Since 2003, B.A. Snider from Orangewood Presbyterian in Orlando has been on a quest for the children in her church . . . teaching them truths about God using simple questions and answers.
How does she do this?
She does this using the Kids’ Quest Catechism Club curriculum from Great Commission Publications.
When we asked B.A. why she thought it was important that children use Kids’ Quest, she said that the curriculum “gives kids a theological framework” for the rest of their lives. B.A. has taught both the Beginning and Elementary programs, but she primarily uses the Elementary for ages 1st and 2nd grades.
In her Children’s Church, they do not follow the suggested schedule that is listed in the curriculum. They use Kids’ Quest for 48 Sundays out of the year, taking every 4th Sunday to do recitation and game playing to help reinforce the memorization.
B.A. believes that “unless parents work at home with their children it is hard for them to memorize all the questions.” But lack of parent participation does not dissuade B.A. from teaching because she believes the students still “get the main truth even if they can’t recite the questions and answers word for word.”
She encourages churches to make the curriculum their own and “not feel like they can only use it the way it’s in the book.” In her church, they play many games that are not listed in the curriculum. B.A. says that “any kind of game that is good for Bible memory” will work with these catechism questions.
B.A. is one children’s director that GCP has had the pleasure of working with for many years. She has taken a wonderful curriculum and made it better by morphing it to suit the needs of her church.
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• Catechizing Kids—Get on Board or You'll Get Left Behind! by Sue Jakes. Question! What comes in a small booklet, sets forth a summary of Bible doctrine, and is written in question-answer format? Buzz-zzz. That's correct. A catechism. Read more . . .
• Practical tips for teaching catechism:
1 There is no substitute for planning and preparation.
2 Repetition is key.
3 Kids are enthusiastic about memory work when a leader is . . . Read more . . .
BOOKS
• First Catechism - Based on the original Catechism for Young Children, this is an effective tool for teaching the truths of the Reformed faith in simple, straightforward questions and answers. Order Today!
• Family Devotion Guide - A family devotion guide based on the Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Confession of Faith. This guide is divided into three volumes. Order Today!
• Big Truths for Little Kids - Your children will follow Caleb and Cassie on many adventures while learning the catechism! Order Today!
• Memory Work Notebook - This spiral-bound memory program (for ages 3 through high school) is graded for use at home, school and church. Order Today!
