​Hi Reign Forest Friends,
 
We finish the month with a critical moment recorded in John 20:19-29. Although Thomas was one of Jesus’ disciples, He hadn’t yet seen Jesus face-to-face after the resurrection. When the rest of the disciples tried to tell him that Jesus was alive, Thomas couldn’t believe it. When Jesus showed up again, He went right over to Thomas and gave him a chance to touch the scars. Thomas knew once and for all that Jesus was alive!
 
Bottom Line: Whatever happens, remember God is bigger than your questions. Questions are a normal part of growing up and following Jesus. We won’t always understand what we read in the Bible or why our life looks like it does. God wants us to be honest about our questions and doubts. You can create a safe environment where kids can process the questions they face. We pray that kids will understand that they can have hope knowing God will be with them through their questions.
 
Bible Verse #24: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NLT).
 
Blessings!
The RF Team

​Hello Reign Forest Friends,
During the month of April, we are focusing on HOPE: Believing that something good can come out of something bad.
 
Today was an extra special Sunday in Reign Forest. We looked at Easter through John’s perspective in John 18-20. As the disciples experienced the events of the crucifixion, from Jesus’ arrest in the garden to His death, they must have wondered if everything they shared with Jesus was all for nothing. But that all changed when they discovered that Jesus was alive! Everything Jesus said about Himself was true. The disciples’ hope was building on the foundation of a risen Savior.
 
Bottom Line: Whatever happens, remember Jesus is alive. No matter what we face in life, we can hope because Jesus is stronger than sin and death. His resurrection is proof that God loves us and wants a forever relationship with us. We pray that kids celebrate Jesus and discover the hope we can have because Jesus is alive.
 
Bible Verse #23: “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying” (Matthew 28:6, NLT).
 
Review of class:
1) After the video story, we read through our new memory verse. Then we did an Easter Object lesson. Visually, it demonstrated how Jesus’ death on the cross paid for/took away our sin. 
 
2) We introduced Resurrection eggs. Resurrection eggs are 12 eggs with a symbol that represents a part of the story of Jesus’s death and resurrection inside each egg. It’s a fun way for children to learn and retell the events of Holy Week, Jesus’ death, and resurrection. The children did a relay race with the Resurrection plastic eggs, then had to arrange the symbols in the eggs in the correct order. There were three relay teams.
 
3) Then, the children used their artistic talent to decorate popsicle stick crosses. We attached magnets so they can be displayed in your home if you desire.
 
4) We sent each child home with an Easter story snack mix and their take-home paper.
 
Have a wonderful week!
Reign Forest Team

​Hi Reign Forest Friends,
 
During the month of April, we are focusing on HOPE: Believing that something good can come out of something bad.
 
Life can sometimes feel like a giant puzzle. All we can see is the piece we’re experiencing right now, and we’re not sure where it fits into the greater picture that is forming us. We can’t always understand why some things happen to us or those we love. Yet, despite our confusion, we can have hope. God has kept promises throughout history. We can believe that God will continue to be with us through what we face now. Even in the toughest times, we can have hope because we know God is always working and can make something good out of something bad. 
 
This past Sunday, we started the month with friends of Jesus who had lost all hope. John records an incredible moment that we find in John 11:1-45. When Lazarus died, Jesus used the opportunity to point people to God. Jesus was stronger than even death itself and raised Lazarus back to life four days after death.
 
Bottom Line: Whatever happens, remember how powerful God is. God can do amazing things in your life. We pray that kids will understand that when they face something difficult or hard to understand, they’ll find hope that God’s power can help us through whatever we face.
 
Bible Verse #21 - “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom”                 (1 Chronicles 29:11a, NLT).
 
Blessings!
The RF Team