Say No to Bullying!

During the second day of the children's conference, the focus on the theme of "safety" increased. However, there was plenty of time for games and activitites throughout the course of the day as well!

The service for the children started with a short film about a girl who wanted to stop bullying others. When you sense God working in your heart, you must take heed to His voice! For example, if He works in you not to tease or bully others, you must dare to take a stand!

The children’s workers who spoke to the children used captivating examples to illustrate how the children can work to create a good and safe environment for the other children they spend time with.

One example used was that of a house. When do you feel safe inside a house? When the house has a door with a lock. It must also be this way in our heart. We must lock the evil out and open the door of our heart to the good. A house also needs light—and children can work so that they are a light to those around them.

You can be sure that God loves both children who are happy and children who are grumpy and upset as well. He wants to help the grumpy child too, so that the child becomes happy and good.

One of the people leading the children’s meeting asked if there was a little boy and girl in the hall who had been tempted to bullying or vandalism. There were two who responded and went forward to the front of the hall. They were given t-shirts that had a heart on the front. Inside the heart on one t-shirt were the words, “Say no to bullying” and on the other t-shirt were the words, “Say no to vandalism.” Afterwards, the children’s meeting leader said them, “When you really work to stick to the decision you have made in your hearts, and God helps you to do this as well, you will become two safe people to be with!”

God sees our desire to follow Him, and He wants it to succeed for us. In fact, he wants this for us more than we want it ourselves!

The games that took place after the children’s meeting had a very international flavor. The highlight was the boys’ football finale between Germany and Norway. The teams were very even, until the final tiebreaker when Germany made the extra goal that won them the game.