Remember the many songs of the Christian faith you learned as a child? Even today, many of those songs remain deeply rooted in your memory, continuing to teach the Word years – even decades – after you first learned them.
In Africa too, music is a huge part of daily life, including in the life of the Church. But in Africa’s new and even long-time Lutheran churches, a challenge exists: the number of songs to imprint the faith in children’s hearts and minds is very limited. There are no children’s hymnals or song books to teach from. Teachers are limited to the songs that they can remember themselves.
God’s Word set to music is a gift your church’s Sunday school or Lutheran day school students can share with children in Africa – for less than $5 per student!
LHF has started work on a new translation project called “Praise Him, Africa!” When they adopt this project with their mission offerings, students will provide the gift of Lutheran song to countless children throughout Africa.
“Nyimbo za Watoto” (Children’s Songs) is a collection of 100+ Christian songs first written in the Swahili language, spoken by more than 200 million people in East Africa. LHF staff will record the songs so that they’re available to teachers online, and the printed song books will be given at no cost to Lutheran churches, Sunday schools and day schools throughout East Africa.
Once “Nyimbo za Watoto” has been printed in the Swahili language, that book will serve as a template for new translations into other languages for churches and schools all across Africa.
As with all LHF’s mission projects for children, teachers can request a FREE “Praise Him, Africa!” classroom resource kit that helps bring Africa to life for students. Each kit includes:
- a short “Praise Him, Africa!” DVD to share with the children (also available on YouTube)
- a classroom devotion/chapel message reflecting on God’s gift of music and faith
- a colorful bulletin board display about East African countries like Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
- a packet of fun classroom resources and activities! Included for Lutheran day schools are suggestions for weaving African art and customs into your regular curriculum, including music, gym, art and language arts. Music, craft and snack ideas can enrich a Sunday school class.
- a take-home flyer for parents so they can learn more about their children’s mission project
And don’t forget that LHF also offers FREE mission speakers (ordained LCMS pastors) who will come to your church or Lutheran school to preach in church or lead a chapel and to spend time with students, encouraging them to develop a lifelong heart for missions.
What an incredible gift – and for only $5 per songbook!
It’s true: It costs LHF only $5 to provide a beautiful “Nyimbo za Watoto” songbook for a Lutheran teacher or student in Africa.
So if your Sunday school raises $100 for “Praise Him, Africa!”, they are sending songbooks to another Sunday school class of 20 students in East Africa, teaching music and faith for years to come. Your Lutheran day school’s offerings of $500 share God’s Word with 100 Lutheran day school students!
With your help, Lutheran children throughout the African continent will join us in singing, in THEIR own languages, “Jesus loves me, this I know.”
To request your FREE “Praise Him, Africa!” resource kit, send a message here (including your shipping address), or call the LHF office at (800)554-0723, or visit this page to download the kit when it becomes available (Aug. 1)
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