Great Plains http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/ en Copyright 2008 Wed, 14 May 2008 11:04:46 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Baby shower for Baby Kits In April 2007 Community Christian Church in Jefferson City, Missouri, had a "baby shower". They had collected items to be put into baby Kits earlier. At the shower they had lunch, played some baby shower games, then spent the afternoon putting the Kits together. It was a lot of fun! Baby bed with kits Table for eating Assemblying Kits ]]> http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/kits/#001108 http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/kits/#001108 Kits Wed, 14 May 2008 11:04:46 -0500 Walk Enhancements We offer regionally produced T-shirts, which are birch with black or red printing of sponsors on the back. Each shirt reflects community name, location and local sponsors and advertisers printed on the back of the shirt. The shirts will cost $4.85 for birch (gray) -this includes: printing and shipping. There is a minimum order of 24 shirts.

If you are interested in the regionally produced shirt, money and sponsors need to be in the office 3 weeks before need date. There will be no orders accepted less then 3 weeks before the walk. Order early to make sure you get all the sizes you want before our supplier runs out.

PDF file T-shirt order form]]> http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/crop/#000487 http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/crop/#000487 CROP Hunger Walks Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:17:10 -0500 2008 Vacation Bible School Connect your Vacation Bible School to Church World Service mission projects

The following mission project information is for your use in planning your congregation’s 2008 Vacation Bible School. The mission ideas offered here can supplement this year’s Vacation Bible School curricula with Church World Service programs and projects.

Founded in 1946, Church World Service is the relief, development, and refugee assistance ministry of 35 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican denominations in the United States. Working in partnership with indigenous organizations in more than 80 countries, CWS works worldwide to meet human needs and foster self-reliance for all whose way is hard.

Within the United States, Church World Service assists communities in responding to disasters, resettles refugees, promotes fair national and international policies, provides educational resources, and offers opportunities to join a people-to-people network of local and global caring through participation in CROP Hunger Walks, the Tools & Blankets Program, and the CWS Kits Program.

The information is in no way an endorsement of any particular curriculum. Curricula are listed in alphabetical order by publisher. If you need further information contact your CWS Regional Office at 888-297-2767

Prepared by the Great Plains Regional Office team (Joyce Holley, writer; Joe Hendrixson, editor) for distribution by Church World Service regional offices.

Publishers:
Augsburg Fortress
Cokesbury (Together In the Way of Jesus)
Cokesbury (Surfin’ Through the Scriptures)
Concordia Publishing House
Group (Group’s Holy Land Adventure)
Group (Discovering Jesus’ Miraculous Power)
Standard Publishing]]> http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/forms/#001075 http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/forms/#001075 forms Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:03:22 -0500 Power Lab Power Lab graphicPublisher: Group: Group’s Power Lab: Discovering Jesus’ Miraculous Power.

Power Lab is Group’s new VBS material that promotes “Operation Kid-to-Kid,” Group’s nondenominational mission project. This year’s project is to collect donations for soccer balls, which are called “GO Balls” (Gospel Outreach Balls). To promote CWS, help students meet other children around the world who like basketball and soccer by letting Imani take them to far off places.

Stories: The following are all stories about children who like to play soccer through the help of various CWS programs. VBS students can donate funds for the CWS Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Program though out the world. Introduce the VBS kids to these children of the world, and discover the power of Jesus to open doors of understanding.

Children who attend CWS Safe School Zone School play soccer in the schoolyard – promote School Safe Zones.
http://www.churchworldservice.org/africainitiative/ssz.html

Soccer Scores Program in Jakarta, Indonesia for Vulnerable Street Children.
http://www.churchworldservice.org/news/archives/2006/11/596.html

Assisting Vulnerable Children in Uruguay – there is a story here about Ruben, who can now play soccer in safety.
http://www.churchworldservice.org/Development/archives/2006/10/76.html]]> http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/forms/#001074 http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/forms/#001074 forms Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:51:59 -0500 Jerusalem Marketplace Jerusalem Marketplace graphicPublisher: Group: Jerusalem Marketplace: Group’s Holy Land Adventure.

This is a family-based VBS curriculum providing a great opportunity to introduce adults (as well as children) to the work of CWS. Jerusalem Marketplace is an intergenerational experience that connects Bible times with life today by exploring Jerusalem during Jesus’ journey from Jerusalem to the cross. Each day, attendees go to Synagogue School. This would be a wonderful place to introduce and collect a daily offering for the educational work of CWS.

School Safe Zone Program in Kenya
http://www.churchworldservice.org/africainitiative/ssz.html

Education and building schools in the Chaco Region (South America)
http://www.churchworldservice.org/Development/archives/2005/03/52.html

Learning in a Refugee Camp in Tanzania
http://www.churchworldservice.org/africainitiative/filmaid.html

Providing Education for Young People in Haiti
http://www.churchworldservice.org/Development/project_description/descriptions/183.html

Basic Primary Education in Laos
http://www.churchworldservice.org/Development/project_description/descriptions/220.html

Advocacy and Services to Children Working as Garbage Collectors and their Families, Uruguay
http://www.churchworldservice.org/Development/project_description/descriptions/146.html]]> http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/forms/#001073 http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/forms/#001073 forms Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:47:13 -0500 Jesus, Our Forever Friend Friendship Trek graphicPublisher: Concordia Publishing House: Friendship Trek: Jesus, Our Forever Friend.

Students encounter exciting, daily “Good Friend Challenges” setting them on the right path for faith, fun and friendship. The base scripture is John 15: 13-14 “… greater love has no one…”

Each day at closing time, the students are told a story about a “Friends Around the World Mission Project” from Concordia Publishing House. Each story is on the DVD that comes with the curriculum. Students give an offering each day to be sent to World Missions. Jesus, our friend, gives us many gifts, as the kids will learn on Day 3. Friends Around the World Mission Projects (or, in this case, CWS Programs) let your students thank Jesus for these gifts by giving something to others.

Story: Here are some suggested “CWS Friends Around the World:”

Ester’s story from the 2006 CROP Hunger Walk DVD

Hien’s Story from the CWS Vietnam DVD. Divide this into a two-day story.

Giving Hope OVC Programs in Tanzania and Rwanda http://www.churchworldservice.org/Development/archives/2006/02/54.html.

The Boys and Girls Street Program in San Paulo, Brazil
http://www.churchworldservice.org/Development/project_description/descriptions/150.html

Preparatory Education Program for Roma Preschool Children, Serbia
http://www.churchworldservice.org/Development/archives/2007/04/90.html

Let Imani take the children around the world from the Build a Village website. Connect to the web and project it on a wall or screen so all the students can see.
http://www.buildavillage.org/]]> http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/forms/#001072 http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/forms/#001072 forms Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:53:22 -0500 Beach Party: Surfin' Through the Scriptures Beach Party graphicPublisher: Cokesbury: Beach Party: Surfin' Through the Scriptures.

An exciting visit to the beach will teach students to ride the wave of God’s love and embrace the “Beach Be-Attitudes”: Be Obedient, Be Kind, Be Forgiving, Be Bold, Believe.

Each day, students are introduced to a mission project that other students have started or discovered. Below are listed the projects with a corresponding CWS project:

Day 1: Project “Mosquito nets for families in Africa.” CWS ships nets to many parts of the world. Most recently, mosquito nets have been distributed for use in Mozambique following the 2008 floods. Details can be found at: http://www.churchworldservice.org/Emergencies/international/2008/mozambique.html 02/06/08 http://www.churchworldservice.org/Educ_Advo/directorsdesk/2006/malaria.html 09/14/07

Day 2: Project “Care Bags”. These are cloth bags with personal care items for children including a book. This would be a great opportunity to highlight CWS Health Kits and School Kits. See http://www.churchworldservice.org/kits/index.html.

Day 3: Introduces students to hunger and poverty in Africa, and what one seven year old did to respond. Share the 05/06 CROP Hunger Walk DVD and Ester’s story. Have students do a CROP Hunger Walk as part of VBS and go for a walk on the “beach.” With some preplanning, this could be the high point of VBS Beach Party and raise funds to stop hunger.

Day 4: “Tsunami,” or how one nine-year-old responded to the 2004 tsunami centered near Sumatra, Indonesia. This story gives a perfect opportunity to introduce students to the CWS Emergency Response Program. Use a current disaster crisis that students are hearing on the news and offer them a way to help through making health kits, school kits or clean-up buckets.

Day 5: Project “Children Helping Children.” To quote the writer of this lesson from the Beach Party: Mission Leader Resource, “Do not think you have to wait until you are an adult to make a significant change in this world. The world needs you now.” Introduce students to the Build a Village website.

Over all, the Beach Party VBS curriculum could introduce children to the depth and breadth of the work of Church World Service.]]> http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/forms/#001071 http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/forms/#001071 forms Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:48:24 -0500 Walk It Out Walk It Out graphicPublisher: Cokesbury: Walk It Out: Together In the Way of Jesus.

The students learn how methods of walking, marching and dancing were critical in gaining understanding, effecting change, and moving forward in faith, in self, in community and in God. Lessons are inspired by those who walked, marched and danced to freedom: demonstrated in the Civil Rights Movement, the toyi-toyi dance in South Africa, and children in the 21st century walking-it-out with an iPod.

Help children “walk-it-out” by learning about the Lost Boys of Sudan who walked for safety and life.

Story: The Lost Boys of Sudan

Since 1983, nearly five million people have been displaced by the civil war in the Sudan. Among these are at least 20,000 children, mostly boys, between 7 and 17 years of age who were separated from their families. Beginning in 1987, thousands of these "Lost Boys" of Sudan were driven from their homes and trekked enormous distances over a vast unforgiving wilderness, seeking refuge from forcible conscription….

Factions began to attack peaceful villages, kidnapping young males to use as cannon fodder in battle zones or to walk through minefields. Fearing they would be targeted as potential combatants, many boys left their villages for refugee camps in Ethiopia…. They lost everything en route to soldiers, swindlers or bandits. Many fell victim to lethal diseases. Others were so weakened by hunger and lack of sleep that they could go no further and sat down by the roadside, prey for lions and other wild animals.

The survivors who reached refugee camps in Ethiopia began to lead relatively peaceful lives again. But this was not to last. Following a change in government in Ethiopia in May 1991, the Sudanese youths were forced to flee again. This time the journey occurred during heavy rains, and many perished crossing the swollen rivers. Hungry, frightened and weakened by sleeplessness and disease, they made their way to camps in Sudan, where they received help from the International Committee of the Red Cross. From there, they then traveled on foot to safety in northern Kenya.

http://www.churchworldservice.org/betterworld2/lost-boys4.html]]> http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/forms/#001070 http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/forms/#001070 forms Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:43:40 -0500 Rainforest Adventure Rainforest Adventure graphicPublisher: Augsburg Fortress: Rainforest Adventure.

In the Rainforest Canopy, students experience the Bible stories: Boaz Shares with Ruth, Elisha Gives Food to 100 People, Parable of the Mustard Seed, Jesus is the Vine, Jesus Enters Jerusalem.

Use the Rainforest idea to lift up the work of CWS with the street boys and girls in Sao Paulo, Brazil. On the day Elisha gives food to 100 people, lifting up the local CROP Hunger Walk could plant some good mustard seeds for future germination.

Story: Brazil

"I can help," says former street youth Marquinhos, "because I know what it is to be helped." Marquinhos is one of the coordinators of long-time Church World Service partner organization Projeto Meninos y Meninas da Rua (Street Boys and Girls Project), located in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil. Years ago, Marquinhos connected with and benefited from participation in the cutting-edge program. Now grown and with a family of his own, Marquinhos guides the program to benefit another generation of youth at risk.

Many of the young participants are escaping life on the streets and getting back with their families. The young people, ages 7-17, are taking part in social and training activities, learning about their rights, and working toward changing their street-based lives and becoming self-sufficient. Their families – 90 families with some 540 family members – are also participating, working on family dynamics and improving the lives of all members.

http://www.churchworldservice.org/Development/project_description/descriptions/150.html ]]> http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/forms/#001069 http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/forms/#001069 forms Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:40:50 -0500 God's Big Backyard Standard Publishing graphicPublisher: Standard Publishing: God's Big Backyard.

A VBS curriculum that is all about serving:
• Family, as Miriam takes care of her brother Moses;
• Friends, as men lower their friend through the roof to Jesus;
• Neighbors, as a Samaritan man helps a stranger on the road;
• Community, as Zacchaeus, after meeting Jesus, gives to his community; and
• Jesus, as Peter and John show God’s love and power.
The curriculum suggests that community leaders appear at VBS to talk about serving. This would be a good place for CWS staff and/or CROP Hunger Walk coordinators to talk about serving God through the CROP Hunger Walk. Also, students could serve by collecting CWS Kits. Older students could make school kit bags while learning how the children of the PEDRA Program in Mozambique learn to sew.

http://www.churchworldservice.org/Development/project_description/descriptions/84.html

Students could also learn how increasing numbers of children and young people in Tanzania are taking to the streets in search of a better life – running away from home because family safety and support has broken down. Through their support of CWS (walking in the CROP Hunger Walk, making kits, collecting money), they are serving neighbors and community in Tanzania.

http://www.churchworldservice.org/Development/project_description/descriptions/197.html

This curriculum offers a great opportunity to travel the world and use the website www.buildavillage.org. Use a huggable globe and invite the children daily to give “God’s Big Backyard” a hug]]> http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/forms/#001068 http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/forms/#001068 forms Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:33:11 -0500 Baldwin City, KS
CROP Walkers
Walkers from the First United Methodist Church.
Photo from the 2007 Baldwin City, Kansas, CROP Hunger Walk.
]]> http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/photos/#000972 http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/photos/#000972 Photo Gallery Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:09:07 -0500 Leavenworth, KS
CROP Walkers
Photos from the 2007 Leavenworth, Kansas, CROP Hunger Walk.
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
]]> http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/photos/#000926 http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/photos/#000926 Photo Gallery Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:46:52 -0500 Wichita, KS
CROP Walkers
Photos from the 2007 WIchita, Kansas, CROP Hunger Walk.
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
]]> http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/photos/#000916 http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/photos/#000916 Photo Gallery Fri, 09 Nov 2007 10:31:11 -0500 Norman, OK
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
CROP Walkers
]]> http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/photos/#000912 http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/photos/#000912 Photo Gallery Wed, 07 Nov 2007 10:37:05 -0500 Visit CWS on our online networks MySpace Church World Service has a MySpace page: http://myspace.com/cwscrop. We encourage you to explore the page and point others there, and if you already have a MySpace profile of your own, become a "friend" and spread the word.

FacebookCWS has created a "group" at www.Facebook.com. If you are a Facebook member, we hope you'll search for our group (Church World Service) and join it--and invite your friends!

 

YouTubeWe've also consolidated our YouTube presence at http://youtube.com/churchworldservice and created a "playlist" for CROP Hunger Walk videos that have been created by folks across the U.S. Take a look and become a subscriber.

Lastly, people can now download a variety of CWS banners and buttons for their own website, blog, or profile at http://www.churchworldservice.org/buttons.

Thanks for passing the word!

]]> http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/networks/#000880 http://www.cwscrop.org/greatplains/networks/#000880 Networks Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:15:39 -0500