CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT

Vision
To raise and develop children in the word of God in order to create a generation of impact.

Mission
To equip churches to reach out to children with the gospel of salvation and to boost children’s ministries in Baptist churches throughout the nation of Uganda, and beyond, in order to produce mature Christians.

Meet the Team:
Chris Tabu – National Co-ordinator.
Chris took on the newly created role of leading the newly created Department in April 2010. Chris is an experienced children’s worker and has been actively involved in children’s ministry for many years. He is a mentor with Hope Alive and spends much of his spare time encouraging and supporting children and young people. He is a gifted worship leader in a local Baptist church in Kampala and regularly teaches in Sunday School. In his time off he enjoys driving, watching action movies and playing the guitar – but not all at the same time.

Douglas Benn – Children’s Development Consultant.
Douglas is a missionary with BMS world mission, he arrived from the UK in August 2010 to join the Children’s Department. Prior to training with BMS, Douglas was a manager and learning facilitator in the Health Service. He has held many roles within the Baptist church he attended in London, including Elder, youth leader and Sunday School teacher. With his wife, Deborah, he is now actively involved in a local Baptist church in Kampala. His interests are reading, listening to music and supporting his home town football team – Liverpool – from afar.

Deborah Benn – Children’s Development Consultant.
Deborah is married to Douglas & is also a missionary with BMS world mission. They have two married sons and one grandchild (due April 2011). Prior to training with BMS, Deborah was a childcare inspector, registering and inspecting childcare and education for young children in London. She has been a childcare professional since 1975 and also held a number of voluntary roles in the church including Elder, youth worker, parent & child group leader and child protection co-ordinator. Her interests include listening to music and providing hospitality to friends and visitors – she is also a self confessed facebook addict.

Focus for 2011.
The team are writing and delivering a three modular course for Sunday School teachers, initially in Kampala but then in different regions. A training handbook and child protection statement & procedure are being developed. The team are also trying to get out and visit churches to observe children’s ministries and encourage teachers and workers.
Workshop topics

1. Lesson planning, story telling & teaching without resources.
2. Managing children’s behaviour, safety – responsibilities of the church & the Sunday School teacher, creating a child friendly church.
3. Praying with children, child evangelism, the importance of the Sunday School teacher’s own spiritual development.

Each module can stand alone as a piece of training and does not rely on the other modules to be a useful tool. A certificate is awarded at the end of each module. The course can be completed in any order. For those who complete the whole course of three modules, a grander certificate is presented by a senior representative of the Baptist Union.

Forthcoming events
Workshop 2

• When – Saturday 26th March 2011.
• Where – Kyebando Baptist Church, Kampala.
• Time – 9.00am to 1.00pm .