We had a wonderful time while we were ministering in Kingston, Jamaic with our hosts, Dirk and Carrol Richards - Director/Assistant Director of Campus Crusade for Christ, Jamaica. They are very excited about growing the Children's Ministry branch of their work there, and this training was an important step to seeing that happen.

In all, we had 21 children's workers attend the workshop, including 5 "KidsGames" staff members who flew in especially for the training from Barbados.

We had a great time getting to know these wonderful teachers. The only complaint we heard from them is that they wished the training had been longer! Some commented that they had attended other children's ministry training workshops where they were taught various techniques for teaching children, but were not challenged spiritually. Our training not only teaches how to plan an effective Bible lesson using the flannelgraph, but the importance of spending time in prayer for guidance beforehand. They said no one had ever told them that they not only needed to know how to teach, but they needed to be spiritually fit if they were going to truly be able to minister so that the children could see Christ's love in them.  I found this both sad and encouraging at the same time. Even more, it affirmed all the more just how important it is that we be able to offer this training! 

Please continue to keep these amazing teachers and the children of Jamaica in your prayers. We had an extra blessing as we were flying home! We were able to watch the launching of the space shuttle as we flew overhead at 35,000 feet! It was an amazing sight!

Melanie Derr
Outreach Coordinator
Kids Around the World

Jim Rosene
President