Facilitating the growth of children’s faith (Sunday school children in South Central Timor)

By Robinson P. Aritonang

The pandemic still occurs in East Nusa Tenggara province which force the community obey health protocols including family both in city and village. The local government continuously campaigns of working, studying and doing activities from home, wearing masks when traveling and washing hands frequently. This warning also directed the church's weekly worship service, so the church service is temporarily held online from home. The communities that are covered by communication network and have enough data package easily join the online church service, but those who live in remote villages with limited communication network due to the hilly geographical conditions, commonly in East Nusa Tenggara region, cannot access it. However, for the Christians, the church service and preachinf of the gospel must still be delivered, by home visit to their houses, while applying health protocols such as physical distancing and wearing masks. This service is not only for adults, but also for Sunday school children.

It is my concern, because since in Yogyakarta I have been involved with children's activities, from teaching Sunday school at the church, being a teacher in several elementary schools and junior high schools, football trainer and outbound facilitators. So, I think Sunday school children in my working area should also receive care to build their faith. Children have more spare time because the learning and worship are done at home and they can learn about the God's word. The church services for the Sunday school children in family run during the period of May 7-13, 2020 covering 11 regions in South Central Timor regency and it was delivered in Sunday school teaching package consisting of 4 teaching topics of ‘Christ, My Light’, drawing pictures and 3 sets of crayons. These materials can be used for one month with one topic per week in a family. It is time for the church servants and parents play the role to assist their children to learn the God’s words.

Some locations are nearby but some are far from Soe to travel through the hills, passing tarmac road to rocky path and crossing rivers. Nonohonis village in Soe district (3 kms from Soe), Nunusunu village, Kualin district (90 kms), and Kot'olin village Kolbano district (70 kms), and the travel to Kot’olin village needed struggle by passing through a mountain. There are 126 families of Lutheran Church in Indonesia received the program in East Nusa Tenggara province.

Related with the Sunday school material, it contains: 1) ‘God Created Our Beautiful World’ (Genesis 1: 1-2:3); 2) ‘God Saved Adam and Eve’ (Genesis 3); 3) ‘God Care for people in Babylon’ (Genesis 1: 28; 9:1; 11:1-9); and 4) ‘God said: Abram listened (Genesis 11: 27-12: 9). The church servants at Lutheran Church in Indonesia, especially in East Nusa Tenggara said that they were glad and much supported with this program. They also hoped that each family could study the God’s Words together, while the parents also got closer to their children and grew the family faith.

The writer hopes that this program would be a blessing for every family for the growth of children's faith, and the family finding joy and peace in the midst of the pandemic. Let’s pray together, may God bless and protect us wherever we are.