Hello Friends!
When telling Bible stories to children, stories have more impact if kids can see a visual representation. However, if you’ve tried to show a series of Bible stories pictures you quickly find there are not enough photos to illustrate a complete story.
Background Story
In the Fall of 2010, Scott Peterson (pastor of children and family ministries at Redwood Covenant Church in Santa Rosa, California) along with Jerry Cowan, and Andrew Mark, (elementary director), embarked on a project to create a collection of pictures to tell Bible stories using toys. They took over a back closet and turned it into a studio where they created special sets and a table with a rotating top so that they could get needed pictures and angles. Scott, Andrew, Jerry, and his wife Kathy spent hundreds of hours writing scripts, taking pictures, and building houses, trees, lakes, rivers, oceans, and many specialized miniature props to tell the story.
As the project progressed, Scott and Jerry discussed ways to share this gift with other churches. They decided they wanted to make it a free, copyrighted resource. Users should not make any money off of this project, but should consider it “freeware.”
Using Hello Friends
Each unit consists of six story sessions. These stories and pictures have been targeted toward children in grades K-3, but can be used for whatever age is appropriate. Each unit focuses on story only so you will have to adapt what Scott and his team have made for your particular ministry (e.g. adding complementary games, crafts, worship elements, etc.).
Each Unit Contains
- A Six Session Script – This script is a basic guide to each picture with a corresponding description. It also contains a basic narration intended as a rough guide. We suggest not reading it word-for-word but, instead to make the story your own and tell the story in an animated way.
- Six PowerPoint Sessions of Story Slides – Each picture has the text from the script below it in the comment box, and each lesson builds on the previous one. You will notice a growing number of review slides as each week passes, which can be left in or taken out.
- Six Take It Home Sheets – The “Take It Home Sheet” includes a personal relating to the lesson, an engaging trivia section, and a question section that relates to the puppet stories, and lesson used by Redwood Covenant Church. The church has not yet had time to post their puppet scripts, so this section may be unclear at times. The “Take It Home Sheets” are available as an example of other ways the curriculum can be creatively used.
Another feature you will notice is a tiny cow named Andrew. While the cow may seem out of place, it can help keep childrens’ attention. The kids often look for the cow as a discovery game.
Because this project is on-going, we will be adding more units as Scott and his team complete them. This curriculum is a total of 12 units, 72 session in all when finished. We appreciate your patience, as producing these units takes a great deal of time.
Scott and his team hope “Hello Friends” is of value to you as you minister to the children in your congregation’s care.
Hello Friends Curriculum
Esther
This Hello Friends series tells an incredible Bible story about a person who saved her people from destruction. She was able to do this because she trusted in God. This took place in Persia over 6000 years ago.
Week One: Esther becomes Queen – Download
Week Two: Mordecai and Haman – Download
Week Three: Esther is asked to help her people – Download
Week Four: The Brave Queen – Download
Week Five: Mordecai is honored, Haman is humbled – Download
Week Six: Haman loses, God’s people win – Download
Please note: Many of these files are large downloads which can be up to 70MB.
Week One: Esther becomes Queen – Download
Week Two: Mordecai and Haman – Download
Week Three: Esther is asked to help her people – Download
Week Four: The Brave Queen – Download
Week Five: Mordecai is honored, Haman is humbled – Download
Week Six: Haman loses, God’s people win – Download
Please note: These are Word documents to edit and use in your setting.
Jesus Friends
This Hello Friends series reviews those people closest to Jesus while He was on earth. The first week talks about John the Baptist and in the weeks that follow, we see Jesus baptized, meet Nicodemus, and get to know Matthew and other disciples who learn about being Fishers of Men.
POWERPOINT FILES
Week One: John the Baptist – Download
Week Two: Jesus’ Baptism – Download
Week Three: A Midnight Visit – Download
Week Four: The Call of Matthew – Download
Week Five: John’s Friends Follow Jesus – Download
Week Six: Fishers of Men – Download
Please note: Many of these files are large downloads which can be up to 200MB.
Week One: John the Baptist – Download
Week Two: Jesus’ Baptism – Download
Week Three: A Midnight Visit – Download
Week Four: The Call of Matthew – Download
Week Five: John’s Friends Follow Jesus – Download
Week Six: Fishers of Men – Download
Please note: These are Word documents to edit and use in your setting.
Joseph
This Hello Friends series tells an incredible Bible story about a person who saved her people from famine and had many stories along the way. In this series we learn about Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams, his time as a slave, spending time in prison, and winning over Pharaoh to become ruler of Egypt.
Week One: Joseph the Dreamer – Download
Week Two: Joseph the Slave – Download
Week Three: Joseph In Prison – Download
Week Four: Pharaoh’s Dreams – Download
Week Five: Joseph: Ruler of Egypt – Download
Week Six: Joseph’s Reunion – Download
Please note: Many of these files are large downloads which can be up to 200MB.
Week One: Joseph the Dreamer – Download
Week Two: Joseph the Slave – Download
Week Three: Joseph In Prison – Download
Week Four: Pharaoh’s Dreams – Download
Week Five: Joseph: Ruler of Egypt – Download
Week Six: Joseph’s Reunion – Download
Please note: These are Word documents to edit and use in your setting.
Life of Jesus
This Hello Friends series tells an incredible Bible story about a the life of Jesus. This series takes us through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus training the twelve disciples, meeting Zaccheaus, teaching about giving, and spending time with children.
Week One: The Sermon on the Mount – Download
Week Two: Jesus Sends Out the Twelve – Download
Week Three: Jesus and the Children – Download
Week Four: The Greatest Commandment – Download
Week Five: Zaccheaus – Download
Week Six: The Widows Offering – Download
Please note: These are Word documents to edit and use in your setting.
Moses
This Hello Friends series tells an incredible Bible story about a person who saved his people from slavery in Egypt. This series retells Moses’ amazing journey from the basket to the burning bush and then leading the people of Israel out of Egypt through the Red Sea.
Week One: The Baby in a Basket – Download
Week Two: Moses and the Burning Bush – Download
Week Three: Moses Talks to Pharaoh – Download
Week Four: The Plagues of Egypt – Download
Week Five: The Passover – Download
Week Six: Crossing the Red Sea – Download
Please note: Many of these files are large downloads.
Week One: The Sermon on the Mount – Download
Week Two: Jesus Sends Out the Twelve – Download
Week Three: Jesus and the Children – Download
Week Four: The Greatest Commandment – Download
Week Five: Zaccheaus – Download
Week Six: The Widows Offering – Download
Please note: These are Word documents to edit and use in your setting.
Paul
This Hello Friends series tells an incredible Bible story about a person who changed his name, his life and told the story of Jesus wherever he went. This series about Paul communicates the message that God works all things for good in our lives.
Week One: Paul Meets Jesus – Download
Week Two: Paul is Healed – Download
Week Three: Paul and Silas go to Prison – Download
Week Four: The Boy Who Saved Paul’s Life – Download
Week Five: Paul’s Shipwreck – Download
Week Six: Paul is Bitten by a Snake – Download
Please note: Many of these files are large downloads.
Week One: Paul Meets Jesus – Download
Week Two: Paul is Healed – Not Available
Week Three: Paul and Silas go to Prison – Download
Week Four: The Boy Who Saved Paul’s Life – Download
Week Five: Paul’s Shipwreck – Download
Week Six: Paul is Bitten by a Snake – Download
Please note: These are Word documents to edit and use in your setting.
