Calvary Chapel Upland Childrens Ministry Blog

I often get phone calls from companies that publish Children's Ministry curriculum asking me to buy their product. I also get asked often from people at church and from people who may call the church office asking me; "What do you teach the kids at Calvary Chapel Upland?" My answer is always; "We teach the Word of God." The curriculum that we use here at CCU is a chapter by chapter; verse by verse study through the Bible. As of right now on Sunday mornings we are going through the life of Christ, while on Wednesday evenings we are going through the book of Psalm. If a child attends CCU from 1st grade through 6th grade they will have gone through Genesis - Revelation in a 6 year period, if you want a copy of our teaching schedule which goes through November of 2014, please go to the contact page and send me your e-mail and I would be more than willing to e-mail you a copy of the teaching schedule here at CCU. I often get asked; "Why do you teach the kids this way?" Well it says this in Isaiah 28:10; "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little." So here at CCU we know it's our responsibility to teach the kids the Word of God every time they are here at church. One of the kids recently told me that she likes the meaty Bible studies she receives here. My prayer is that the kids are also reading their Bibles at home each day, which is why we send home the 5-day devotions that go with each study. So kids parents be in the Word daily and take up cross daily (Luke 9:23).

In Christ <><,
Jason

Well we had another great year of CKC, and I want to thank Scott and Julie for all their service unto the Lord this past CKC year, and I will be praying for the entire Souldog family as they hit the road this summer I'm very jealous that Scott is going to the Cornerstone Music Festival in Illinois.









With CKC over for the year, I often get asked this question; "Is there still church during the summer?". The answer to that question is yes! You maybe asking; "What goes on at church during the summer on Wednesday nights?" Well we have Children's Chapel. AT Children's Chapel we begin the night with worship, after worship we have a Bible study (this summer we are going through various Psalm), then we do a game with questions regarding the Bible study, then we raffle off prizes, and then lastly everyone goes back to their classrooms and discuss the bible study in small groups, also in the small group everyone gets a chance to pray. Children's Chapel is my favoriate time of the year. Every year we see a lot of spiritual growth in the kids as well as seeing kids come to know the Lord as their personal Lord and Savior. So I encourage all of you to come out to church this summer.






I also want to encourage you to be in the Word daily, not just here at church. Jesus wants us to walk with Him daily. Luke 9:23; "Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross DAILY, and follow Me." Notice Jesus did not take up your cross on Sunday, or take up your cross on Sunday and Wednesday, no Jesus said take up your cross DAILY. Which means we should be praying to God and reading our bibles everyday.

It is also important in our Christian walk to be in fellowship. Which means hanging out with Christian friends and going to a good Bible teaching church. The book of Hebrews says this; Hebrews 10:24-25; "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." So we need to love one another, encourage one other, help each other out, and go to church.

So in closing I hope to see all of you on Wednesday nights at 7:00 for Children's chapel and just remember that song you sang in pre-school; "Read your Bible pray everyday, pray every and you'll grow, grow, grow!"

In Christ <><,
Jason Arellano

I recently came back from our Jr. High retreat and it was awesome. Theme of the retreat was "Unashamed" based on Romans 1:16; "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." God did an awesome work in the kids lives who were able to go, He also did a great work in my life...

I began to think a lot of us are crazy about our favorite sports teams, like myself with the Kings (the worst team in the NHL), even though the Kings are bad I'm unashamed to be a Kings fan. But how am I and how are you when it comes to being unashamed for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Are you embarrassed to tell people that you go to church, or that you are Christian.

When it comes to our faith in Christ we have to be UNASHAMED for Christ. When I first rededicated my life to the Lord was very UNASHAMED to be a Christian I always wore my big nail cross, ever since I gave my life back to the Lord I have never looked back, He is my everything, I put Him first in everything. I pray that I am being a witness to those who are around me (neighbors, friends, family members, and all those who God has given me the honor and privilege to minister to).

My prayer for all of you is that you are all UNASHAMED to be a follower of Christ. I pray that you are be a witness to your friends and family members not just through word, but most importantly through your actions. Your friends, family members, and neighbors should be able to tell that you a re a Christian because of the way you act; no cussing, no fighting, no gossiping,not losing your temper, but you should be loving, kind, and tender-hearted to everyone. And when people ask you why you act the way you do, you can tell them that you are a child of God and you and share with them about the love of Christ. so be UNASHAMED for Christ.

In Christ <><,
Jason Arellano
e-mail me at j.arellano@ccupland.org

NOTE:
FOR SOME ODD REASON THIS POST SAID IT WAS WRITTEN ON NOVEMBER 19. BUT IT WAS WRITTEN ON JANUARY 31. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THAT HAPPEND.




Most of you who know me, know that I'm a huge L.A. Kings fan, but my number one love is my for Jesus Christ.


Something else I love more than the kings is the kids here at CC Upland and the ministry God has called me to do. I thank God each for His saving from my sin everyday, I thank Him for His amazing love which He has shown to all of us. I thank God that He has called into the ministry, there is nothing else I'd rather be doing. All of you kids are in my prayers everyday, and I thank God for all of you, I love all of you.


A couple months ago, during the Jr. High Bible study I was sharing with the Jr. highers how much I loved and how much I love teaching them the Word of God. I was sharing how our first love should be for Jesus Christ, and we should put God first. As I was sharing with them I told them that I would rather be teaching them the Word of God, than being at a Kings game...


Well I think God heard me, no I know God heard me. So I think He gave me a test. A few days after teaching that study an older man from church gave me 2 VIP seats to see the the Kings take on the San Jose Sharks. The first thing I looked at was the day of the game December 26 a Wednesday night. So I was thinking what should I do? I could get someone else to teach for, I can use a vacation day I still have 2 left. Then the Lord reminded me of what I said to the Jr. Highers. And yes I did mean what I said when I told them that I would rather teach them the Word of God, than go to a kings game. So I gave the tickets to my brother for a birthday gift.


Now get this around a month after this happend the same man who gave me those tickets gave me the same seat location (PR 16, first row). For January 24 vs. the Kings biggest rivals the Anaheim Ducks (Booooooooooo) January 24 is a Thursday night, so guess what, I get to go.


I just want to encourage all of you to love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind. The reason why we should love God because He first loved us. God loves you more than you can imagine, more than anyone will love you. Just keep your eyes on Jesus, through the good times and the bad times, God will never leave nor forsake you.


Deuteronomy 6:5; "And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength."


1 John 4:19l; "We love Him because He first loved us."


In Christ <><,
Jason Arellano
j.arellano@ccupland.org

PS
I'm sorry I took a while to write a new blog we were having problems with the website.

So I'm sitting here studying for the Jr. High Bible study for Wednesday night; and I cross refrenced a verse; Acts 9:6. Acts 9:6; says this; "So he (Saul aka Paul), trembling and astonished, said, "Lord what do You want me to do?"...



*Keep in mind that Paul asked Jesus this right after he got saved on the road to Damascus.

This really go me thinking. What does God want me to do? What does God want you to do? Well first thing we need to know is what does the Lord require of us. Well that answer is in Deuteronomy 10:12-13; "And now Israel (this is also speaking to us), what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God will all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep His statutes (God's law) which command you today for your good."

Now first and foremost we need to love God, walk with God (read your bible daily, pray daily, having a personal relationship with God), before we can serve Him. Once we begin to serve God He will show you what He wants you to do with your life.

Maybe God will call you into full-time ministry; like He has done with me. Or maybe He has called you to a fireman, teacher, lawyer, policeman, doctor. Whatever you do in your life do it all for the glory of God. your prayer, and my prayer should be like Paul; "Lord what do you want me to do?"

In Christ <><,
Jason Arellano

My vacation was awesome! But I missed all you guys alot. I heard Teacher Larry did a great job at Children's Chapel on Wednesday night and Amy did a good job overseeing the children's Ministry on Sunday, thank you guys. But my vacation was very relaxing. The first thing I did was attend a Chivas USA game vs. Real Salt Lake; Chivas won 1-0. Three days before that game Chivas USA beat the L.A. Galaxy 3-0, it was awesome ( I was at the game with my dad; who is a Galaxy fan); as you can tell I'm a huge Chivas USA fan. After the game I bumped into some friends from church, Sid won VIP tickets for the game he was there with his parents and his friend Cade (check out the picture). The weather was very nice it most normally 75 degrees I heard it was over 100 degrees everyday I was gone in Upland. I had a nice and relaxing time in Carpinteria. I was able to spend alot time with the Lord (one of the pictures is of me reading my bible over the beach on a cliff. I was able to spend alot time in prayer as well, all of you kids were in my prayers. It was so awesome to see God's beautiful creation (check out the pictures). I also had my ipod and listened to worship music while staring at the ocean. On Sunday I went to a great church called Reality Carpinteria, the service was great it was a good message, and I really enjoyed the worship. I almost got stuck up in Carpinteria because as I was going to leave on Sunday I started up my car and the battery was dead. So my brother drove 2 hours, bought a battery (I paid him back), and he replaced my car battery. But then I finally went home on Monday when I left Carpinteria it was 74 degrees (check out the picture) when I got home it was 107 degrees. But I'm happy to be back; I missed everyone and I can't wait til Wednesday night to teach at Children's Chapel (The Armor of God).

In Christ <><, Jason Arellano
j.arellano@ccupland.org

This year our VBS was during the week of July 23 - 27. This year's theme was my favorite theme we have ever had. It was a sports theme and anyone who knows me knows how much I love sports. I even did some of the decorations. One of the classrooms basically looked like my bedroom when I was a kid. I was able to put up my Chivas (Chivas USA), Kings, Dodgers, and other sports stuff. But that is not important. The important part is the work the Lord did. Our theme verses were Hebrews 12:1-2. We really focused on keeping our eyes on Christ and putting Him first in our lives. What was real awesome we had 9 kids accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. We saw a lot kids grow in their relationship with God. Through the week we had lots of great prizes that were donated to us by lots of the local pro sports teams, which included tickets to games, which I wish I was able to have especially the Chivas USA VIP tickets. On the last night we had a lot of fun with dinner donated by Chick-Fil-A. And of course the highlight of the night was the dunk tank. All in all it was great week, I just want to thank all of the servants who came every morning ready to serve the Lord, without you guys VBS could not had happened.

In Christ <><,
Jason Arellano
j.arellano@ccupland.org