Resources for Youth, Children, and All ages

Youth Resources and Projects

Introduction:

Youth encounter environmental messages in our culture, including via the entertainment industry and lessons at public schools. Christian adults need to help them put such messages into a Christian perspective. They need to understand what the Bible can teach us concerning what to do about the impacts of pollution and environmental degradation. They also need to experience putting faith into action together as the Body of Christ. If pollution hurts people and therefore violates the Great Commandments, then having your youth group work together to reduce pollution builds their Christian character, helps them feel empowered instead of helpless, and puts the lessons of the Bible into action.

Becoming a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ requires (1) studying the Word of God to understand God’s will and then (2) doing it -- that is, living out Christ’s Lordship. To help with these two tasks, we provide you with suggestions concerning lesson resources (studying) and youth projects (doing).

I. Lesson Resource Suggestions (studying)

• Faith on Fire: 15 Lessons to Help Teenagers Change the World.
  By Debbie Gowensmith and Helen Turnbull. Published by Group Publishing. The first five of the 15 lessons are on creation-care. Each lesson has a faith foundation and appropriate Scripture passages, discussion starters, interesting quotes and statistics, activities, leader tips, success stories, and reproducible resource sheets. An excellent resource. For more information and to order, go to: http://www.youthministry.com/articles/resource_reviews/fire.asp

II. Youth Project Suggestions (doing)

Here are some suggested youth projects to spark your creativity. The first is given in more detail as a model of how the other suggestions could be planned and implemented.

1. Church Energy Audit
   Conducting a church energy audit with your junior high/high school youth group or Sunday school is an exciting, challenging and educational event. The project:
   • models caring for creation;
   • decreases air pollution and global warming emissions;
   • gives youth the opportunity to teach adults in their church community;
   • can become a real source of pride for the group;
   • reveals how our choices as individuals and small communities have an impact;
   • encourages responsibility for those choices; and
   • will save money, which the church could decide to use for ministry and missions.

   Options: There are many ways to proceed with an energy audit. But you don't have to start big. Here is one possible model for engaging students in this project.

   Week 1: Introduce creation care from a Biblical perspective. Orient your students to the energy audit. Either decide beforehand, or together if there is time, on those areas of energy efficiency on which you would like to concentrate.

   Weeks 2 and 3: Actually begin a portion of the church audit during either the Sunday school hour or youth group meeting.

   Week 4: Dedicate time during the worship service for the students to describe their efforts and findings.

   Other options include:

   • Shorten the above from four to three weeks.
   • Week 1 could be the same as above. But during the Worship Service of Week 2, the youth group would introduce its plans to the congregation. The church community could in some way "bless" the youth group's efforts, serving as a kickoff for the audit. Actual energy audit activities could begin that week as well, or in Week 3. Ideally, the youth group would have an opportunity to report back to the congregation during a future worship service. Create what works for you.

   We recommend talking with the pastor and church facilities manager before proceeding. Enlist their support. Find out if any energy audits have already been done or what energy efficiency measures have already been taken.

   Activities:
   Utilize the following articles and worksheets from EEN’s book, The Lord's House.

   • Reducing the Flow of Heated Air from the Building
   • Energy Usage in Unoccupied Areas
   • Inventory of Lights
   • Lowering the Temperature on the Hot Water Heater
   • Changing Appliance Usage

   You will notice most have a place to record recommendations. It may be that you and your youth group will want to take the energy audit to that point. You could then turn over your recommendations to the church facilities manager and work with him/her on implementing your suggestions.

   You will also notice (for example, "Energy Usage in Unoccupied Areas") some of the activities require inspecting the church building when it is unoccupied. This would be an excellent opportunity for youth to work with a parent or older friend within the church, and thereby educate and excite more people within the congregation.

   To Order The Lord's House: A Guide to Creation Careful Management of Church Facilities, contact the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) at 1-800-650-6600 or een@creationcare.org.

   The EPA has a program to help churches become more energy efficient called “Energy Star Congregations,” including a free 86 page guide.
   See http://208.254.22.7/index.cfm?c=small_business.sb_congregations

2. Integrated Pest Management and the Church Building
   Does the church use pesticides to address a pest problem? If so, the youth could research the exact nature of the problem, and suggest to the church that it switch to an Integrated Pest Management program. For more information, see EEN’s Healthy Families, Healthy Environment website. Go to:
   http://www.healthyfamiliesnow.org/Article.asp?Record=1090#Anchor7.

3. Cleaning Supplies and the Church Building
   There are creation-friendly, effective, and inexpensive alternatives to the harsh chemicals most churches (and families) use to clean with. Have the youth present these alternatives to church leaders, including a biblically based rationale for doing so. For alternatives, see the NonToxic Cleaning Supplies article on EEN’s Healthy Families, Healthy Environment web site.

4. Start Recycling at the Church
   If your church doesn’t have recycling, have the youth put together a complete recycling program and present it to the church leadership - with a promise to help in its implementation.

5. Do a church organic garden and composting site, or community organic garden
   This would be a wonderful witness to your community. We know of one church where the youth group planted organic vegetables in gardens on their church grounds, then donated this produce to a homeless shelter. What a tangible sign of God’s love! In addition to planting an organic vegetable garden, the youth can also start a compost heap for yard and kitchen wastes which can be used to fertilize the garden. They could also start a community garden for other children and youth in the community (if that is appropriate for your community). This would be a way for the youth to reach out to other children and youth and invite them to your church. See the Compost and Organic Gardening articles on EEN’s Healthy Families, Healthy Environment web site.

6. Turn your church grounds into a garden and wildlife habitat
   Have your youth group help turn your church grounds into a place to attract wildlife and a place for church members and others to go and pray and relax in the beauty of God’s creation. Plant native vegetation that will require minimum upkeep. Plant or maintain trees. Plant berry bushes and other things that will attract a variety of birds. Add a hummingbird feeder, butterfly feeders or bat house. See this Summer 1998 article from EEN’s Creation Care magazine about how three churches used such efforts to revitalize their own church and provide a service to the community.

7. Conduct a Local Stream Cleanup (streams and oceans emphasis)

   Trash and pollution found in local streams often end up in oceans, where it can damage wildlife. Local communities can clean up streams and educate their neighbors about how to pollute less. Not only does this help beautify your own community, it helps relieve the pollution burden on your "neighbors downstream" who depend on the water you send them.

   Contact your state's department of environmental protection to see if there are any organized stream cleanup activities in your area. Your church youth group may be able to participate in those. Also see if there is a local "watershed" organization in your area that may sponsor a similar event. If not, your church can sponsor such an event for the wider community.

   Advertise your youth group's efforts in your area. Develop fliers that can be distributed and posted in the neighborhood describing the event and why your church is doing this (caring for creation is important to your church). Include information on steps we can all take to clean God's oceans and streams (see Action Suggestions). Have your youth group members go door to door with an adult, especially to the houses near the creek they will be cleaning up. Have them distribute a flier to each house and tell them that your church cares about God's creation and God's waters, and that the youth group will be conducting the cleanup. If desired, invite them to participate in the cleanup, and to attend your church and learn more about your other creation care activities.

   Have your youth group pray that their actions will be a light for others to see that Christ cares for all of creation. Pray that their actions will be a blessing to God's kingdom.

   Have your youth group make a presentation to the church about the results of their cleanup - "XX number of tires collected, XX pounds of trash," etc.

Children's Resource Suggestions

Marty Cook writes in the article from the Spring 1999 issue of Creation Care magazine,

"Children need no coaching to perceive our society's environmental crisis. When we teach them in Sunday school that God made the world and considers it all very good, they take us at our word. Then, when they witness some human misuse of God's creation, they react faithfully and without hesitation ...The problem is that ...children don't rule the world (and thus) can feel helpless."

Part of the answer to raising a child's creation-care awareness while also filling them with real Christian hope involves helping them to "do something." Marty continues, "This lets them know that even the youngest can make a difference. They can change their own habits and maybe those of their parents, they can make a dent in waste and pollution, and they can even restore a little corner of creation."

Adults often have much to learn from children, particularly from their natural fascination with animals and the outdoors. You may find some of these activities enjoyable and refreshing for those grown-up children amongst you! If possible, we encourage you to go outside with your Sunday School class.

Resources:
Caring for God's World: Creative Ecology Ideas for Your Church; edited by Kristin Kemper. Educational Ministries, Prescott, Arizona, 1991. This 96 page resource is available from EEN at 1-800-650-6600 or een@creationcare.org.

Books by Joseph Cornell such as Sharing the Joy of Nature with Children. Though not written specifically for Christians, Cornell's books are gold-mines filled with fun and creative activities.

Loving Our Neighbor, the Earth (for 9-11 year-olds) and Your Will Be Done On Earth (for 12-15 year-olds). Each of these books has 20 lesson plans, complete with a teacher outline and student activity. Full of excellent ideas, they are written from a Christian perspective, though not an Evangelical one. But they could be easily modified. By Christie Jenkins, published by Resource Publications, Inc., San Jose CA, 1991. (408-286-8505)

Educational Exercises and Activities for All Ages

1. "Devocean" by Helen Turnbull

   The power of the sea and water is reflected throughout the Bible as a place of comfort in turmoil, as a metaphor for the rebirth of life through Jesus, and as a connection to our place of worship with all of creation. Here?s a simple little devotion you can do on your own, or with a your small group meeting. You?ll need an eyedropper, a cup of water, a candle, a plastic sandwich bag, scissors, tape, and a Bible.

   Take the eyedropper, fill it with water, and place a drop of water in your hand. Light your candle; you might also want to play an appropriate song, such as "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (see if you can find the rendition done by the Blind Boys of Alabama) or "The Storm is Over" (T.D. Jakes).

   As you hold the drop of water, think about where that drop might go. Imagine it drip from your palm into a bucket, or watch it slide down the drain of your kitchen sink. Read aloud this verse as you imagine the beginning journey of your little drop:

   "Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life" (Revelation 22:17).

   Now anticipate what purpose in God?s creation that the drop might have. You might think that it will fulfill the thirst of a great blue heron, or perhaps it will feed a willow tree, or maybe it will make the wave that nourishes sea kelp. How will you help this drop to fulfill its destiny for God?s kingdom? Read this verse aloud:

   "You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it" (Psalm 65:9).

   Envision your drop as it evaporates and rises up through the atmosphere. Imagine that it might roll off the corner of your palm and into a mountain stream. Watch as it enables a whale to sift through krill. Close your eyes and imagine a soft wave of sea foam as it massages your feet. Read aloud this verse:

   "Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree"(Genesis 18:4 ).

   Now take some quiet time to answer these questions: How does water strengthen your relationship with others? How does it strengthen your relationship with Jesus?

   Take the drop that's in your palm and let it slide into the corner of a sandwich bag. Cut off the corner of the bag that has the drop in it, and seal it off with tape. Tape that drop into your daytimer, or onto a business card that you can slip into your wallet, or on a small piece of cardboard that you can keep in your pocket or in your room. Close in prayer, thanking God for the relief that he provides you through water, and ask him to help you understand better your role in protecting this source for unity in his kingdom.

2. Struggling For Breath

   Have people hold their breath for as long as they can and then raise their hands when they've exhaled and breathed in again.  "Now imagine what it would be like if right as you were taking that breath a person stronger than you came along and put his hands over your nose and mouth to prevent you from breathing, or punched you in the stomach and knocked the wind out of you. Think how desperate you would be for a breath. That's what it can be like when you have asthma."

   Imagine yourself back in Jesus' time with a disease, pushing forward in a crowd of people with diseases trying to touch Jesus to be healed (Mk. 3:9-10; Lk. 6:17-19).  Now imagine yourself a child of today with asthma or leukemia.  Where would you find Jesus?

   Imagine that you are the parent of one of the 11 million children who die each year from an avoidable environmental health threat. How do you feel? What do you think? How would it impact your life with God?

   Imagine that you hear that Jesus is in your neighborhood (see Mk. 6:53-56).  Who would you run to get to bring to Jesus to be healed? Or let's say you could fly someone in before Jesus left.  Who would it be?  Now let's say that the ailment of the person you bring is caused or exacerbated by pollution. How would you feel?  What might Jesus say to you after he healed the one you brought to him?