Curriculum helps children understand poverty and grow in love

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

Compassion Canada is widely known for their child sponsorship program. Fewer people, however, know about the various resources they offer the Church. Last year Compassion released a new curriculum, available for free, that helps children and families connect with life in developing countries.

“Step Into My Shoes was developed to respond to the needs of church leaders to disciple their [congregation’s] children and families to whole-heartedly love God and live out their faith by loving and serving their neighbours,” says Allison Alley.

Step Into My Shoes is a seven-part curriculum that follows the life of an Ugandan pastor and his family. Alley explains the idea is not to increase donations or sponsorship rates, it’s about helping children connect with the struggles and joys of those in the developing world.

“This is not a charity video. It’s not portraying them as a family in need where we are going to save the day. We want people to learn from their love for one another and for their community. This is a family that, as North Americans, we would consider really poor. But they would say they have enough. They’ve adopted children and they sacrificially serve their local church and community.”

Each part of the curriculum involves a five-minute video, scripture verses, crafts, and activities. The activities vary from living for a day with only one water tap to making a soccer ball out of plastic bags.

“All the activities are closely connected to what you’re seeing and learning as a family,” says Alley. “What I love about this is that you’re following a real family, with real needs, real hopes, and real joy. It’s not a scripted video series. You’re following the intricacies and intimacies of their real lives. You learn from Ugandan pastor Tom, his wife Nancy, and some of their 12 children. At the same time, you explore the life of Jesus to see how scripture calls us to follow Him in loving God and our neighbour.”

Jeff Jantzi, lead pastor of The Gathering, says they used Step Into My Shoes at their church to help families dig deeper into the messages.

“We were going through a sermon series called “Hope Lives” which is also based on material Compassion provided. We were trying to help people understand God’s heart for the poor and broken in the world and this was a way for the conversation to continue around the dinner table. It was a way to help our children have God’s heart for the poor as well.”

Jantzi says the idea of choosing to live with less so others can have enough is a struggle for many people in Western culture.

“As the Church in this city, we need to wrestle with how the gospel should lead us to a life of action,” he states. “This conversation needs to be happening more in our churches and it’s a really good conversation to have with you kids and to start them off young. The impact [of Step Into My Shoes] is going to continue to be felt. It was the beginning of that conversation for many of our families and I can’t say enough how important I think these conversations are.”

Compassion provides the curriculum for free through the Step Into My Shoes website.