Discover simple, heartfelt methods one Georgia pastor swears by to bring Bible stories to life for kids. đ #News #ColumbusGA #Georgia #Faith
COLUMBUS, GA â In the rolling hills of Georgia, where family values and faith run deep, Pastor Caleb Monroe has spent over a decade perfecting a down-to-earth approach to teaching children the timeless tales of the Bible. With a warm smile and a knack for storytelling, heâs become a trusted guide for parents looking to pass down spiritual lessons in a way that sticks. Here, Pastor Monroe shares his homespun tips tailored for Georgia families eager to weave faith into everyday life.
Start with the Heart, Not the Book
Pastor Monroe believes the secret to engaging kids lies in connecting with their emotions first. âKids donât need a lectureâthey need to feel the story,â he says. Instead of diving straight into scripture, he suggests setting the scene with questions like, âHave you ever felt scared like David did facing Goliath?â or âWhat would you do if you were Noah, building that big ark?â This pulls children in, making abstract tales relatable to their own livesâwhether theyâre from Atlantaâs bustling suburbs or the quiet farmland of South Georgia.
Use Whatâs Around You
Living in Georgia offers a natural toolbox for storytelling, and Pastor Monroe encourages families to use it. âTake the kids outside,â he advises. âPoint to the trees when you talk about Creation or splash in a creek when you tell them about Jesus walking on water.â He recalls a Sunday school lesson where he used a peachâGeorgiaâs prideâto explain the fruit of the Spirit. The kids giggled as they passed it around, but they remembered the lesson. Everyday objects, he insists, turn stories into hands-on adventures.
Keep It Short and Sweet
Georgia summers are long, and attention spans are short. Pastor Monroe recommends keeping stories briefâfive to ten minutes tops. âPick one big moment,â he says, âlike Daniel in the lionsâ den, and zoom in.â He skips the heavy details and focuses on the action and the heart of the message. For younger kids, he might roar like a lion or whisper like an angel, letting his voice do the work. âTheyâll beg for more if you leave them curious,â he adds with a grin.
Make It a Family Affair
For Pastor Monroe, teaching Bible stories isnât just for Sunday morningsâitâs a family tradition. He urges parents to get involved, not just watch from the sidelines. âAct it out together,â he says. âLet Dad be Pharaoh and Mom be Mosesâ sister.â Heâs seen families in his congregation turn their living rooms into Bethlehem or their backyards into the Red Sea. Itâs messy, itâs fun, and it builds memories that tie faith to family lifeâsomething he says Georgia folks understand better than most.
Sing It, Donât Just Say It
Music runs through Georgiaâs veins, from gospel choirs to front-porch banjos, and Pastor Monroe leans on it heavily. âA song sticks when words donât,â he explains. He teaches kids simple chorusesâlike âDeep and Wideâ for Noahâs flood or âThis Little Light of Mineâ for Jesusâ teachings. No fancy instruments needed; clapping hands or tapping a table works fine. He once had a group of kids stomping and singing about Jerichoâs walls tumbling downâthey didnât forget that story anytime soon.
Let Them Ask Big Questions
Kids are natural wonderers, and Pastor Monroe says not to shy away from their curiosity. âTheyâll ask things like, âWhy didnât God just zap Goliath?â or âHowâd all those animals fit on the ark?ââ he notes. Instead of brushing it off, he encourages parents to say, âWhat do you think?â and explore together. Itâs not about having all the answersâitâs about showing kids that faith is a journey, even in a state where church steeples dot every horizon.
Tie It to Today
Finally, Pastor Monroe insists on linking stories to modern Georgia life. âTell them Davidâs sling is like facing a bully at school,â he says, âor that Estherâs courage is like standing up for whatâs right.â He once told a group of kids that sharing their lunch with a friend was like Jesus feeding the 5,000. âMake it real for them,â he urges, âand theyâll see the Bible isnât just oldâitâs alive.â
With these tips, Pastor Monroe hopes families across the Peach State will find joy in passing down faith the homespun wayârooted in love, simplicity, and a little Southern flair…