Discipleship is born out of God’s heart of love, and it was in the hearts of the CI team members who conducted Southeast Asia Children’s Institutes recently. This year’s discipleship focus for the team was Deuteronomy 6:5. The question was asked: “What would our lives really look like if we loved the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength?” As we studied these truths individually as well as in small groups and as a team, we discovered each of us have areas we are still dying to, such as desires, dreams, and motives. One of the teachers shared, “I thought I knew who I was, but now I can see clearly who I really am and what God wants for me. It wasn’t easy for me to give God my dreams but once I did, I felt so free! Now I can serve God without trying to fulfill my dreams.”

The team was able to use their discipleship training as they ministered to peers in Malaysia and Singapore. The CI leaders gathered in a local park with youth for a time of games and discussion about life. The team sought to show the love of Christ by serving in a low income daycare in Singapore and in an orphanage in Indonesia. The team praised God for opportunities to touch lives for His glory.

The trip to Southeast Asia took place May 30-June 23. The countries visited were Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Children’s Institutes were held in the nations’ capital cities: Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Jakarta. The CI team prayed specifically for children to attend the Malaysian event. God answered by sending children, especially forty young boys from a local boy’s home. The team taught through skits, songs, crafts, games, and working with the children in memorizing Psalm 98. 

This year’s CI theme was “The Power of God.” Every day we see and enjoy God’s power through His creation, but God doesn’t just care about the external. He is personal and cares about each of us and our hearts. The CI lessons taught that God sees differently than the world sees because He is always for us. One young girl at the Jakarta CI seemed to understand the message, as she boldly proclaimed in a skit, “I will not listen to you, Satan! I don’t need anything because I love Jesus and will only follow Him no matter what!” The team leaders rejoiced in God’s using them to teach life-changing truth from His Word to the children’s hearts.

God also deepened the teams’ walk with Christ as they shared about learning and experiencing Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do his good pleasure.” For more information about future Children’s Institute teams and how to apply, please visit our website at iblp.org. Praise God for His working in the hearts of the children in Southeast Asia!