For Early Learners ages 4-6

Children are a blessing from the Lord. The four to six year olds in your home are a reward from God. As a parent or guardian, you have been entrusted with the responsibility of helping them to know and love the Lord.

The Word of Life Gopher Buddies program is specifically designed to help in the task of imparting the foundational truths of Scripture to children. To enable children to know, understand, and obey Scripture, the Gopher Buddies program is built upon the solid foundation of…

Since Scripture teaches that children can know and understand

the Word of God, we will communicate foundational truths of

Scripture to children with creativity and clarity.

To teach foundational truths of Scripture so that four to

six year old children can develop a positive understanding

of Scripture upon which to build their lives.

Thirty-six lessons have been designed to teach early learners

foundational truths of Scripture and key character traits. The Bible

lessons combined with daily Bible reading (quiet time), Scripture

memory, books read to the children, and faithfulness in church will

help children begin to learn what they believe which will affect who

they become.

Local church leaders and families using the Gopher Buddies

program will work together so that early learners will…

1. Come to know Jesus Christ as Savior.2. Grow in their understanding of a Christian world view and

belief system.3. Show through their character and conduct the difference

Christ can make in a child’s life.

The following pages will show you in detail how this dynamic program will impact the character and conduct of children.

■ Matthew 28:19-20 ■ 2 Timothy 3:15 ■ 2 Timothy 2:1-2

Children can know and understand Scripture which

leads them to salvation and spiritual growth.

■ 2 Timothy 3:15-17 ■ Deuteronomy 6:6-9 ■ 2 Timothy 2:15

Believing that the Bible is true and relevant for children, we endeavor to lead each child to an understanding of foundational scriptural truths.

The weekly Bible study, combined with parental interaction at home, will affect changes in the character and conduct of each child.

Each year’s curriculum will cover six foundational biblical truths (24 lessons), four character trait studies (8 lessons), along with four holiday and theme night lessons. Each lesson is written to speak to the heart of a child. Some adaptations are suggested for small groups, large groups, and children with special needs.

As the children comprehend the foundational scriptural truths taught weekly, they will grow in their desire to know and please Jesus.

■ Matthew 28:19-20 ■ 2 Timothy 3:15 ■ 2 Timothy 2:1-2

Children can know and understand Scripture which

leads them to salvation and spiritual growth.

■ Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ■ 1 Peter 2:2 ■ Psalm 5:3

Believing that the Word of God is essential to a child’s spiritual growth, the Early Learners’ Quiet Time is designed to help parents read God’s Word to their children and discuss the truths of God’s Word with them daily.

The use of the Gopher Buddies Quiet Time will allow each child to learn how God speaks to them through the Bible and that they can talk to God through prayer.

Each day the Gopher Buddies Quiet Time will reference a passage of Scripture to be read to the child. The I Can Know section provides a sentence summary of each day’s passage, I Can Learn is an interactive section, and the I Can Pray section reminds the child to talk to God through prayer.

Children will be excited to spend time listening to the Bible read to them each day. Talking with

God through prayer will also be a highlight of their daily quiet time. Parents will

be grateful for a practical tool to assist in the spiritual growth and development of their child.

■ Psalm 119:11 ■ Psalm 1:2 ■ Joshua 1:8

Believing all Scripture is profitable compels us to assist children in committing to memory portions of the Word of God.

Scripture memory will shape the child’s thinking and impact their behavior.

The Gopher Buddies leaders and parents will assist the children in memorizing portions of Scripture that correlate with the lessons. The parent’s page that will be sent home each week will contain the portion of Scripture the children are to learn. To enhance long-term retention only ten references are committed to memory for the 36 lesson series.

The children will better experience the teaching, convicting,

correcting, and training ministry of God’s Word

through their active participation in

Scripture memory.

■ Proverbs 20:11 ■ 1 Samuel 2:18 ■ 3 John 4

Believing that children are capable of serving the Lord should motivate parents and leaders to provide character building service opportunities for the children.

The character and compassion of the children will be developed through Christian service opportunities.

Each child is encouraged to participate in a minimum of three Christian service activities under the direction of their family and the local church. Suggested activities are listed in their Quiet Time. The Bible study also contains Christian service projects for the children to participate in as a group.

Serving God by helping others will develop the character and compassion of the children.

An incentive program that is creative and fun awaits the children. As you look over the next few pages you will find many different ways to reward the children for being faithful to Biblical Principles. You can put together the awards that you want to make your program fun and exciting.

Every child needs a Quiet Time, a Gopher Buddies tote bag, and an activity packet. The back cover of the Quiet Time folds out to reveal Gopherville; a fun place where the gopher family lives. Gopherville will serve as a progress chart that will motivate the child and inform parents of the child’s progress.

The Gopher Buddies Record/Award Sheet also serves as an individual record sheet for the leader. As you peel off stickers to put on Gopherville, you will also write down the date on the sticker sheet. This will automatically show you their progress.

On the back of this sheet there is a place to put name, address, and other vital information about the children as well as

a place to keep track of attendance. This will greatly simplify the paper work for leaders.

Each year a child can earn three award patches; one for each of three achievement levels. The patches are new each year. There are a variety of fun patches featuring Gopher Buddies to collect! The patches are placed on the Gopher Buddies tote bag as they are earned.

Reward any achievement throughout the year with colorful certificates.

Encourage good behavior, helpfulness or anything you would like with these self-storing fun hand stamps featuring the whole gopher family.

Word of Life also offers various items for your church to purchase as year-end awards or for other special occasions.

Membership is easy and when children earn it, they will receive a membership sticker. This sticker is placed on the identification tag for their Gopher Buddies tote bag.

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