VBS Reaches More than Kids
Many children's lives are touched through GFA Vacation Bible Schools. Now, through the "Love for Family" packets, their parents are hearing the Gospel, too.
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"We give all of them a Sneh Parivar packet. Sneh means love, and parivar means family," explained Chatura Gagan, Gospel for Asia's children's ministry leader for northwest India. "So, this ‘Love for Family' packet contains books to help Indian families create stable homes and learn about the Gospel."
When Chatura and his team of native missionaries began reaching out to children in Delhi through Vacation Bible Schools, they quickly realized this would be the perfect opportunity to reach the children's parents, too. Each day, kids from various backgrounds would pour in to be a part of the schools. These children cracked opened the doors to their parents' hearts that had previously been firmly shut to the message of Christ.
"We have distributed more than 100 packets to families in this area so far," Chatura said. "And when the parents read the material, their eyes are opened to a whole new way of doing things, because they never heard any of the ideas in the packet before."Because it is uncommon for families to discuss personal issues in the private Indian culture, many of the children's parents never received counseling or direction in their parenting or marital relationships. So the missionary team began brainstorming ways to provide the parents with good biblical counsel and clearly explain the Gospel to them.
After seeking the Lord for guidance, the team put together the Sneh Parivar packets. The team designed the packet to look interesting and professional, so that it would be desirable to a secular audience. When the parents come to pick up their children from VBS, they are given a "Love for Family" packet as well.
Because it is uncommon for families to discuss personal issues in the private Indian culture, many of the children's parents never received counsel or direction in their parenting or marital relationships.The packets contain two books and other materials. The first book focuses on raising children and shows the parents how to appropriately guide and discipline their kids. The second book offers biblical guidelines on how to have a meaningful marriage and how to treat your spouse. There is also a tract in the packet that shares about Christ's love and some Christian coloring pages and comic books for their children. Finally, a response card is added so the family can request prayer or ask for a visit from a local GFA pastor.
"So far, we have distributed more than 100 packets to families in this area," Chatura said. "And when the parents read the material, their eyes are opened to a whole new way of doing things, because they never heard any of the ideas in the packet before."
After the missionaries distribute the packets, they receive many response cards asking for more information. The local pastors in the area make follow-up visits to the families' homes and tell them about Jesus.
The Sneh Parivar packets are helping many families come to know the Lord. Currently, Chatura and his team are translating the packets into other languages so more lives can be transformed.
Chatura requests prayer that families will be receptive to the packets, and that they would receive response cards for more family follow-up visits.