My daily devotional recently shared from a book titled Born to Believe: God, Science, and the Origin of Ordinary and Extraordinary Beliefs.  (Newberg, A. 2006, Born to Believe: God, Science, and the Origin of Ordinary and Extraordinary Beliefs, Simon and Schuster, Inc. New York) I have not read the book yet, but I did find excerpts that piqued my interest. 

The Human Brain is a Believing Machine

Here are some interesting points the authors make for anyone who works in Kid’s Ministry to consider:

• Once a primary set of beliefs has been established, the brain finds it difficult to integrate opposing ideas and beliefs
• Children are taught and learn to believe or disbelieve
• False beliefs can be implanted
• The more time devoted to what you believe, the more those beliefs become an integral part of your reality
• Belief is powerful
• Spiritual practices can alter neural patterns of cognition voluntarily that promote happiness, compassion and peace
• The crucial time when a child has the greatest propensity to understand the concept of God is between the ages of seven to ten
• The most effective tool for belief building is storytelling
• Stories that incorporate godly principles, moral behaviours, courage, faith, love, compassion and forgiveness are welcomed, easily digested ingredients for building Christian character

Part II of the Book concerns Childhood Development and Morality, a subject I look forward to reading about. 

The Power of Story

Jesus was a master storyteller, using parables to communicate His teachings and to make them understandable.

Those of us who volunteer to work with children know full well that stories are powerful.   Our entire Kid’s Church program is built around a Bible story or stories!  We use non-fiction stories from the Bible, biographies and testimonies.  And fictional stories with imagined worlds and characters. 

Free Stories to Download for Your Kid’s Ministry!

I’ve written many stories for children over the years, and I am thrilled to see which stories are downloaded when I view my website stats. Although some were written over thirty years ago, they are still relevant.  That’s another great aspect about stories: they are timeless! 

History Hoppers

Jarrah Clarke, a teenager with a genius for inventing, takes his 10-year-old cousin Tilly and rescued joey Kimberley to witness historical events in the Old Testament.  His latest invention (named after Kimberley who accidentally hitches a ride on their first adventure) is the History Hopper.  A time travelling device that turns any object it’s attached to into a time machine!

Jarrah is unaware that his time travel is interfering with the forgery operations of an antiquarian criminal mastermind, Aristotle Philetus.  At first, Aristotle blames his enslaved thief Pincher until it becomes clear someone else is responsible for the image of a kangaroo appearing on artifacts through the ages. 

When Aristotle realizes Jarrah’s invention can assist him in pillaging the treasures of the world, he leaves his secret lair to visit the village of Yongkaup so Pincher can steal the History Hopper.  With it, Aristotle plans to build an empire the likes of which the world has never seen before. 

Download here: https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/short-stories/history-hoppers/

Jerry and the J’s of Johnson’s Creek

Meet Jerry and The J’s of Johnson’s Creek!  Jerry is the teen band’s lead guitarist and singer.  Jandi is on the keyboard, Jazz is on bass, and the accident-prone Jericho plays the drums.  Their sound engineer and self-appointed manager is Jax.  Johnson’s Creek is a rural town in Western Queensland.  The J’s attend the local Church and it’s their job to run the Kid’s Club every Friday night in the century-old, wooden Town Hall.  And every Friday night, one of the children asks Jeri a profound question that he and The J’s do not know the answer to.

So, where do they go for answers?  To Reverend Mac, of course!  Unfortunately, they always seem to catch Reverend Mackenzie in the middle of an important town event, such as a wedding, a baby dedication, or even a funeral.  Can Jerry and the J’s get the answer they need from Reverend Mac before he officiates?  Jerry and the J’s is an enjoyable series that combines teenage fun and rural community life with the big questions that kids ask.

Download here: https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/short-stories/jerry-and-the-js-of-johnsons-creek/

The Twins at Sunshine Cove

Twins Jesse and Erin spend school holidays with their Grandma who manages the Sunshine Cove Post Office.  The seaside town is a place of adventure, especially when Grandma tells Jesse and Erin all about Daniel.  They learn important life lessons as they comb the beach, visit caves and make a delivery to the mysterious Captain who lives in the lighthouse! This series has been very popular over the years.  I have used the stories as Devotions and in School Holiday or Kid’s Club Programs.  The sea side theme lends itself to wonderful art and craft and excursions. The gorgeous illustrations are by Nic Taylor.

Download here: https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/short-stories/the-twins-at-sunshine-cove/

Spud and the Figs

Although kids love to talk and can be natural evangelists, witnessing is not always easy. ‘Spud and the Figs’ is a series about three close friends whose comfortable world is turned upside down by the intrusion of the school outcast, Spud. The boys learn that God’s love is available to everyone, even those they think don’t deserve it. Church kids are challenged to look beyond their Children’s Church and Kid’s Club to see the kids God wants in His family. This series incorporates Bible Stories and Discussion Points for small groups.

I’ve used Spud and the Figs in School Holiday Programs, Kid’s Club and in smaller Children’s Churches. An early version was broadcast on Family Radio. No illustrations as yet, however, there are royalty-free photographs of the four boys, to use with your amazing storytelling skills to bring the characters to life!

Download here: https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/short-stories/spud-and-the-figs/

Moonbase Genesis II

Ryan, Tristram, Leala, Stella and Pip don’t escape school even if they do live on the moon! With their parents, they are part of the Earth colony: Moon Base Genesis 2. Their teacher, Lunar, may be the latest in Artificial Intelligence, but it doesn’t know a thing about the real story of Creation, the Fall, Cain and Abel, Noah or the Tower of Babel.

This series of Lessons is great for middle primary. It’s had plenty of upgrades over the years to keep up with technology. I’ve used it in Kid’s Club and Children’s Church. It was also aired on Family Radio, with awesome sound effects. The space theme lends itself to amazing crafts if you are using it as part of a holiday program.

Download here: https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/short-stories/moon-base-genesis-2/

A Matter of Time

Join Lucinda and her friend Professor Ninnyhammer, the inventor of the Time Slip Machine, as they journey through the book of John.  Watching Jesus, Lucinda learns how the miraculous power of God can be applied to her life, right now!

Time travel never gets old.  I’ve used A Matter of Time in School Holiday and Kid’s Club Programs.  It also aired as a serial on Family Radio.

Download here: https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/short-stories/a-matter-of-time/

Clowning Around

Roll up!  Roll up!  This sweet circus series about the Fruit of the Spirit is suitable for lower primary-aged children.  The nine Fruit of the Spirit are in eight lessons because Love and Joy are combined in Story 1.  When I wrote the series, many years ago, it was customary for Children’s Church programs to coincide with school terms of nine weeks.  That meant eight lessons plus one Fun Day and then holidays for everyone!  Clowning Around will make an energetic, fun and fruitful addition to your Kid’s Church or holiday programs.

Download here: https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/short-stories/clowning-around/

Strawback and Crow

Strawback the Scarecrow stands in the vegetable garden close to the farmer’s house.  In the spring, when the windows are flung wide open, he overhears the Bible stories that Mr. Farmer shares with his family.  Stories about seed and good soil and so much more.  Everything Strawback hears he passes on to his friend Crow, which is just as well because she always manages to get herself into trouble, and needs scarecrow’s help!

Download here: https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/short-stories/strawback-and-crow/

The Fossickers Way

Barry and Beryl Fossicker, together with their 5 children, Jasper (17), Amber (15), Garnet (13), Opal (10), and Pearl (6), love to travel around Australia fossicking.  They’ll pan for gold, noodle for opals and travel down dry creek beds for quartz.  But Mr and Mrs Fossicker know the greatest treasure is God’s wisdom, and they use Proverbs from the Bible to instruct the children in the way they should live.

Download here: https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/short-stories/the-fossickers-way/

I pray these stories are a blessing to your children and that they will be transformative in their minds and in their hearts!