 |
 |
Have you ever wondered what some adults were like when they were children?
Who is a Christian? How do you become one?
What are some of the ways in which God speaks to us?
Which yearly meeting or region of the Friends churches are we part of?
Would you be interested in going to a different place to share about Jesus?
What is a missionary? What do missionaries do?
How do you say “hello” in Chinese? How do you write it?
What are the main ways of supporting missionaries? Why do they need our support?
What does it mean for you and me to have a foundation like a rock? Why is that important?
These and other questions are explored in a series of lessons that tell the story of the first missionary to be sent out by what are known today as Evangelical Friends. Her name was Esther Hettie Butler and she was sent to China in 1887 by Ohio Yearly Meeting (now known as Evangelical Friends Church – Eastern Region). The lessons also tell the story of the Friends mission in China which Esther led for the first 31 years of its existence.The lessons are designed especially for children but could easily be adapted for youth and even adults. Opportunities are given for memorizing Matthew 28:19-20 (and seeing what those verses look like in Chinese!), getting acquainted with Evangelical Friends missionaries who are active today, praying for the missionaries, and taking an offering to help support their ministries.
These lessons are being released at the same time that the EFM Board is announcing a God-sized goal for the next five years: To send 10 new missionary households from North America to launch 5 new fields by 2025. So many missionaries first heard God calling them to this kind of ministry when they were children. Our prayer is that these lessons will be used by the Lord to send more workers into the harvest fields of the world whether it’s 5, 15, or 25 years from now.
Would you find a way to put these lessons to good use? Maybe it will be in your own home with your children or grandchildren. Maybe it will be in the Sunday school program of your church. Maybe a kid’s club, youth group, or a small group of adults. This material will not bear fruit unless it is used. Please find a way to use it. Someone’s life and eternal destiny could be impacted by those who take the time to work through these lessons.
Your fellow servant in Christ,
Dan Cammack
Executive Director
Our commitment to you is that all donations to EFM are used as designated. Once a ministry is fully funded, we follow policy to use funds for the next closest ministry need. 100% of every gift to EFM goes into the project or missionary fund to which it is given.