The main hall is teeming with excited kids of all ages trying to find their places before commencement of Children`s Days. They have been looking forward to this for a long time. All of them received an armband in different colors before the opening meeting – some red, others blue, yellow, or green. The colors represent where the children are supposed to sit in the hall, and assign them to a team in the games planned for these next two days. The air hums with excited and impatient voices and the sound of adults trying to settle things down.<\/p>\n
Children`s Days, the main attraction for kids every year, is a popular tradition. They hear about Jesus and the help He can give for life of happiness and peace. Bible stories are reenacted and explained. The goal is to teach children that Jesus loves them and has a future for them in His kingdom (Luke 18:16). They hear that faith in Him is a help in every area of life, from childhood to adulthood. By becoming friends with Jesus, they can experience security and comfort, ask for forgiveness and help, and learn to be good.<\/p>\n Suddenly the lights dim and it starts. Children dance into sight onstage and sing a song reflecting this year\u2019s theme. The song is performed again later in the meeting, and the audience invited to sing along and attempt the moves.<\/p>\n The Activity Club in Grenland planned the opening meeting this year. One of those responsible, Tomas Fuglset, explains that it has been very rewarding to contribute to Children\u2019s Days. \u201cWe don\u2019t get the chance to work on projects like this very often, and we spent a fair amount of time deciding on a theme which would be inspirational, personal, and captivating. We landed on \u2018I want a pure heart.\u2019 Figuring out how to present this was a challenge, but the creative process led us to a solution: everyday situations we could illustrate from a child\u2019s perspective,\u201d says Fuglset. \u201cA musical was the natural choice since we have many creative types in Grenland\u2019s Activity Club who work with voice and music.\u201d<\/p>\n To begin with, K\u00e5re Smith gives a short appeal to the children. He starts by telling that he remembers well the children\u2019s conferences from his own childhood. Then he tells about Jesus, who wants to live in our hearts, if we ourselves open for Him. \u201cWe get good lives when we choose Him as a friend,\u201d says K\u00e5re Smith. The children are good at listening, and look forward to the rest of the opening meeting.<\/p>\n Grenland\u2019s funny and engaging musical about the girl Sofie comes next. She faces different choices between good and not-so-good, sometimes wishing for the not-so-good.<\/p>\n After an hour, the spotlights are extinguished again, and the children go out into the sunshine and get ready for the next mission: the outdoor games. This time a professor needs help from all the children at Brunstad to find a potion which has disappeared. The games, activities, and edification-themed meetings continue for two whole days.<\/p>\n After two whole days at the July conference, the song and dance from the opening meeting are burned in the memories of young and old, along with many other impressions. Everything turned out good in the end for Sofie, the potion is rescued, and both children and adults are pleased. Soon Sofie and the rest of the crew will be back, because children participating in the August summer conference will get to experience all of it as well.<\/p>\n Children are naturally a big part of BCC\u2019s summer conferences. here, they learn about Jesus through games, themed meetings, shows, and activities, and experience things that create wonderful childhood memories. This year, the children\u2019s events are scheduled for both July and August.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":107353,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","bcc_login_visibility":0,"bcc_groups":[],"bcc_groups_email":true,"bcc_visibility_groups":[],"bcc_visibility_groups_email":false,"sent_notifications":[],"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2422,2425],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-110169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-children-and-youth-en","category-conferences-en"],"acf":{"rss_image":null},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/bcc.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/R3A0149-e1533543904853.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Mathias Strand Kristiansen","author_link":"https:\/\/bcc.no\/en\/author\/22801\/"},"yoast_head":"\n![\"](\"https:\/\/bcc.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Q4A0755-1.jpg\")
\nThe air is full of expectation as the children are welcomed at the opening of Children`s Days. All of the best seats are reserved for children and their parents. Photo: BCC\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nJesus as a friend gives security, comfort, and forgiveness<\/h4>\n
Original musical captures attention<\/h4>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/bcc.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Q4A0686.jpg\")
\nChildren from Grenland\u2019s Activity Club sing and engage the whole hall during the opening song. Photo: BCC<\/em><\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/bcc.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Q4A0780.jpg\")
\nCreative young people have been preparing the day\u2019s performance for the children: an original musical that captivates and provides food for thought at the same time. Photo: BCC<\/em><\/p>\nChoosing good instead of bad<\/h4>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/bcc.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Q4A0794.jpg\")
\nSofie (on the right) understands eventually that her friend really wants to try her scooter and decides to lend it to her to make her happy. It makes Sofie happy too. Photo: BCC\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nA healthy blend of games, activities, and edification<\/h4>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/bcc.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Q4A1058.jpg\")
\n\u201cThe search for the missing potion<\/em>\u201d is the theme for the Childen\u2019s Games, which start outside right after the opening meeting ends in the hall. Photo: BCC<\/em><\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/bcc.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Q4A0825.jpg\")
\nA satisfied audience: everything turns out good in the end for Sofie and her friends, and most know the opening song by heart. Photo: BCC<\/em><\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/bcc.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Q4A0954.jpg\")
\nOut in the sunshine: outdoor games and activities for kids of all ages after an hour-long opening meeting. Photo: BCC<\/em><\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/bcc.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Q4A1336.jpg\")
\nEvent planners from \u00d8stfold prepared well for the games and the outdoor setup, and it appears to be a hit with their target group. Photo: BCC<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"