Footsteps of Faith
From SPARK
One-sentence summary
Bible teaching flannelboard curriculum for children.
Description
Footsteps of Faith is an eight-volume Bible teaching curriculum. Flannelgraph pictures are used to explain each lesson. The lessons are taught in chronological order. The purpose is to help children respond to the love of God and learn to obey His Word.
The course is non-graded and undated. It was written for children ages 6 - 12. It can be adapted to different age groups and teaching situations.
- The course shows God at work in the world.
- It teaches Bible doctrine and history.
- Guides for Christian living are included.
- Scripture memorization is encouraged.
- It encourages children to believe in Jesus and helps them grow in their new faith.
- A review is included in each volume.
- Colored flannelgraph figures help children picture the scenes in their minds as they listen to the Bible stories.
- Flannel background provides a scenic backdrop for the figures. These are available from BCM Distribution Center in black and white. Coloring instructions are included.
The series includes the following books:
- God Calls Us - Genesis. This book helps children know and trust the Genesis record of the creation. It explains the entrance of sin. It shows God's dealing with man's sin and how God works with and provides for those who follow His call. This book has fifteen lessons.
- God's Great Storehouse - Exodus and Deuteronomy
- Fighting Giants - Joshua through 1 Kings
- Following God's Trailblazers - 2 Kings through Malachi
- Who Is Jesus Christ? - Matthew through John
- Why Did Jesus Come? - Matthew through John
- You Are God's Building - Acts 1-16
- Sailing Life's Sea - Acts 17 through Revelation
Considerations
- Each book provides helps for preparing the lesson.
- Each book helps the teacher lead children to believe in Jesus.
- Each lesson shows how to make these lessons usable for younger children.
Limitations
- This curriculum would be more useful for children who had learned about evolution or atheism.
- The curriculum assumes that children have a Bible and can read it. If Bibles are not available, these sections should be left out or changed.
- Some sketches are symbolic and may not be useful in some cultures.
- The first lesson in the book,God Calls Us, has a large black and white flannel drawing of the face of a telephone. This would be useless in many cultures.
- The figures used with the flannel background are made of stiff paper. Each one needs to be cut out separately. This will be difficult to do and will take a long time. Sharp scissors will be needed.
- In some climates, the paper figures will not last long.
- Some system of keeping the paper figures in order needs to be organized. Large sealed plastic bags could be used. These will not be available in all cultures.
- Too much symbolism is used.
- There are many charts with writing instead of pictures. These would be useless in cultures without a written language.
- These sets are costly because the figures are paper and can be easily destroyed and would need to be replaced.
- Colors of some figures might be inappropriate in some cultures.
Guidelines for Use
Use in Sunday school, children church, Christian schools and camps.
Where to Obtain
Link to Producer or Source Organization
Bible Centered Ministries International (BCM)
Cost
- Basic Teaching Kit for each of the eight books costs $37.00 (USD). The kit includes:
- The teaching book
- All flannel-graph figures needed for the lessons
- A review chart
- Each flannel background is an additional $ 10.00 (USD).
- Total cost for all eight basic teaching kits is $298.00 (USD).
- Total cost for all twenty-five flannel backgrounds is $250.00 (USD).
- Shipping will be extra.
- Note: You can purchase the Through the Bible in Felt set or Kids Around the World's The Jesus Film Flannelboard Story set at lower prices. These teaching materials are easier to use in remote locations.
Producer/Owners
Author/Artist/Producer
- Author: Bernice C. Jordan
- Artist of flannel figures: Davis Meltzer
Current copyright owner
BCM International Inc. 1998
Other Information
If you are interested in translating this material into a minority language, you need to contact Bible Centered Ministries International. Together you can work out a Creative Commons License agreement for use of their material.
Reviewed by
Vida, VMS Children's Resources
Date
August 20, 2007
