By Eunice Kadiki (Mabelreign South Communicator)
“Junior Church are not the church of tomorrow but are the church of now.” –Rev Maphosa, Director of Children Ministries, HWD Leadership Retreat, October 10-12.
Harare West District {HWD} Children Ministries Skills Workshop was held on October 18, 2014s at Revelation UMC, Mabelreign. A total of 15 circuits were represented by their Junior Churches.
The Director of Children’s Ministries Rev Edmore Maphosa, opened proceedings and encouraged the children not to view the workshop as competition but as a time to learn. In attendance was Zeria Matika, representing HWD Comm. Children Ministries District Coordinators {Mrs} Chadzingwa and Esther Kumtiki, hosted the workshop. The HWD Junior Church Executive Leadership was well-represented. Circuits also sent in at least two coordinators, to accompany the children.
Diverse presenters taught the Junior Church members various skills. First to present was Promise Karuwenga who taught the children “How to use their voices”. Karuwenga educated and showed that “music is serious fun”, as he engaged the children in hand clapping as well as singing activities. Karuwenga taught; Posture – how one should sit and stand correctly while singing;
Breathing – one should breathe/sing from the tummy and not from the throat;
Diction – voices should match musical notes. A voice should be clear and words well-pronounced. Everyone should hear the message in the song;
Expression – facial expression should match the lyrics of the song.
Karuwenga said it is important to be considerate of the audience when singing, “You are your own amplifier”. The UMC Dental Clinic was represented by Dr Tarisayi Tsomondo and Sister Thuli Moyo. The presentation on teeth generated a lot of excitement with the children, perhaps because the presenters had prizes and food to give away. The doctor taught on frequency – how often a toothbrush should be changed {three months}, how often one should brush their teeth per day {at least twice per day} and how often one should visit the dentist in a year {two times a year}. The participants discussed good food to eat and bad food to avoid, as well as the correct way of brushing teeth.
The next presenter showed the children how to set a table, serve food, as well as discussed good kitchen hygiene. The same presenter taught the children how to cook rice and how to fry dried kapenta. The last presenter discussed drama/public speaking skills.
Unfortunately the children did not have time to practise the cooking and public speaking skills they learnt. It is hoped that the individual circuits will give the Junior Church members time to practise and showcase what they learnt at the workshop.
The Skills workshop brought to the fore that the Junior Church is indeed the church of now. The children asked probing questions and gave educated and well-informed answers which left parents and presenters wondering where children are getting their information from. Not only did they competently answer questions that were posed to them, but volunteered to pray while “standing in the Pastor’s shoes”. The children should not be regarded as “empty” shells but as sources of reference. The Junior Church is eager to lead.