Romanian children in Constanta County, southeast Romania, are rediscovering their spiritual heritage as a result of Youth Bible Curriculum recently
introduced to them by community members and church leaders. In March, some 40 children ages 9 to 13 attended Bible studies in Cumpana and Negresti, and in April a Bible study will begin for some 30
children in Corbu. The Bible studies will take place on a monthly basis.
The Youth Bible Curriculum, which World Vision helped the Romanian Orthodox Church initiate, is filling the void of
spiritual resources in Romania, a country that suffered 45 years of severe religious oppression under communist rule. More than 85% of the Romanians are Christian. The regime crippled parent's ability
to transmit their faith to their children by destroying Bible materials, churches and monasteries. This has had an evident effect in the moral development of today's youngest generation.
'The Youth Bible Curriculum is a project that the church deeply needs, and is very useful to children's spiritual education,' said Father Ion Soare from Saint Paraschiva church in Cumpana.
'The day we learned about and discussed God's creation was unforgettable,' said Madalina, a 6th grader who attended the Bible study in Cumpana.
'The different approach to
studying the Bible stimulates the children while strengthening their belief in God and opening new perspectives for them. It is bringing moral values into the daily life of children, beginning at an
early age,' said Father Ion Soare.
The Bible study curriculum is unique in its focus on learning through discovery, helping children learn though involvement and their own experiences
rather than receiving a truth that is handed down by the teacher, which is the traditional teaching method.
The project has the full support of the church leadership and is of key value to
building communities throughout Romania. Community development is a key objective for World Vision.
The project is welcomed and affirmed by local priests and church leaders, with 30
priests and religion teachers having attended trainings to effectively use the Bible curriculum. 'His eminence Teodosie, Archbishop of Tomis, attended the training, motivating other church leaders to
engage with the Youth Bible Curriculum project,' said Father Constantin Naclad.
'World Vision offers the Bible study guides to the priests free of cost and trains them on the didactic
method used. It also provides sweets for the children during the Bible studies,' said Gabriel Mitroi, spiritual counselor, World Vision Romania.
The Youth Bible Curriculum was officially
launched in Constanta County in October 2007. It is the tenth county where this regional project is being implemented, two years after its official launch in Romania.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
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