May is usually the biggest month for graduations at North American universities and colleges. Actors, politicians, singers, authors, journalists, and your basic run-of-the-mill billionaires get in on the action by giving commencement addresses in which they attempt to have at least one memorable line that goes viral. Does anyone else look forward to graduation season? If not, you don’t know what you’re missing! But, in case you did miss it, have no fear. On July 7th, Alejandro and Secia had the opportunity to serve as masters of ceremony for the very first graduation of Bible Club.
Thirty-four children in one of the sponsorship programs graduated after completing the first level of Bible material provided by Sowers4Pastors. S4P is trying to encourage participation in Sunday school in the church-based sponsorship programs by celebrating graduation, with this celebration being the first of many (the sponsorship programs that are run out of a public school have the Sunday school lessons as part of their school curriculum, making participation mandatory). In this material, there are three levels in all, and this first level is called Cadetes. (Makes it feel like we should all break into a rousing chorus of “I’m in the Lord’s Army.” Yes, sir!)
“We feel extremely grateful to God because we had the opportunity to see the children graduating. We have witnessed the spiritual growth among the children and how they want to be Cadetes for Jesus,” Alejandro said. He was quick to give credit where credit was due. “We got to be the masters of ceremony, but the churches did everything to prepare for the graduation. It was an amazing program for the kids. They prepared. The kids marched together as cadetes. They sang together. They prepared Bible verses to recite.”
Sowers4Pastors had diplomas made for the graduating cadets. They also had buttons made to serve as a tangible reminder that the children have completed the first level of material.
Alejandro said, “We are trying to encourage them and say thank you that they made all of the effort to finish this class. The purpose of the diplomas was to encourage them to continue and also to encourage the kids who have not yet started.”
A visiting team from NLCM was able to witness the graduation ceremony. Alejandro shared, “We were blessed to have them with us to see what God is doing for the kids. We could see the parents crying with joy and it encouraged us to continue. So many lives are being touched by sharing the Gospel with the kids. If we do a good job, it changes not only the kids, but also their families, homes, and communities. We believe that God is beginning this work in this generation and that He will continue His perfect will with their lives. We are grateful to God for allowing us to be a part of it.”
Yes, sir!
-posted by Christi
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