Social
Ministries
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Sponsor
children’s outreach programs with Davey and Goliath, like a
back-to-school supply collection, recycling, a food pantry
or a clothing collection. |
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Introducing Davey and Goliath as
“welcome leaders” in this area of ministry can increase a child’s
level of interest and involvement. Make it clear that these
characters are devoted to being special friends to younger members
in your congregation.
Developing an awareness of the
needs of others is vital to living and growing in faith. Even
while we focus our attention on nurturing a child’s knowledge of
the Bible and relationship with God, we can actively engage him or
her in opportunities to share and care for others.
Check out the following
suggestions for establishing Davey and Goliath as kid-friendly
partners in this ministry.
- Show a video to acquaint younger
children with the Davey and Goliath characters and adventures.
Look through a listing and description of all the
episodes. There are
several programs that nurture an understanding of and
sensitivity to the challenges and needs of others.
- Check your local resource
centers for copies of "classic" Davey and Goliath VHS
tapes. There are also a few videos available through
The
Augsburg Fortress Store including,
- The Zillion Dollar Combo
- detailing the moral dilemma Davey and his friends encounter
as they are challenged to choose between playing a gig for
profit and performing at a children's hospital without pay.
- Watch for Davey and Goliath's
Snowboard Christmas - an all-new Christmas special
featuring an adventure based on Davey’s interest in raising
money for a special cause. The program is being produced for
broadcast television during the 2004 holiday season. Check out
www.daveyandgoliath.org/snowboard for updates about
this Christmas special.
- Go to the
Davey and Goliath online store for the promotion and
distribution of other videos in the future, such as
- The Caretakers - features Davey pouring paint down a well and learning the effects of
his deeds along with the lesson that we're all responsible for
taking care of God's world.
- Six-Seven-Six-Three - Davey
learns the importance of responsible pet ownership after
Goliath is dog-napped.
- Louder Please - A deaf
neighbor teaches Davey to appreciate all the sounds in the
world around him.
- Identify and evaluate your
current opportunities for outreach and service. Are they program
offerings for children, youth, adults or intergenerational? Note
when they usually occur.
- Work with appropriate
congregation leaders and committees to maximize the potential of
your ministry and participant involvement. Enlist men’s and
women’s groups and Sunday school or day-school teachers to work
with you to coordinate special or ongoing emphases for the
entire congregation through the year.
- Adapt your program choices to
complement the age, interest, and abilities of your
participants.
- Identify Davey as key support
for the events you choose to plan. Create visuals of Davey and
Goliath using the outlines from the
clip art file. If
you wish to display large or life-size representations of either
character, you can download and reproduce the graphic on a transparency.
Then use an overhead projector to enlarge the design and trace
it onto poster board or newsprint for display. Have the children
or youth color it with markers or paints!
- You may wish to recruit
volunteers to portray the characters of Davey and Goliath as you
promote and carryout a specific program. Are there any
seamstresses in your congregation who could make costumes? Refer
to the online color graphics as you accessorize Davey. Note the
trademark red and white-checkered shirt and the classic gray
pants. Generic dog patterns are available in fabric stores.
- Organize a servant event to
build a foundation for children and family outreach. You may
also wish to expand one of your current service projects to
include several age or interest groups.
- Plan occasions to celebrate the
ministries you are doing. Videotaping the various components of
each program will help children get a “big picture”
understanding of the role they play in helping others in your
local and global community.
Additional Resources:
- The Giving Market and Global
Deli - An interactive program for young children that puts a
creative spin on a traditional food shelf program. It invites
children to stock the shelves of the Giving market to share with
people in local and global need. Call Augsburg Fortress at
800.328-4648 to receive your free copy of the leader’s guide.
(ISBN 6-0001-0917-2) and accessory pack (ISBN 6-0001-0913-X).
- The Great American Bake Sale
- A national program that encourages children and youth to
coordinate bake sales and dedicate their proceeds to ending
child hunger in America. Check out
www.greatamericanbakesale.org
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