior, Jesus Christ. With this ministry we
have welcomed 190 children through the doors of Gilead
Friends Church, 4 of whom have invited Jesus into their
hearts! Praise God!! We get giddy every time a child joins
God’s Army. This is why as a church , we host VBS, to ex-
pand the family of Christ. These new brothers and sisters in
Christ will not only be an example of a child after God’s
own heart, but will also encourage their parents, friends and
others to know Jesus. There by expanding God’s family
again and again and again and again!
This year our theme is Backstage with the Bible, a Vacation
Bible School Experience, distributed by the Go Fish Guys, a
children’s Christian singing group. We are very excited
about this program! VBS will be held August 9th-13th from
6-9 pm. A successful VBS requires a multitude of
volunteers. There is a place for you!
Please become a part of this ministry by contacting the
Church office at 419-946-100 or me,
Jenni See at 419-560-9891 —Thanks! Jenni
The Good News Continues!
The following is an encouraging update
from Jay Cartagena
(adult son o (Pastor Mark and Diane Googins)
“God is so amazing! My life is so very different since meeting Jesus
Christ at Gilead Friends Church months ago! His power has cleansed me
and He is teaching me so many things-- I can’t even share it all! I am
currently in Brazil— training with a ministry called Reality Discipleship! I
am participating in Patmos which is an ministry that disciples Believers
with intense Bible study, ground floor evangelism ministry, and opportu-
nities to serve in poor communities with construction projects, etc. I left
May 21 and will be home (in Miami, Florida) on August 13. Please continue
to pray for me. There will be nothing easy about this experience! I have
so much to learn and though I am scared—I know it will be very cleansing
and good for me. I just wanted to say thank you again for the prayers
and the love you have shown me since January. If anyone desires to
keep up with my progress while in Brazil you can go to
patmosexperience.blogspot.com
God Bless.”—Jay C.