Teach Your Parents Well

Bringing God’s Word Home in Eastern Europe

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example… in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Tim 4:12

Children are known for a childlike faith and around the world they are introducing their parents to a different way of living. The initial difference, small as it may seem—of families saying grace, attending church and helping a neighbor—can have a big ripple effect, filling people’s lives with hope, faith and love, attributes not to be underestimated in countries with a legacy of war, dictatorship and poverty.

Jemma Avetisyan, age 10, from Armenia, doesn’t come from a religious family. She says her family never said a prayer before meals. “Now that I learned the prayers, all of my family – my mum, my dad and younger brother – say the prayer before and after every meal.”

Alexandru, age 12, from Romania says, “I often share with my grandparents and my dad what Father Stefan teaches us. I think I have taught them to be better persons.” Of the Sunday School lessons, Alexandru says, “they have changed my nature, and made me a better person.”

Learning about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and how to communicate with Him, as well as applying what the Bible teaches on how to live, are important parts of a culturally relevant, age-appropriate Orthodox Bible curriculum for young people ages 6-18.

Kristi, age 9, from Albania, says that her parents didn’t want her to attend Sunday School, although she liked it very much. “Often my parents did not know that I was going to Sunday School. One day they were discussing in front of me if they should help a very poor neighbor. I interrupted their discussion and I said that it is important to help people in need. Jesus says so and I started to tell them stories that I had learned in Sunday School. They were silent but paid attention to what I was saying. They have helped our neighbor. I don’t know what happened, but they never stopped me from going to the Sunday School ever since.”

Orthodox Youth Bible Curriculum is currently being used by Orthodox churches from nine countries in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The curriculum is the text for weekly church youth religious education classes and for public school religion classes in certain countries. Textbooks also find their way into the hands of parents.

Tijana, age 18, from Serbia, says “There’s a big difference in our lives since we have been coming to these classes. Even parents are coming to church more. By reading and learning what Jesus has done and said, by praying, doing good things, sharing what we have learned, trying hard to live life as he has shown us, we are learning as young people to follow Christ.”

Her father Zoran agrees, “The whole family uses these books. Sure, there’s age levels assigned to the books but everyone reads them. Very often in the evening we take them off the shelf and read them together. The more I read, the more I find I gain knowledge about myself and my people. Christian education for our children means a lot after all we have been through. The Church is teaching children all the best things. The Church and its members are helping us to raise our children in the best spiritual manner.”