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My first and second grade Voyager Pioneer Clubs members often amaze me. Recently I was struck by the in-depth question one boy asked as we were finishing our Bible Exploration lesson on "Doing What's Right." We concluded the lesson by discussing how we feel when someone does something bad to us. We talked about appropriate responses to such treatment. Club members demonstrated very creative thinking about possible responses.

Feeling that the lesson had been learned, I moved on to the memory verse, Leviticus 19:17: "Don't hold grudges. On the other hand, it's wrong not to correct someone who needs correcting" (CEV).

The meaning of the word grudges was unclear to them, so I explained its meaning with a few illustrations. Several kids had their own examples to share. Then we recited the verse several times as a group. While we were putting together puzzles with the verse on it, on child looked me squarely in the eyes. "But what happens if you can't stop holding a grudge?"

His question caused the entire group to stop what they were doing. It was as if they all wondered the same thing. Talk about a teachable moment! I told the boy that it was a great question and summarized the Bible lesson we had just done. I reminded them that God will help us, even with hard things like not holding a grudge, if we pray and ask him. I could see the boy contemplating my answer. He was trying to figure out how he was going to apply God's Word to his first-grade life.

For me, the experience reaffirmed the importance of helping children study God's Word. I love to see them actually open their Bibles and discover firsthand what it says to them today. The applications are immediate, not something they have to wait to discover when they're older. In fact, that is one of the hallmarks of Pioneer Clubs' ministry—Scripture study that helps children see Jesus as Lord in every aspect of their lives.

As you think about launching your church's children's ministry this fall, may God encourage you as you plan to help children deal with the big questions in their lives. And don't forget to pray for all the children in your church as they begin their lifelong journeys of living out the truths of Scripture.

Judy Bryson is President/CEO of Pioneer Clubs—a church-sponsored midweek ministry for children, ages 2 through sixth grade. Pioneer Clubs' three unique programs offer age-specific groupings, large group/small group and small-church ministry formats. Churches are encouraged to select the program that best meets their ministry needs.

©2009, Pioneer Clubs

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