What Easterrific is all about
Hailed as a winning formula, the BGEAC's child-oriented
evangelism initiative called Easterrific is bringing the
Good News of Jesus Christ to kids in Canada. The Easter story is
told through Chelsey Road's award-winning animated film, REZ - The
Rock that Rolled, in a way that brings the story of Jesus to life
for children.
In 2009, Easterrific events were held across Québec.
"My wife, Claudine, presented the film to three Kindergarten
classes and the children were very touched by the message," said
Yves Bellemare, pastor of Bon Samaritain in Saint-Georges. "Some
cried and spontaneously began to kneel and pray . . . we are
praying that people in our area will now know us better and that
doors will open."
Easterrific's partner churches work hard to invite
children and their parents from surrounding communities to the
events held yearly on Good Friday. One Quebec church went as far as
renting a movie theater to screen English and French versions of
the film. Using unique ways to communicate the Gospel message,
churches have welcomed whole families through games, face painting,
egg hunts, live music, mazes, snacks, and gifts.
Easterrific helps open the door for parents to speak
with their children about Jesus. According to 2009 organizer Josée
Lusignan, some parents shared how they had been avoiding spiritual
discussions with their children because they didn't know how to
address them. With Easterrific, pastors and lay leaders
are trained prior to the events, so they can appropriately invite
children to come to Christ and counsel them. Please pray that
Easterrific will have a lasting impact on the families who
attend each year and that churches will become more connected to
their communities throughout the year with this initiative.
Your support for this ministry will assist all our Quebec
ministries, not just the Easterrific program. Thank you
for partnering with us to share the Gospel in an area that has few
French-language resources for Christians.
Learn
more about our French-language Easterrific
program.