Please Help Spread the Word About grandma's cookie jar!

I've been writing my blog, About the Children's Department for almost eight months now and sincerely appreciate everyone who takes the time to read my posts! For the past couple months I've also been writing another blog, grandma's cookie jar. While this isn't a "children's ministry" blog, it does connect everything we do to passing on a heritage of faith to our grandchildren. And, while I write it as a grandma for grandmas, it is also a place where grandpas, moms and dads will find information, ideas and resources to help them do the most important thing - pass on a heritage of faith to their children and grandchildren. You'll find resources for grandma - and grandpa, mom and dad, too - book reviews, movie reviews, recipes, crafts and so much more. Most importantly, you'll find specific ideas on how to help children connect everyday life to our walk with our amazing God! Please share my blog with the parents and grandparents you know!

Put Feet to Their Faith With a Project to Provide Life-Saving Mosquito Nets through Samaritan's Purse!

Children always look forward to summer - warmer temperatures and all the activities they can do once again outside! Along with the joys of being outside, come the "pests" . . . mosquitoes. Children everywhere know what it is to be bothered by a mosquito. Sadly in many places in the world mosquitoes are more than just a "bother". They can spread a deadly disease, malaria. More than a million people die world-wide each year from malaria - most of these are children.


As you work with the children in your ministry this summer, consider involving them in projects to raise money for bed nets treated with natural insecticide to kill mosquitoes and keep children safe and healthy. Just $10 provides one of these nets, and sends people who share the good news of Jesus with the people who receive the nets! This is a project the children in your ministry can understand - they all have dealt with mosquitoes - and once they understand how these nets can save lives, you will have children who are engaged and empowered to make a difference!


Along with involving your children in projects to raise money for mosquito nets, involve them in praying for the children and families who receive these nets so they will learn about Jesus and his great love and forgiveness!

Key Facts on Malaria

When you think of malaria, you may only know it is transmitted by mosquitoes and can be deadly, but there is far more to understand about malaria - (information from the World Health Organization)

Key facts

• Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites which are transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
• In 2008, malaria caused nearly one million deaths, mostly among African children.
• Malaria is preventable and curable.
• Malaria can decrease gross domestic product by as much as 1.3% in countries with high disease rates.
• Non-immune travelers from malaria-free areas are very vulnerable to the disease when they get infected.

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In 2008, there were 247 million cases of malaria and nearly one million deaths – mostly among children living in Africa. In Africa a child dies every 45 seconds of Malaria, the disease accounts for 20% of all childhood deaths.

Some Facts and Statistics on Mosquitoes and Malaria

Around the world, according to the President’s Malaria Initiative, The World Health Organization, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It was once thought that the disease came from fetid marshes, hence the name mal aria (bad air). In 1880, scientists discovered the real cause of malaria: a one-cell parasite called plasmodium. Later they discovered that the parasite is transmitted from person to person through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito, which requires blood to nurture her eggs.

Malaria Worldwide

• 3.3 billion people - half the world's population - are at risk of malaria
• One million people die each year from malaria
• Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria

Malaria in Africa

• 90% of all malaria deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa
• 1 in 5 childhood deaths are caused by malaria
• Malaria is responsible for a 1.3% growth penalty per year in some African countries
• 10,000 pregnant women and 200,000 infants die from malaria in Africa
• Malaria costs Africa more than $12 billion in lost GDP every year

First Friday Freebies - Free Illustrated Bible!

I'm so happy to share with you the Illustrated Bible . . . and a link to a site where you are welcome to download and print out more than a dozen selections for use in your ministry . . . for free! As they say on their site, "These FREE selections from the Illustrated ICB and the NASB Bibles are not just samples, they are complete Stories and Books so that you and your children can enjoy or study the Bible at home, church and school." 


Think about how you could use these Illustrated Bible passages in your ministry . . . you could print out one of the Bible lessons you taught in your VBS or Summer ministry and give them to each child! You could print some up to have for use when you visit a sick child in the hospital or at their home! You could include one in a "Welcome to our Ministry" packet you give to new children/families in your church! How might you use this resource in your ministry? :^)

"Family Pick" . . . CUPONK from Hasbro Games! I'm Giving One Away!

I'm happy to announce a new "Family Pick" drawing and give-away . . . I'm giving away a CUPONK game! What exactly is CUPONK? Well . . . as Hasbro says, "The object: sink your ball into the cup and light it up. Get it in and you'll hear the sweet sounds of victory. Miss the shot and your friends get the chance to one-up you. When playing CUPONK the tables, walls and chairs in your home all become part of the playing field. Test out sick trick shots like King of the Lob, Le Grand Entrance and Duh." This game includes five collectible stickers, 1 electronic cuponk cup, six official cuponk balls, 30 card trick deck, 1 sport crown, instruction guide and 1 multi-position backboard. For ages 9+ this is a game your family will enjoy together! I had a 10 year old try this game for me and he found it to be tremendous fun . . . in particular because he was able to figure out the tricks and his dad wasn't! :^)


CUPONK is a fun game for home and for church . . . it could easily become a favorite for family game night and for game time at church . . . and I'm delighted for the opportunity to give one CUPONK game away in a drawing on July 8th! If you have "liked" About the Children's Department using the tab in the "find us on facebook" box ON THE BLOG, then you are entered in my drawing! If you have not "liked" this blog yet, please take a moment to do so and you will be entered in the drawing! It is this easy! Please tell people you know about About the Children's Department so they can be in the drawing, too!


Thank you Hasbro for sending a CUPONK for review and another for give-away!