Georgia Institute of Children’s Ministry
October 7-13, 2007
On October 4th Emily Nelson, children’s pastor in Alexandria, VA, Leslie, Green, the CM administrative assistant, and myself flew to T'bilisi, Georgia for the second Institute of Children’s Ministry. 
Our national children’s ministry director, Rusadan Todadze, passionately pursues the vision of developing Sunday schools throughout the nation so that the children of Georgia will hear the good news of the Gospel. Before the Institute our training team traveled with Rusa and members of her team to three sites outside of T'bilisi to minister to children. We ministered in churches in the city of Gori, Rustavi; and in a living room/bedroom of a farmer’s home in the war torn village of Edrevi. It was exciting to meet children’s ministers at each location who were visionary and passionate about developing excellent ministry to children. And the children were amazing. It was an unforgettable experience to give them hello hugs and good bye blessings!
The Institute was held October 10-12 at a seminary in T'bilisi. Several of the children’s ministers who had participated in the 2004 Institute returned to participate in this Institute. It was wonderful to hear of the ways God had been transforming their ministries. They were appreciative of the training and ministry they received during the Institute and of the ministry supplies that we shared with them at the closing session.
On Saturday, October 13, after the Institute several of the participants led an outreach event in a community on the outskirts of Tbilisi where our congregation lives and worships. We were expecting to have the outreach on the basketball court of the apartment complex. However, the mayor decided to hold a meeting there since it was a 
warm and sunny afternoon. So the children were crowded into the church’s rented facilities—more than 100 of them. Many of the children are from Orthodox homes. They are discouraged by their families and by the priests to participate in activities the church sponsors. It was exciting to watch as they zealously sang worship songs, listened to the gospel message, and learned Scripture verses. And we were very proud of the Institute participants who did such a great job of leading the event.Many thanks to Rusadan Todadze, our national children’s ministry leader, her husband and national pastor, Goderze, and the children’s ministers who served with us during our time in Georgia.