Our community has faced an abundance of uncertainty, stress and anxiety on a daily basis during this pandemic season. As a small Christian organization, we have worked diligently to stay connected with our students and the community at large during this time of uncertainty and unrest. We quickly made the following adjustments to our programming:
Virtual academic instruction 3 days a week and social support for our PreK-8th classrooms
Wellness check-ins for families offering community resource referrals via phone and video
Twice daily prayer calls open to all our families, staff and online networks
Adult Bible Study offered once a week via Zoom
Daily Bible initiatives for PreK-8th grade classrooms
Growing Students in Faith, Leadership, and Opportunity
Scholarship organizations in Philadelphia are few, yet 80% of Spring Garden Academy elementary students need financial assistance to attend our school. Families should not have to sacrifice high-quality, Christian education because of financial hardship. The Next Generation Ministries scholarship fund supports families in our community and is an investment in future leaders. Give today so a student can learn tomorrow. Your gift helps students grow in Faith, Leadership, and Opportunity.
The mission must go on! This summer, we will be connecting to families through virtual sessions and weekly Bible Power Bags and meals. If your team would like to participate in virtual Bible activities or in the supply and delivery of Bible Power Bags and food, email bible@sgaphilly.org. This is a great short term mission opportunity for all.
We are updating our databases. Please email us with your updated contact information. Also, include if you prefer to receive information via email or direct mail. All updates can be emailed to info@nextgenministries.org Or message us directly on social media!
On March 16th, our school, Spring Garden Academy moved online as the governor closed all schools in PA. Over fifty percent of our students did not have access to computers and/or internet. Malaysia, a sixth-grader, was using a shared cellphone with her mom to complete schoolwork. At the time, Angela, her mom stated “Learning is a longer process now. We receive the assignment on my cellphone, write it down on paper, and then type it on the phone to submit. On top of that, Malaysia wears glasses, so we take frequent breaks from the small screen because her eyes hurt, and she gets headaches. We are working until 9:00 pm some days.”
God answered our prayers to help Malaysia and other students.
In early April, we received sixteen laptops from Children’s Jubilee Fund, a scholarship organization that worked tirelessly to provide resources to Christian schools in Philadelphia.
Because of their commitment to educating children, our students can complete essay assignments, receive tutoring, and participate in Zoom instruction three days a week as a whole class. God’s provision and the goodness of God’s people is a testimony of hope; though the times seem uncertain and unprecedented, God remains faithful!
We need your partnership! Donate to Summer Ministries today. Sharing the love of Jesus with children not only transforms children’s lives, but also families, and ultimately the community. Summer Ministries is our largest programming of the year. We serve over 150 children and families during our 8-week summer camp, family night events, and compassion ministries. COVID-19, social distancing, and the economic recession our nation faces causing uncertainty in the security of funding for our summer programming. We are praying about alternate delivery of ministry in the face of ongoing closure. Your partnership will allow our organization to share the gospel, stay engaged with the community, and make a lasting change in the future leaders of the school, church, and community.
Effective Ministry
Vulnerable populations (Individuals in shelters, transitional housing, or homeless)
Safety in homes
Families who do not have access to food
Missionaries in the fields
Spiritual awakening
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others”. – Philippians 2:4
“One of the most impactful ways we can share God’s heart with others is by living compassionately.
To show compassion is to step outside of ourselves and love another in times of weakness. And to live compassionately is to posture our hearts continually toward giving grace and love to those who need it most.” Fatima Fulks, NGM leader.
We are updating our databases. Please email us with your updated contact information. Also, include if you prefer to receive information via email or direct mail. All updates can be emailed to info@nextgenministries.org Or message us directly on social media!
Looking Ahead…
Summer Ministries begins in June Dessert reception to celebrate our Elementary School
For the past five years Ms. Se’mona has been leading the children at Spring Garden Academy with hands-on bible experiences. She enters the classroom with great expectation knowing that the children will react positively to her creative expression of God’s Word through dress-up, poetry, and role-playing. Ms. Se’mona is looking forward to leading Kids Bible Power Hour this year, she says,
“The kids always have an expression of pure joy and excitement when I enter the classroom. I teach them knowing the Bible is the most important and valuable thing in their life. God’s Word is transformative and no one can take that knowledge away from them; nor can they settle for a lie after experiencing the truth of God’s Word.”
Ms. Se’mona leading small group Bible activities.
This fall, we are committed to a free, intensive launch of God’s Word to the children in Philadelphia. Our Kids Bible Power Hour will provide bible instruction one hour every day to over 150 children across both our school communities.
Every day during the same hour of the day, our staff, interns/volunteers, and children will be praying, learning, and exploring God’s Word together.
THERE IS POWER IN UNITY!
Will you stand in agreement with us? We need your partnership!
· It costs $35.00 per child per week to staff and run this Bible Power Hour. Help us with a donation to cover the cost of one child. · Are you or your children’s ministry team passionate about helping children grow in their faith? Come and speak in chapel or take a hands-on approach and lead children in bible activities. · If you can’t make it to our communities, we are always looking for prayer partners. Commit to praying for a student, intern, staff member, or family unit.
There is an intense need for God’s Word. Every day we encounter children and families who are hurting, broken, and in need of restoration and reconciliation with God. Next Generation Ministries has a place for you to make a difference! A smile, an act of service, or fervent prayer can be transformative in a child’s life.
“Children are innocent with open minds, therefore, they trust the pure Word of God. Everyone needs to know that our Creator has the perfect plan for our lives. There is an intense need to teach children because they must learn and know God loves them and will never leave them.”
Ms. Cordella
Ms. Se’mona leading small group Bible activities.
“I live by Philippians 4:13 ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’. This will be my first time teaching and with the help of God, I am looking forward to teaching the children the love of Christ and compassion.”
– Ms. Marion
You can make a donation online using this link or by sending a check to PO BOX 15191, Philadelphia PA 19130, please make the check out to Next Generation Ministries.
For more information about other ways of getting involved please email: candace@nextgenministries.us
Our full-day summer camp is in full swing! We have also opened our doors to children in the community who otherwise are hanging outside on the playground or wandering idle around the neighborhood; they enjoy a free lunch with our camp children and stay for Bible Exploration. We are thankful for the opportunity to serve. Next Generation Ministries and Spring Garden Academy are on the mission to reach children and youth through the Gospel!
July Missions Teams
Thank you to Bellerose Assembly and The Dream Center for serving our children, youth and families this month! The children enjoyed engaging in fun activities and Bible Exploration. We love working alongside other ministries to advance the Kingdom of God.
Short-Term Missions Opportunities
Is your church or ministry interested in a missions project for this year? Partner with us! We have various ministry opportunities that focus on children and youth ministry, evangelism and community outreach, as well as facilities and outdoor work projects.
Helen is a teacher-leader at Spring Garden Academy. She commutes two hours every day to invest in urban children and youth. With a childhood marked with trauma, Helen knows first-hand the impact caring adults can have. Her family was not devoted church goers, but because a church group drove around the neighborhood taking the children to church, Helen’s family eventually gave their life to Lord and were all baptized together. In high school, Helen’s track coach was a positive role model by taking her to church, supporting her on the field, and teaching her to respect her body and empower her mind.
Here is what Helen shared about her first year teaching: “I am teaching children who were me…. I can easily put myself in their shoes. I was homeless, I didn’t always have food to eat, I witnessed and experienced abuse in my home. I feel blessed that there is freedom to talk about God and His love for our children. The Christian values we teach at Spring Garden Academy—love, honesty, compassion, forgiveness; I see the difference we are making in the lives of our students and we’re a witness to their spiritual growth.”
I feel God using my pain and my past to do good, and to bring children and their families closer to Him.
– Helen Gillman-Hanna
Helen came into teaching blindly but the Lord has given her so much direction since then. She leads her classroom with a heart of compassion.
While teaching a lesson about Jesus’ sacrificial love for us, one child politely raised his hand and asked if he could shout Hallelujah. This was the highlight of the year for Helen!
Bible Power Hour
Focusing on our core mission, we are launching the Kids Bible Power Hour for our PHLpreK students. During the same time every day, we will provide 150 children with Bible instruction for one hour. Stay tuned for more details of how you can get involved!
We are praying for committed interns and volunteers to serve in the Bible Power Hour, each day for 1-2 hours, as we present Jesus to over 150 kids five days a week during the school year. Details will be coming soon about this intensive launch of God’s word to our community. If you would like to do an internship (with possible payment) or volunteer at least one afternoon a week, please reach out to Candace Wegner at candace@nextgenministries.us. We will be interviewing and training during the month of August for a September launch!
VBS Extras
Now that your VBS is over…do you have leftovers (crafts, music, student books, gifts) that you would like to donate to our ministry? Next Generation Ministries offers free Bible programming all year for children in our community and helps secure materials for teaching Bible at Spring Garden Academy. We will make sure your extras are used to share the love of Jesus with our Philadelphia children. Candace Wegner at candace@nextgenministries.us.
