Curriculum invites children to build 'rock solid' faith

"Rock Solid: Building a Heart of Faith" is a new children's Sunday school curriculum offered this fall. A UMNS logo courtesy of the United Methodist Publishing House.

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)--Hank the Hammer and friends will help children build a "rock solid heart of faith" with a new Sunday school curriculum being offered this fall by the United Methodist Publishing House.

"Rock Solid: Building a Heart of Faith" will invite children ages 3-13 to lay a solid biblical foundation and construct a personal relationship with God.

The cornerstone of "Rock Solid" is Matthew 7:24, the story of the wise man who built his house on rock. It includes multisensory activities, crafts, stories and games, supplemented by an interactive Web site at IAmRockSolid.com.

"Faith cannot be taught; it must be caught," said Marj Pon, managing editor of church school publications, in a presentation to the Publishing House board of directors during its spring meeting March 18-19 in Nashville.

"We want to create a faith experience each week."

The new curriculum replaces Exploring Faith, which has been offered for the past eight years. Rock Solid incorporates language based on a faith-building model instead of a school model and uses, for instance, words like session instead of lesson, leader instead of teacher and group instead of class.

The curriculum will be ready to ship to churches in June. It includes a leader guide, kids books, a resource packet and musical CD. A fun pack with craft ideas is available for younger age levels, a puzzle book for older children and a drama book for "tweens."

Rock Solid is less expensive than Exploring Faith. The leader's guide costs $2 less per book, and the kids book $1 less.

Reporting on other Publishing House products, Linda Tozer and Marilyn Thornton, editors of Vacation Bible School resources, said the 2008 VBS Beach Party had exceeded $1 million in sales during February. Walk It Out, a multicultural VBS offering, reached more than $70,000 in sales by the end of February and is running ahead of budget and sales of last year's program.

"This was a first-time-ever achievement for the corresponding sales period and suggests we have a major hit on our hands," said Neil Alexander, president and publisher, of the Beach Party product.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

Hilliard to work with United Methodist youth

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 6, 2008 /GBOD/ --Henry ‘Hank’ Hilliard has been named manager of Youth Ministry Development for Young People’s Ministries in Nashville, which is a ministry of the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship.

“Hank brings (to GBOD) a wealth of experience planning, organizing and promoting ministry programming, including mission trips, spiritual formation retreats, outreach events and creative arts ministry teams,” said Karen Greenwaldt, top executive for GBOD.

Hilliard was formerly director of both Youth and College Ministry and Young Adult Ministries at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Memphis, where he was responsible for leading and directing youth ministries for over 12 years. He started a college and young adult ministry at the church in 2003.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to serve the youth of The United Methodist Church in a greater capacity,” said Hilliard.

Hank’s vision for youth ministry includes developing and enhancing the knowledge of youth and leaders of youth through relevant, creative and readily available resources for youth ministries, and in providing training and networking opportunities.

In his new capacity, he looks forward to equipping youth to become disciples of Jesus Christ within The United Methodist Church through leadership development, through Web-based learning resources and by responding to all levels of inquiries related to enhancing and developing youth ministries.

“I’m looking forward to connecting youth and leaders of youth to others who are able to provide needed support, encouragement and ideas,” he said.

Hilliard has also started new ministries such as creative arts ministry teams and a youth leadership team, in addition to serving as a referee for the East Shelby County Recreation Department, refereeing youth soccer and basketball games.

Hilliard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama