I have a new KidZ at Heart blog

My new blog site is the following: www.kidzatheart.org/author/sroutzahn

KidZ at Heart July Newsletter

KidZ at Heart May & June Newsletter

April 2014 KidZ at Heart Newsletter

My time Stateside

 

Hello and Happy New Year! Can you believe it's already February?! Seems hard to believe. Time flies when you are having fun and doing God's work :) And this year is going to be jam-packed with KidZ at Heart ministry work for me in Africa. I'm very excited!

For the past 2 months I have been Stateside on furlough visiting with family, friends, and my prayer and financial champions. It's been such a sweet time spending Christmas with my family; especially my precious niece Tani. She's a bundle of joy. I've also enjoyed hanging with some close friends and taking in some USA things I can't do in Africa (eating at some favorite restaurants (sushi!) catching a movie, taking a walk on the beach, strolling through Target, Starbucks, that kind of thing....) And best of all I've gotten to meet face to face with so many of my support team and share all that God is doing in Uganda and the rest of Africa through KidZ at Heart. I've had opportunities to share about my ministry work at house parties that friends have organized and at several churches. I've split my time up between Jacksonville, Florida (where I'm from) and Phoenix, Arizona area where KidZ at Heart is located. At the moment I'm in Arizona gearing up for our KidZ at Heart Staff Retreat that starts in just a few days. This will be a time of spiritual refreshing and planning for this year. On February 14th I head back home to Kampala, Uganda where I will hit the ground running with all the exciting KidZ at Heart work to be done this year in Africa.

Here's some exciting things happening this year in Uganda and beyond in Africa:

• KidZ at Heart training workshops in partnership with KEST (Kampala Evangelical School of Theology) will expand to many village areas throughout Uganda. It's our goal to bring our children's ministry training to as many parts of Uganda as possible and equip the nationals!

• I will be mobilizing short-term mission trips with KidZ at Heart to countries such as Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Cameroon.

• I will return in June to East Kilimanjaro, Tanzania to help lead a KidZ at Heart training with a team from the USA

• Our intensive children's ministry degree program called KAHLA (KidZ at Heart Leadership Advocacy) launches this year in partnership with KEST (Kampala Evangelical School of Theology). We are so excited about this new development!

This will be the beginning of my 2nd year in Kampala, Uganda and it really has become like home to me. The abundant work of KidZ at Heart in Uganda and throughout Africa has just begun. And I'm very honored to be part of God's work there. In order to continue the ministry work God has called me to do, I need a team of champions that are praying and financially supporting the ministry work I'm doing. I'm currently needing $1000 more in monthly support to meet my monthly budget. The cost of living in Kampala is very high. (If you would like to see a breakdown of my budget or have any questions please feel free to ask) Will you partner into this amazing ministry and help reach the 2.2 billion children that need to know Jesus? All it takes is 10 people @ $100 a month, 20 people @ $50 a month, 40 people @ $25 a month or even 100 people @ $10 a month!

May God bless you abundantly!

-Shannon

Donation Details: To Donate Online: http://www.kidzatheart.org/about/our-team/staff-volunteers/ Scroll down and Select My Name (Shannon Routzahn). You can set up Automatic Monthly Gifts if you select the "Ongoing Gift" option. (If the monthly amount options aren’t what you want to give you can also give via filling out the Automatic Donation and Automatic Withdrawal form that is available online at http://www.kidzatheart.org/give/support-a-staff-member-or-missionary/ )

 

Or Mail Checks to: KidZ at Heart International, P.O. Box 21148, Mesa, AZ 85277-1148 (Please designate on Memo line that it’s for Shannon Routzahn)

The 2.2 billion children have the right to become children of God if they receive Jesus as their Savior.  How can they receive Christ if they have never heard about Jesus and His salvation plan of each of us?  We must be part of God’s plan to reach the 2.2 billion children with the Gospel, so that they can become children of God. Over the past 10 years, KidZ at Heart has directly trained more than 5,000 children’s leaders in other countries to reach and teach kids for Christ within their own culture. These leaders can also freely share KidZ training with others (an estimated 30,000 more) who are sharing Jesus with children. Thank God for his leading and provision!

 

Ngora KidZ at Heart Training

 

 

Praise be to Jesus! I recently returned from an upcountry district in Uganda called Ngora where close to 100 children's ministry leaders received a 3-day KidZ at Heart Training. Ngora is in Eastern Uganda, a 6 hour drive from Kampala. It's a beautiful part of the country with rock formations, palm trees, and lots of agriculture. But what makes it truly special are the people. Pastor Grace Rwothumio and Pastor Charles O'Pendi helped me lead the training and it was a really special time. The participants were pastors, Sunday school teachers, and children's ministry workers throughout Ngora district. As we arrived they were all so very excited that we came to give them children's ministry training. Only a handful of the participants have ever even had training. Trainings in the village areas are really precious. Over the past 2 years KidZ at Heart formed a relationship with some children's workers from Gawa Church in Ngora who attended our KidZ training in Kampala. One of the team members of a KidZ at Heart short-term trip (Lynn Vanderveen that runs ARISE Uganda) connected them to our Kampala training and the rest is God at work. Bringing a KidZ at Heart training to this village area is a dream come true to all involved. The impact this training will make on the children on this area is truly tremendous and we are so very thankful. Some of you may remember that 4 months back I traveled to Ngora to start the planning stages of this training. It's just amazing to see what God has brought about!

The 3-day training covered subjects such as How Children LEARN Best, 8 Wonderful Ways Children Learn, Story-telling techniques that bring the Bible to life for children, How to Prepare a Lesson Plan, How to Love Our Children to Good Behavior, and Discipline Dos and Donts. The participants even spent a day practicing all that they learned through different story-telling techniques. This is always our favorite day as we get to see how they implement what they have learned. Something really special was that the workshop handouts were even translated into their local language, Ateso. This was such a huge accomplishment and blessing. It's our hope that this is just the beginning of a very fruitful relationship in Ngora district and even the surrounding districts. We would like to do annual trainings in this area where we can keep building upon what was taught and keep expanding their children's ministry skills. KidZ at Heart has seen tremendous testimonies from other areas of Uganda that recently attended our trainings and we know that Ngora will be no different. The people of Ngora are family to me now and I can't wait to get back for a visit and then also future trainings.

I'd like to personally thank my dear friends Stanley and Beatrice Etiang (photo above), Vincent, Godfrey, Silver (our translator), Lynn and ARISE, our translator of the Ateso handouts, Pastor Grace, Pastor Charles, and so many others that were involved in making this training such a success. It takes a team to do God's work and each person is of such value.

What's next on the horizon for me?

• In just one week I will be in the USA! I will be in Jacksonville, FL December 13-January 25th for the holidays, seeing friends and family, visiting with supporters, and raising more support. I will then be in Phoenix, Arizona January 25th-February 10th for a KidZ at Heart staff retreat. I travel back home to Kampala on February 14th. If you are in any of these areas I'd love to see you when I'm in the States!

• In 2014 I will be back in Kampala and busy with KidZ at Heart trainings in partnership with KEST (Kampala Evangelical School of Theology) and KAHLA (KidZ at Heart Leadership Advocacy program) throughout Uganda along with also mobilizing many short-term KidZ at Heart trips throughout Africa (Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, and many others).

• I've joined the choir at University Community Fellowship (my home church in Kampala) and I'm very excited about being highly involved with the worship team in 2014. I will also continue to help with UCF's children's ministry and the women's ministry called King's Daughters. I'm blessed to have found a wonderful home church.

• Supporters, PLEASE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR DETAILS ON THIS IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS. My giving method will be switching over to KidZ at Heart International. I will be walking you through this easy process and explaining about the switch-over. World Outreach has been wonderful agency to me and I'm thankful for all they have done the past few years.

Once again, thank you to all of my prayer partners and financial supporters. Words can't express how truly thankful I am for each and every one of you.

May God bless you abundantly,

Shannon

To Donate Online: http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations Select My Name. The system can process USA and International Cards. You can also set up Automatic Monthly Gifts if you select the "Monthly" option.

Or Mail Checks to: World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061(Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)

The 2.2 billion children have the right to become children of God if they receive Jesus as their Savior.  How can they receive Christ if they have never heard about Jesus and His salvation plan of each of us?  We must be part of God’s plan to reach the 2.2 billion children with the Gospel, so that they can become children of God. Over the past 10 years, KidZ at Heart has directly trained more than 5,000 children’s leaders in other countries to reach and teach kids for Christ within their own culture. These leaders can also freely share KidZ training with others (an estimated 30,000 more) who are sharing Jesus with children. Thank God for his leading and provision!

KidZ at Heart Intensive Training at KEST

 

The KidZ at Heart trainings in Uganda just keep getting better and better! Pastor Grace Rwothumio, Way & Gean Stevens, and I led training at KEST (Kampala Evangelical School of Theology) this past weekend for 25 key children's ministry leaders within Uganda. The trainees included our KAHLA (KidZ at Heart Leadership Advocacy) East Africa Launch team, KEST staff, and key children's leaders throughout the country. We did this intensive 2-day training to raise up trainers for KidZ at Heart within Uganda. Our work in East Africa keeps getting larger and we simply can't do it all alone. We are confident that with the help of this team we can bring more KidZ at Heart trainings throughout East Africa.

The 2-day training was a huge success and it was the first training of this kind in Africa for KidZ at Heart. Our 25 trainees were eager to learn and become great trainers. The participants came from churches and organizations such as Watoto Church, Church of Uganda, Baptist Union of Uganda, New Life Church, Christian City Gate, All Saints Cathedral, Jesus for the Little Children, Godly Living Ministries, Word of Life, Gawa Church, and Pentecostal Evangelical Ministries. On the first day we went over the fundamentals of how Children L.E.A.R.N. Best and then they each had a chance to lead part of this workshop after we led them in a workshop called "How to Become a Great Trainer". On the second day they each led a storytelling technique from our workshop "Bringing the Bible to Life". And we ended the day with a leadership workshop that focuses on teamwork.

Everyone that attended was greatly encouraged and excited about the future with KidZ at Heart. I myself was feeling so proud of this incredible group of leaders! It's so exciting for me to see each of them lead KidZ at Heart workshops and come together as a wonderful team to reach kids for Christ. They also have become like family to me here in Uganda. Whenever I'm in need or have a question I know I can call on any one of them for help.

Exciting things are happening with KidZ at Heart in Africa!

Here are some upcoming projects you can pray for as well as some praises:

• Praise! Our KidZ at Heart South Africa team had a wonderful and successful trip. They partnered with Walk Thru the Bible in Johannesburg and put on several trainings.

• Praise! and Prayer: I received my special pass visa extension this week (a huge answer to prayer) and I've been told my work permit should come through within a week.  There had been delays but it looks like it will be in my hands soon. Please keep praying, God hears and He's answering!

• At the end of November I will help lead a 3-day training with Pastor Grace Rwothumio and Pastor Charles OPendi in a district of Uganda called Ngora. This past July I visited Gawa Church in Ngora with the hopes of bringing a KidZ at Heart training to this region. I give praise to God for opening up the doors for this training. Please pray as we start planning for this training in the northeast region of Uganda.

• Prayer for upcoming travels. I will be in South Africa most of October and in the States December-February.

I'm continually thankful for each and everyone for you that either reads my updates, prays for my ministry work, or helps financially. I know that without your help I couldn't be here doing what I'm doing. Will you prayerfully consider joining my support team? I'm still in need of one-time gifts and monthly giving. Some needs that I have are:

• I'm still in need of living room furniture and I don't currently have the funds to purchase this. I need at least $1000 to cover this.

• I'm in need of some car maintenance (the roads here are rough). I need $500 to cover my car needs so my car is in top shape to travel throughout Uganda.

• I'm in need of more monthly partners. I could use $500 more in monthly support.

May God richly bless you!
-Shannon


To Donate Online: http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations Select My Name. The system can process USA and International Cards. You can also set up Automatic Monthly Gifts if you select the "Monthly" option.

Or Mail Checks to:
World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061(Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)

The 2.2 billion children have the right to become children of God if they receive Jesus as their Savior.  How can they receive Christ if they have never heard about Jesus and His salvation plan of each of us?  We must be part of God’s plan to reach the 2.2 billion children with the Gospel, so that they can become children of God. Over the past 10 years, KidZ at Heart has directly trained more than 5,000 children’s leaders in other countries to reach and teach kids for Christ within their own culture. These leaders can also freely share KidZ training with others (an estimated 30,000 more) who are sharing Jesus with children. Thank God for his leading and provision!