September is a month of new starts. New academic year, new schools, new university, new jobs, new church groups etc. etc.
For many it is an exciting, yet also daunting, time with new opportunities, new experiences and (hopefully) new friends and relationships.
As our children (and grandchildren) go back to (or start) school it’s worth reminding ourselves that, for many, getting any input or understanding about the Christian faith or the Bible at school is about as likely as my local football, team, Eastbourne Borough, winning the Premier League in the next ten years. When I was a child I learned Bible stories at school, in RE classes and in assemblies, something that doesn’t happen today in the majority of schools. Just look at the lack of understanding of what the two major Christian festivals of Christmas and Easter are about amongst many young people today for one example.
And only recently it emerged that Michael Gove, the Minister for Education, has decided not to include Religious Education in the new English Baccalaureate (EBacc) despite major campaigns for its inclusion.
So it’s even more important nowadays that we help children and young people to engage with God’s truths through creatively introducing them to the stories of the Bible. This might be through reading books, DVDs, CDs, activity books, games and the like. Everything from “first Bibles” to Bible story books, sticker books, DVDs like Friends & Heroes, What’s in the Bible, Veggietales, Great Big God and children’s worship CDs, through to Testament Trumps, the Christian version of Top Trumps.
The creators (writers, designers, animators, illustrators, songsmiths, musicians and arrangers) of these offerings work very hard to provide us with products which will be appealing and attractive to young eyes and ears. And it’s never too early to start. I know plenty of mums-tobe who have introduced their children to worship music before birth and to Bible stories from a very early age.
As a grandparent I have seen in my own family the value of parents sharing the Bible with their children. My three year old grandson knows many Bible stories and enjoys ‘reading’ them along with whoever is doing the bedtime read. He also rates Larry the Cucumber from Veggietales up there with Lightning McQueen from the movie Cars as one of his favourite cartoon characters.
Companies like Lion/Candle, CWR, Christian Focus (CF4K), BRF, Dernier Publishing, Scandianvian, to name a few, have some great offerings and authors such as Bob Hartman and GP Taylor provide exciting stories to engage inquisitive young minds.
And the quality, both in content and production, is first-class. When even little ones are used to the quality output they get from Disney/Pixar and HiT entertainment (Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine) and the like then it is no good offering them flannelgraphs (or the equivalent – if there is such a thing).
Children are sophisiticated consumers nowadays and they know very quickly when something isn’t worth bothering with. But I’m pleased to say that much of what is now available through the Christian retail channel is of a quality which can stand comparison with anything the general market can offer.
If you have a little one starting school for the first-time ever then CWR’s Pens – Starting School Special might be worth a look as it deals with the issue of overcoming fear. And Scripture Union have something called Get Ready, Go for the same group. SU also have It’s Your Move for those moving to senior school and there’s also Life Actually for those moving on to higher education.
Maintaining faith in this life-changing time is challenging and for this group there’s Fresh by Krish Kandiah (IVP) or Rise by Jason and Rachel Gardner to name but two. Or maybe you could considier giving them one of the many ‘Youth’ Bibles which are available.
So as we move into the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’, as John Keats described Autumn in his poem, as we await the approaching long dark nights of winter, let’s look for the opportunity to bring some light into the gloom and encourage those who are moving on to new challenges and experiences with the light and life of God’s enduring word.
