Kids' EE - www.kidsee.org

The key components of Kids' EE include the content, the curriculum, and the basic elements of training.

Content:

A clear presentation of the objective truths of the Good News of Salvation in Jesus The heart of the Gospel message How to know if someone has assurance of eternal life How to share one's testimony How to lead a person in prayer to receive the gift of eternal life The five means of growth for the new Christian.

Hand motions, skits, illustrations, crafts and other items that assist one in understanding and sharing the Gospel message.

Curriculum:

View a sample unit from the Kids' EE Leader's Kit.

Kids' EE is a fourteen unit curriculum. Units can be taught in one or two lessons, depending on time allotted. Each unit includes:

Teaching ObjectivesDesired Learning OutcomesKey ScripturesKey ConceptsMaterialsSuggested Class Agenda

Teaching Activities.

The Fourteen Units include:

Unit One: Scripture Fun Fair
Unit Two: Kids' EE Interview
Unit Three: Bare Bones Outline
Unit Four: Gospel in a Nutshell
Unit Five: Making a Commitment
Unit Six: Talking and Testimony
Unit Seven: Two Diagnostic Questions
Unit Eight: Grace (Heaven)
Unit Nine: Man
Unit Ten: God
Unit Eleven: Christ
Unit Twelve: Faith
Unit Thirteen: Commitment
Unit Fourteen: Follow-up

The Basic Elements of Kids' EE Training
Resources to Download

Like Adult and Youth EE, Kids' EE teaches a clear presentation of the Gospel. Like these ministries, Kids' EE also provides opportunities to practice sharing the Gospel in what are called "On-the-Job Training" sessions. Other elements of the Kids' EE training include interactive instruction in large groups, building relationships with a team leader and members of a team, and praying together in teams and with prayer partners. Unlike Adult and Youth EE, Kids' EE does not require homework nor does it use a lecture format for instruction.

Gospel Presentation:

The Kids' EE Gospel Presentation includes a basic outline, sub-points, scripture verses, illustrations and transitional sentences. The wording is in keeping with the simpler style of the Kids' EE Gospel Presentation. In nations overseas, this presentation is being culturally adapted to most effectively train children in the nations that have begun training children to share the Gospel.

On-the-Job Training (OJT):

Providing the children with practice in sharing the Gospel is referred to as "On-the-Job Training." The goal is to encourage children to make sharing the Gospel with others a way of life. OJT gives them the experiences that help to develop skills in sharing the Good News with others so that children look for opportunities to do so.

OJT with children must be safe, structured, supervised. It must also provide the children with successful experiences. In line with recommended child protection policies, it is recommended that teams consist of two adults and two or three children. Before going out, the leaders are given clear and specific guidelines for each On-the-Job Training session, including the destination, directions and required time for return.

There are many contexts where children can share the Gospel during OJT, such as church visitor follow-up visits, visits to nursing homes and retirement facilities, and special church activities for children. But before the children are asked to do so, they see their team leaders model sharing the Gospel with others. The phrase "Evangelism is better caught than taught" is as true for kids as it is for adults. As they see their team leaders model sharing the Gospel Presentation, the children's own confidence and excitement to share with others grows. Before going out for their first OJT, the children engage in practice and role-play sessions in their Kids' EE classroom.

There are a number of ways On-the-Job Training can be structured:

1. OJT can be held on Sunday afternoon. During these times, teams can:

Visit church visitor families or children who have visited Sunday School.Visit nursing homes
Visit special needs children's facilities

2. OJT can follow a Saturday morning session of Kids' EE and teams can:

Visit hospital children's wards Go to malls and other locations where kids gather such as parks or video arcades.
Visit nursing homes and other facilities

3. In some cases, Adult and Kids' EE can work together to provide the Kids' with OJT experiences. Children can go with their parents who are in Adult EE on their home visits. This is especially appropriate when an adult team is planning on visiting a family with children. In this way the children can assist in sharing the Gospel with the entire family.

4. Arrangements can be made for the children in Kids' EE to share the Gospel with younger children in Sunday School or other contexts. Some Sunday School teachers arrange for children to share the Gospel with any new child who is attending a Sunday School class for the first time.

5. After the children have had some experience in sharing the Gospel, a planned outreach event can be arranged. Children invite their non-churched friends for a special children's ministry event. A structured time can be planned for the children to share the Gospel with their friends.

Team Leaders:

In Kids' EE, we refer to the adults or youth who are working with the children as team leaders, rather then "trainers." This is a significant difference between Kids' EE and Adult and Youth EE. In Kids' EE we are not training trainers to train others to be witnesses. Kids' EE seeks to lay a foundation for spiritual maturity in children's lives and develop habits of Christian discipleship by deepening their understanding of the truths of the Gospel, the meaning of personal faith in Christ, and the responsibility we all have to be witnesses for Him.

Nevertheless, the model of one trainer for two trainees used in Adult and Youth EE provides a strong relational and mentoring type of ministry. In Kids' EE this is an essential component and one team leader for two children is ideal. The relationships built between the team leaders and the children and the experiences that the children have with their team leaders will be enduring.

Prayer Partners:

Developing habits of praying for the lost and those with whom they want to share the Gospel is an integral part of the Kids' EE training each week. In addition, children are encouraged to pray with their parents. This provides a powerful support for the ministry. Team leaders are also encouraged to have their own prayer partners who will pray with them for their teams and for those who are being reached during OJT times.

Commitment:

Some children at this age depend on their parents for their motivation to start and continue attending Kids' EE. Other children already have a great desire to receive training in sharing the Gospel. A model ministry will have team leaders and parents willing to nurture in children in their commitment to attend Kids' EE. Parents become an extension of the teacher and the team leaders, giving extra encouragement and support in learning the Gospel presentation.

Homework:

Unlike adults and teens, elementary and middle school children do not "teach themselves" while doing assigned homework. Homework at this age is simply practice in what has been taught in class. The success of homework assignments is often dependent on the time parents can give to following-up with their children. Kids' EE does not rely on assignments outside of class for the children to learn and master the EE presentation. Class time is used to provide necessary practice and repetition. Children are encouraged to share each week what they have learned during their Kids' EE session. Time for children to talk about their experiences in sharing with others is included in each class session.

Lecture:

Kids' EE methods of teaching do not rely on lecture. Teaching activities during large group instructional time are kept short and move along quickly. Kids are involved in physical activities, such as marching cadences and the practice of the hand motions, which are learned along with the Gospel presentation. Learning is hands-on and key concepts are reinforced through the crafts and the skits. These supplement and add to the understanding children gain from the verbal presentation of material.