Relational Ministry

Education in Peru is really traditional. When we searched for a school for Eliana's first grade, we had very few expectations - we simply wanted a school that did not lecture at her for 6 straight hours and then send home 2 hours of homework.

Unfortunately, as the name implies, "Sunday School" is often the same. People are creatures of habit, so when a church member is given the responsibility to lead a group of children, they do what was done with them. What results? A Sunday school class-room where the teacher lectures, children listen, information about the Bible gets memorized, and efforts are made to diminish the inevitable boredom.

EGM shows children's workers a different way. A way that is evidenced in scripture and practiced by Jesus himself. A way that results not so much in the transmission of information, but in the transformation of a child's life.

It all starts with Relationship.

EGM shows children's workers in every country where we serve that the foundation of all ministry is relationship. 1)our relationship with God 2)our relationship with the child. If a child doesn't feel loved and accepted by his leader, nothing the leader does can break through to him. If a child doesn't respect and admire her leader, nothing the leader does can make her want to follow that example.

An EGM-trained children's worker was at church one Sunday and 8-year-old Sebastian didn't want to go in. He pouted, refused and defied his parents. Finally he entered, but only to dramatically throw his bible to the ground every 5-10 minutes. Every time, the children's worker picked it up and calmly returned it saying, "Here you go, buddy. You must have dropped this." And every time the leader squeezed his shoulder or showed him some affection and said, "Im so glad you're here today." Time after time this was repeated. By the end of the service, Sebastian was smiling, participating in class and hugging his leader goodbye.

What changed? Relational ministry teaches us that love breaks through to people. Not information. Not stories. Sebastian was given the opportunity that day to hear from the word of God, apply it to his life and respond to Him - because his leader thought that loving him was more important than anything else she was doing.

This idea is new to a lot of children's workers here in Peru and throughout South America. But every time we see that lightbulb go on in the eyes of a children's worker, we know that more children are about to experience Christ's love. More children are about to have the opportunity to really hear the word of God and be changed by it.