Kids of Courage

You can make a cross that helps you remember persecuted Christians (Hebrews 13:3) at Easter and throughout the year.

Needed
Cardstock or poster board
Yarn (or twine)
Glue
Printed (or written) names of countries where Christians are persecuted, or “Pray for the Persecuted,” or a Bible verse reference

Instructions
1. Draw a 7½-inch tall and 5½-wide cross on cardstock or poster board. Cut out the cross.
2. Cut two 4-inch pieces and one 8-inch piece of yarn.
3. Apply glue to cover the long piece of the cross. Stick the end of the 8-inch segment of yarn to the cross, starting at the top. Attach the yarn to the cross little by little, until the outer edge of the piece is outlined with the yarn. Continue wrapping the yarn around the cross, working from the outside to the inside until the piece is completely covered. Trim the end of the yarn if necessary.
4. Repeat the process with the shorter parts of the cross, one at a time.
5. Glue on printed (or written) names of countries where Christians are persecuted, or “Pray for the Persecuted,” or a Bible verse reference.
6. Hang up the cross as a reminder to think of Christians who are persecuted for their faith in the one whose resurrection we celebrate at Easter.

In the following skit, a Christian prisoner recognizes that he is a link in the chain of faithful Christians from the past who have sacrificed for Christ.

Links in the Chain

Characters
Narrator
Prison Official
Prisoner
Several Links in the Chain

Read the rest of this entry »

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th. How much do you know about Patrick?

Find Patrick coloring pages, a quiz, and other activities here.

Note: Patrick is depicted in the Torchlighters DVDs for kids, The Story of St. Patrick. Check Torchlighters.org for details.

“If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God so as to teach these peoples, even though some still look down on me.” — Patrick

“It’s not right that I hold my tongue when I think of all the blessings God lavished on me in the land of my captivity…and it was there I found Him.” — Patrick

Patrick was a British slave who shared his faith with other captives — and with citizens of the country that had enslaved him. He is remembered March 17th on St. Patrick’s Day. You can make scrolls highlighting Patrick’s wise quotes shown above.

Note: Adult supervision and assistance is recommended for this activity.

Needed
*Patrick’s quotes on cardstock or thick paper
*Bowl of hot water
*2 teabags
*Scissors
*Hot glue gun and glue sticks, or other strong adhesive
*Twine or thick string
*Watercolor paints and brush
*Twigs, about 8 to 10 inches long

Instructions
*Using calligraphy or a suitable computer font, put Patrick’s quotes on an 8 ½ by 11-inch piece of paper. Draw a circle around each quote using a bowl or other round object as a pattern. Print the paper with the quotes on it onto thick white paper or cardstock.

*Put the teabags in a small bowl of hot water, and let them sit for seven minutes. Drag one of the soaked tea bags across the cardstock, then let it dry for three minutes. Repeat the process three more times, dipping a bag in the tea before each application. Lightly stain the back of the paper if desired.

*Cut the paper down the middle to make two scrolls. Carefully roll down the very top part of each scroll, then unroll it and apply a strip of glue. Stick the twig to the glue, and roll the paper down again. Add more glue if necessary to hold the paper down. Press tightly for 30 seconds. Repeat with the bottoms of the scrolls.

*Knot each end of two 12-inch pieces of twine. Glue (or tape) the ends to the backs of the scrolls near the top to form a hanger. Paint a wreath of leaves around the quotes as a symbol of Ireland, Patrick’s adopted country.

Hang the scrolls on a wall and talk with your family or class about the meaning of Patrick’s wise words.