Church instruction—not just for children

Securing the Church’s future

To facilitate the development of faith of the youngest generation and to make it as child-friendly as possible—this was the aim of the Sunday School teachers of the Almería congregation in Spain when they met on 13 July 2024. The superintendent in charge of teacher training explained how good preparation can positively influence both the lesson and the growth of the children's faith. Then the participants took a closer look at the resources available to them—which include books, teaching plans, and online materials—together. This also included a closer look at teaching techniques, which in turn incorporated the musical component of Church instruction. At the end there was still enough time left to share some anecdotes from personal experiences in Church instruction and enjoy a meal together.

Around 150 youth leaders from the eight districts of the Apostle Area known as West 1 in Nigeria came together on 19 July 2024 for a seminar on youth care. During the two-day seminar, there were role plays and discussions on topics such as the state of the various youth groups and the establishment of a “world café”. Apostle Oscar Nwanza also happily took part in the warm-up exercises on Saturday morning, which included an aerobics session. During the breaks, plans were made for a concert in October, and the participants chatted over rice, snacks, and local delicacies.

How can the Church reach people in the general public? What media do people use to find out about the Church? These questions were the focus of a workshop for public relations officers in Germany’s Heilbronn / Nuremberg Apostle district. These congregations have been active in public for 30 years, and a great deal has changed since then. In the month of June, the group took advantage of a change in its leadership in order to develop new ways of creating positive public perceptions and motivating members from all congregations to help.

Seniors on the ball

You never stop learning: about 30 seniors from the congregations of Waldshut and Tiengen in Germany gathered in a restaurant on 1 August 2024 and learned a few new things about how they could avoid becoming victims of crime. The police superintendent began his presentation by introducing the pensioners to those crimes that primarily affect senior citizens. Some of the members gave examples of how criminals had attempted to fraudulently acquire money and jewellery from them by way of fake phone calls. A discussion quickly developed about how this sort of thing could be prevented. The evening came to a close over dinner together.

The traditional Wednesday lunch that the seniors of the Wentworth congregation in South Africa usually enjoy took on a different tone on 7 August. In view of an upcoming recorder concert in August—a special event usually reserved for children—the seniors decided to pick up the recorder themselves. After practising the notes and melodies intensively, they came to the conclusion that one is never too old to learn something new—and that they are looking forward to taking part in the recorder concert.

Conductor training at the university

Over 30 choir leaders from all over Ghana gathered at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus in early August. There, the conductors—both experienced professionals and enthusiastic amateurs—learned a lot about singing techniques, choir arrangements, and conducting skills. Apostles Addo Charles Asare and Moses Otchere Ayarkwa were also there to teach the choir leaders how important choirs are in divine services, special events, and community outreach. Not only do they lift spirits and touch the listeners, they also convey messages of faith through the power of music. Thus equipped with new skills and inspiration, the choir conductors returned to their respective congregations to build vibrant choirs.