Children and Young People
Childrens Work at All Saints'
Sunday Club is the name given to all the All Saints' Sunday morning children and young people's groups that meet in different parts of the building each Sunday.
Pathfinders is the name for young people aged between 11yrs and 14yrs. They meet for bible study and prayer. The leaders vary the way in which they teach the Bible to make it alive for this age group.
Explorers is for children aged between 8yrs and 11yrs. Each Sunday morning they have craft, games and an occasional quiz to help the children understand more of the Bible and to make it relevant to their lives.
Climbers is for children aged between 5yrs and 8yrs. Each week they meet for fun, games and craft all revolving around a Bible story. They enjoy singing together, playing together and praying together.
Scramblers is for little ones aged between 3yrs and 5yrs. Here the children play games, sing songs, stick and paint and hear of the love of the Lord Jesus for each one of them.
All the children's and young people's groups meet each Sunday between 10.45am and 12noon except the first Sunday in the month when there is a service for all the family in Church.
New Life for Betelhem by Rachel Harris
[Those who enjoyed the presentation by the Sunday Club at the beginning of July will remember that we all heard about Betelhem that day. It is good to have this article from Rachel to allow us to pray through the scenario more effectively.]
Miracles still happen around us every day and most of the time we're not even aware. One young lady thinks of us at All Saints as a modern day miracle, a child whose life has been transformed by us, Betelhem Ayalew.
In July 2003 members of the Sunday Club decided that they would like to help a young person who wasn't as lucky as them and they were introduced to Betelhem aged 9. Betelhem lives in Ethiopia in the hills of Jimma, 335 kilometres away from Addis Ababa. Betelhem lives in an area where Compassion works. Compassion is a Christian Child Sponsorship Charity. By collecting £18 a month to sponsor Betelhem she has a new life.
Betelhem lives with her mother and one other sibling, her father is dead. The house in which Betelhem lives has walls made from wood and mud, with a corrugated iron roof. The floor is just bare ground. Betelhem and her family eat a lot of maize and make bread from grain. There is a lot of illness in the area where the family live including diarrhoea, malaria, typhoid, pneumonia, asthma and tuberculosis. Those adults who can find work as a labourer earn about £6 a month.
Because we sponsor Betelhem she has lots of chances that otherwise she would not have. She is provided with health and hygiene education, health screening, nutritious meals, clothing, toiletries, toys, school books and pens, uniform and many other things. Betelhem's Mum can go to classes at the Jimma Addis Kidan Baptist Church Child development centre for HIV/Aids awareness classes and lots of other things. Instead of no help, poor clothing, no food, no medicine and no support Betelhem has riches in her life that she never dreamt of.
Betelhem looks upon all she now has as a modern day miracle because she knows without God none of this would be happening to her. In the letters we receive from her it is so obvious that God is her Redeemer, Jesus is her Saviour and her friend, her protector and her father.
Here are a few short extracts from the letters Betelhem has sent us during the past 4 years.
· My dear sponsors! How are you all doing of your health? I and my family are fine. School has begun after long seasonal rainfall and spring season is here. Our area is infected with Malaria and I was sick due to malaria attack. Thanks to God that I am cured now after medical treatment.
· How are you doing? How do you find the New Year? I and my family are very grateful for your generous Christmas gift. It was 104.46 in our currency and the project bought me a blanket and a pair of sheets and I celebrated Christmas with the remains 4.46 birr. I was very glad for that.
· Now I have finished my school vacation and am attending my 5th grade class. There are 60 students in my class. I like studying maths and sport. I am attending Sunday School. The story of Joseph is my favourite. Goodbye. Your child Betelhem Ayalew.
· My dear sponsors. How are you? I and my family are all fine. I have celebrated Christmas holiday pleasantly at home by enjoying our traditional food and drinks and in the Church by attending special programmes with my friends. I have received your Christmas gift of money and have bought a water container, water bowl and shoes with 7.55 birr in cash left. Thank-you all very much.
· How are you? I am fine, Praise God.
Thank-you for your letter. Whenever I read a letter from you it makes me happy. I love to play football. From all games I prefer football and hand ball. May God bless you all. I am praying for you. Keep praying for me as well. Till we meet in the next letter. Your sister, Betelhem.
· My dear sponsors. How are you? Thanks to God that I am fine and my family are also fine. My family are sending you their greetings. We have celebrated our Easter holiday pleasantly with my family. How about you all? I love to play soccer wearing number 8. My shoe size is 35. School will be over after a few days. I will have 2 months vacation. I will spend my vacation helping my family in works at home and playing soccer in my spare time. I will also learn English Language during my vacation which will help me in regular school education. I am hoping to have good results in school. Please will you pray for me and I will also pray for you. God bless you all and goodbye.