In Inter-America, Adventist Church launches new resources for children

Five character building game apps were just launched by Inter-America’s Children and Adolescents Ministries Department just a few months ago as Vacation Bible School programs began across thousands of churches across the territory.

August 14, 2015 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens/IAD

Children and Adolescents Ministries at the Inter-American Division (IAD) recently launched a series of resources available online for children throughout the vast territory. The resources include five game apps, five animated shorts, as well as audio and interactive online books where character building and Christian values are reinforced.

IAD Children and Adolescents Ministries Director Dinorah Rivera says it is the first time in decades that new technological resources for children have been produced and launched in the territory. IAD File photo by Libna Stevens.

This is the first time in decades such technological resources for children have been produced and introduced in the region by the IAD, says Dinorah Rivera, children and adolescent ministries director for the church in Inter-America. The resources were introduced across thousands of Adventist Churches this summer during Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs during the past several months.

“It is very exciting to have additional tools available to our most precious resources in the church–our young members,” says Rivera.

Those young members represent one third of the IAD’s church membership or 1.1 million members, according to Rivera.

“We strive to instill in our children wonderful character building traits that will last a lifetime,” explains Rivera. The new resources were introduced to go along with the VBS program this summer but are appropriate for children to use at home, at church, in the car, or anywhere, she adds.

“The games stretches and fortifies kids’ minds by helping them make quick decisions while instilling good values,” adds Rivera.

Five new video shorts on values are introduced.

The five game apps, available in English and Spanish mode, can be downloaded for iPhones and Android phones include:

Caribe Runner – the game is about a runner (the player) racing through an obstacle course collecting coconuts. It teaches patience.

Cristal – is a game that consists of going on a submarine mission to collect special shells. It teaches about making good choices (only available on Android phones right now).

Odisea Memo – is a memory game that teaches patience and perseverance.

Pocket Pet Dog– the game consist of taking care of a pet dog and it teaches about responsibility and care for pets.

Tree of Life – is a game that consists of collecting fruits and deals with making good choices.

A group of children hold their certificates at the El Paraiso Adventist Church in Caracas, Venezuela, after completing the Vacation Bible School Program earlier this month. Image from El Paraiso Adventist Church’s Facebook page.

Children also have available now five animated short stories on values to watch online. These are two minute long stories that showcase character traits that are good to possess and reinforce, she says.

In addition, online coloring pages are available for children to engage in, as well as songs that children can play at home after the VBS program has ended.

So far, Rivera says she’s traveled and seen these new resources begin to take off in the IAD territory this summer. More than 300,000 children participate in one-week VBS programs in the IAD every year, she adds.

Rivera says it is important for the church to continue reinforcing Christian values and offering technological resources that can be accessible to children. “We must offer an alternative to what is available at their fingertips in this fast paced world,” explains Rivera.

The plan is to continue promoting these new free resources more in the coming months for children across the IAD and across cyber space, Rivera adds.

To find the video resources in English and Spanish, visit childrensministries.interamerica.org

For audio and coloring pages visit ministerioinfantildiainteractivo.org