Shawn’s Salvation

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Debbie

On the Wednesday before Easter Shawn exclaimed once again, “I don’t get it, why did Jesus have to die? Why couldn’t I die?” This time, as Kim and I explained why Christ died, Shawn grasped the truth. He expressed, “Oh, I get it! Can I pray right now?” What an exciting moment for everyone!

For four years now, Shawn faithfully attends Gentilly Baptist Church. I enjoy teaching him on Wednesday nights. On this particular Wednesday, he announced that he just celebrated his eighth birthday. Shawn always shows an interest in the Bible; however, whenever I taught about the cross he didn’t understand. This Wednesday night began with a challenge, Jessie (name change) chose to defy our authority. Miss Kim assured the class that Jessie’s mother would not tolerate her disrespectful behavior.

Each time Jessie distracted the class, I would focus the children’s attention back to the lesson on Christ’ death. This is when Shawn interrupted wondering why he (Shawn) could not take his own punishment for his sins. I referred Shawn to Jessie’s misbehavior. I illustrated that I could take her punishment and she would be free. At that moment, Shawn understood the purpose of the cross! He immediately asked if he could pray. We explained that he now had two birthdays! He celebrated his physical birthday on Monday evening and on Wednesday evening he was born into God’s forever family! What a precious moment!

Ken Taylor baptizes Shawn at Gentilly Baptist Church

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Discovering with God

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Debbie

G.W. Carver Discovers with God

As a babe, Night Raiders discarded George Washington Carver (deemed invaluable). His former owner, Moses Carver, recognized his value and redeemed him for the price of his prize horse. In adulthood, Carver became the “New Columbus” discovering with God and saving the South from the devastation of the Civil War.

During Black History Month (February), we used the CEF Press Evangelistic Discovering with God Party Kit to inspire children to follow Carver’s example and walk with God.

Phil and I led three Discovering with God Workshops and as a result, teachers hosted five Discovery Parties. Through the effort of Chris Jolissaint (CEF coordinator) God opened a door for us to share his story with a fourth grade class at Gentilly Terrace Elementary School. Kids enjoyed making peanut butter, singing songs, and learning of Carver’s discoveries and faith in God. Also, one of our newest Teaching Children Effectively Level 1 graduates, Damon Dupart, dressed as Carver and shared the story three in three different settings.

When asked about his discoveries from the peanut, this is what George said:

When I was young, I said to God, “Tell me the mystery of the universe.” God answered, “That knowledge is for me alone.” So I said, “God, tell me the mystery of the peanut.” Then God said, “Well, George, that’s more nearly your size.”

 

 

 

 

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The Beads that Tell the Story

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Debbie
Back: Chris Jolissaint, Elaine Shaneyfelt, Sam Gentry, Marie & Mark Pratt, Ada Arzu, Debbie Smith, Bernetta Cobbs

This gallery contains 4 photos.

In New Orleans, Mardi Gras is all about the beads. Folks cannot  get enough of them! What better time to share The Story of the Beads with boy, girls, moms, and dads! For the past seven years, Phil and I … Continue reading →

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Hear the Story of the Beads (Video Link)

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Debbie

Click link below to see a six minute video presentation about the colored beads (Gospel Bracelet).

The Beads with a Story!

If you do not have a bracelet with the colored beads (Gospel Bracelet) send a stamped self-addressed envelope to us and we will send you a Bracelet plus a booklet with the story.

Send stamped self-addressed envelope to:

Debbie Smith; 6611 Chartres Street; Arabi, LA 70032


 

 

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Three Lessons from God

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Debbie

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Have you ever had plans fail and live to thank God they did? This is where God first began to teach us a lesson. Last year we purchased Christmas cards in the shape of a house to use this Christmas (you know… those great after-Christmas sales), we didn’t know at the time that we would soon be in out of our tiny dorm apartment. In our search for a home, we experienced several disappointing moments. All of the time, God was getting a place ready for us that would meet our every need! We almost settled for much less. Each day we praise God for our new home. We learned that God’s ways are higher than our ways!

Next, that’s the exact lesson we are teaching the children this Christmas through Child Evangelism Fellowship’s Christmas Party Outreach. When God promised to send His son, people did not expect a humble birth. They thought the Messiah would come as a king…God’s ways are higher than our ways!

Finally, God taught us this lesson again when by faith, we ordered ten Christmas party kits and prayed folks would host parties. We led three workshops and to our surprise, we sold twelve kits! As the lesson emphasizes, God’s ways are “awesome, extreme!” We praise God for the Christmas Party Outreaches that will happen throughout greater New Orleans (NOLA)! We praise God for you, we think you are awesome! You are extremely important in enabling us to train teachers and reach the children with the Good News of Christ throughout the year!


 

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Plan a Snow Fest for your Children

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Debbie

Snowboarding? Howcan New Orleans (NOLA) children relate to snowboarding? When I learned that Child Evangelism’s Fellowship Christmas Party Kit was a snowboarding story, I was disappointed but I had little choice, it was the only kit available for 2011. However, after looking over the material, the Lord inspired me with several ideas to bring the snow to NOLA!

Here are some ideas to bring a Snow Fest to your children:

First, order The Extreme Christmas Gift Party Kit from CEF Press at this link. At $10.99 it’s a bargain. Although the emphasis is Christmas, this lesson can be adapted for after Christmas too.

Next, plan to decorate using giant snowflakes. You can learn to make beautiful snowflakes with paper and scissors on this YouTube video, click here. (They are really easy to make!)

Snowy Snacks:  I recommend beignets (that’s a French donut loaded with powder sugar). All you need is inexpensive canned biscuits. Cut each biscuit in half and fry in hot oil (I use an electric skillet). When they float to the top, flip over and fry until golden brown. Remove from hot oil with a spatula and put in a bag filled with powder sugar. Shake well to cover donuts in powdered sugar. Serve with additional powdered sugar.

Drinks:  I served melted snow (7-up with crushed ice). If you have access to a sno-cone machine, serve sno-cones! (In New Orleans we call them sno-balls.)

Take-Home Treat: A great take-home treat is what I call “Dirty Snow” (our NOLA kids are familiar with “Dirty Rice”). Take large white marshmallows and dip one end in melted semi-sweet chocolate then roll in crushed graham crackers (it’s like a mini s’more). Place on wax paper to cool. Place several in a snack-size zip lock bag. (A super easy alternative is “Yummy-Snow” a mixture of large and small white marshmallow and M&M’s in a snack-size zip-lock bag).

Grand Finale: For the grand finale, end with a snowball fight! Take used Wal-Mart plastic bags, let the children ball them up tight in a ball. Before handing out the bags, explain that they will make snowballs by wadding up the bags in a tight ball, no throwing balls until you blow a whistle. When they hear the second whistle blow, it’s time to stop the fight and clean up the snow balls!

If you would like additional helps to enhance the CEF Press The Extreme Christmas Gift Party Kit, I’ve created a skit, game-ideas, lesson outline, and visuals. You may download the additional helps from me for a small donation of $5.00. Just contact me at phil.debbie@weecanknow.

Bibleway Missionary Baptist Christmas Party workshop


 

 

 

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He is God in Amite, LA

Posted on September 24, 2011 by Debbie

I couldn’t believe it! When we arrived to teach a full day seminar at Little Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Amite, LA, we discovered we left our projector, extension cord, and speakers at home. What could we do? The drive to New Orleans was over an hour. Phil jumped in the car and headed back to New Orleans but he didn’t need to drive far. Rev. Frank Davis found a church member that met our every need…including the notes that the Jolissaints left in New Orleans!

Satan appeared to be at work (or human weakness) but God moved mightily through your prayers. After the conference was all over, one student, Caryn Martin, shared this testimony:

“As Bertha Price taught regarding teaching children truths about God, I wrote in my notes the name of one of my favorite children’s song, “He is God” by Jana Alayra. I also shared with my friends sitting near me how I love Alayra’s music,” Caryn shared.

“Later in the afternoon”, Caryn continued, “Phil taught on teaching through music. When he handed out the Good News Club schedule, I was amazed, a suggested song on the schedule was ‘He is God.’ However, I wasn’t sure if it was Alayra’s song. Then, when you played one of Alayra’s songs, I gasped in surprise!” Caryn concluded, “God used that song and the events that day to confirm His will for me to teach the Bible club for the CHESS homeschool students.”

Students participate at Amite Seminar, Ora Smith (frt); (Back lft to rgt) Lori Smith, Rachel Filla, Don Jolissaint, Caryn Martin


 

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God Answered Prayer!

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Debbie

“The school representative gave the option of three schools, Nelson Elementary, Gentilly Terrace, and one additional school…” Chris Jolissaint explained.

“What?” I exclaimed, “Gentilly Terrace! That’s right beside our church!”

Phil and I knew this was answered prayer for an after school Good News Club (GNC) at Gentilly Terrace. We gladly offered our services to make it happen. We also knew that our pastor, Dr. Ken Taylor, and the Gentilly Baptist family would support the effort.

Chris immediately got the ball rolling contacting Dr. Taylor and the school authorities. We began to pray and contact needed volunteers. God did the rest!

As a result, Gentilly Baptist agreed to sponsor the club, the school authorities gave permission to start, and God provided three additional volunteers: Ada Arzu, Kelly Ruff, and Joy Tolbert.

The club is set to begin Monday, Oct 3, 3:50 – 5:00 p.m.

Thank you for your prayers. Would you like to be a prayer partner for this club? We could send you specific request each week. Contact me by e-mail, text, or phone if you are interested (504-400-4095).


 

 

 

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Hope for Haiti

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Debbie

When Phil learned he would go to Haiti, he contacted the Child Evangelism Fellowship National Director of Haiti, Adline Liberal Caméus, to see about children’s resources available. She responded saying his email put a smile on her face. Phil told her that we planned to bring 1,000 Gospel bracelets.

Adline told this story “Every time we teach children for the first time, we teach the Wordless Book. At a recent school ministry, counseled 16 children for salvation, of which four of them are Witchdoctor’s children and others from voodoo worshipers.  We gave the children Gospel bracelets donated by a women’s group from the U.S. The excited Principal was telling me this morning that since our visit, they gather the children every Friday for prayer. She is asking me for teacher training, for the teachers also attended the program and thought it was good and they want training through CEF.

The amazing part about it is that one of the children who received the bracelet, after she went home that day, the evil spirits that her mom serves “said” that their servant has done wrong to them, that she had betrayed them by sending the girl in a school in which they were not there! The spirits said the child came home with a bracelet that was giving them trouble, they cannot stay in the house since that day, and that they require that mom burn the bracelet. (The little girl did not let mom but even though the bracelet is torn up, the spirits still cannot get in the house when the girl is home. We know it is not the bracelet, but the Holy Spirit in the life of the child.) What a mighty God we serve!”

Adline concluded saying, “You may not realize how powerful these tools are, but us Haitian, living in Haiti and being on the mission field, facing spiritual warfare, we know that God is using them to make a difference in the life of many.”

Pray for the 3,000 Gospel tracts and 1,000 Gospel bracelets, that Phil brought to Haiti. Pray God will use them mightily for many to come to salvation. Give: We need donations to cover our expense of the material ($400) plus, our additional summer ministries (snacks, prizes, gas). Thank you for your generous gifts.

Peru children show their Gospel Bracelets- from Peru 2010

 

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Where’s the best place to fish?

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Debbie

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. Luke 5:5

In our April post, we shared how the Lord encouraged us regarding Ministry Partner Development (see Need Encouragement?) This past month one of our Ministry Partners, Bertha Price, invited us to assist her in a training meeting held by the Christians Ministry Union here in New Orleans, the emphasis was on evangelism and they asked Bertha to lead a workshop on child evangelism. Three things impressed us …

First, the leaders recognized the importance of the children at an evangelism conference (we’ve seen many conferences neglect child evangelism).

Next, our workshop overflowed with participants, indicating a desire for training in child evangelism.

Finally, when we united with others for the sermon challenge, the pastor exhorted the people to ‘launch out into the deep’. Where was the deep? The deep was reaching the children for Christ!

Through this conference, we found a place where we can ‘cast our nets’ for training and equipping others for children’s outreach and ministry partner development. Yes, The time is now to launch out for the children! Just as the disciples had to recruit others to help with the catch, we need your help with prayers, finances, and helping hands. Let’s launch out together!

It's time to launch out for the children!


 

 

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