#incredibleislands

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Incredible Islands: Providing Kids a Safe Place to Discover the Bible Online

AGTrust Helping to Produce Creative Training Materials 

“The Internet has become and will continue to be a vital tool for connection, outreach and even spiritual formation.” — @BarnaResearchGroup

Because of the development of the Internet, learning from others as well as having access to a nearly limitless archive of the past is easier than ever. However, many families still have reservations when it comes to their children spending time on the Internet.

This is one of the reasons Incredible Islands, an online discipleship tool (produced by @MyHealthyChurch in partnership with agtrust​’s Digital Initiative) was created to give parents a safe, trusted place where their children can interactively explore the Bible.

 “We want parents to view Incredible Islands as they would the children’s area of your church: a safe, fun place for children to learn how to love God and others,” says Jason Tilley, former #childrenspastor and Incredible Islands developer. “Your back doors are locked, no unapproved visitors are allowed, and parents always have the decision as to whether or not their children can attend.”

According to Jason, Incredible Islands was specifically designed with security at the forefront. This includes platform access granted only through a secure log in. Content is also site specific, so there are no online links to outside websites.

The site also utilizes a prewritten messaging system so children can send only positive and encouraging messages to one another.

“They will have plenty of time to create their own content, but right now is a time when they need to learn how to communicate in ways that honor God and the person they are talking to.” Jason says.

For more information about how your church can use Incredible Islands to enhance your children’s ministry, visit IncredibleIslands.com.

To listen to a Webinar on “How to Take Your Ministry Digital” with Jason Tilley go to https://vimeo.com/120838577.

Thank you, AGTrust partner, for your gift today, which enables the production of more creative materials like Incredible Islands to reach the next generation

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[agtrust]

AGTrust’s Digital Initiative — Incredible Islands: Not Too Cool for School

@AG_Trust Digital Initiative is our effort to help produce creative training materials in a digital format that exponentially expands the opportunities of children’s and youth workers to disciple the 1.5 million children and youth attending our Assemblies of God churches.

 AGTrust partners like you helped create Incredible Islands (produced by My Healthy Church), a digital children's ministry tool designed to shift the paradigm in children’s ministry in order to reach 21st-century kids.

When Holly Duncan, director of Elementary Chapel at Southlands Christian School in Walnut, Calif., heard about how Incredible Islands was being used in churches, she quickly researched to find out whether she could adapt the tool into a Christian school context.

“Initially, I was concerned that I’d have to do a lot of tech stuff, plus I have a lot going on and I’m involved in so many things that I couldn’t take on something super labor-intensive,” Holly said. “But once I got started, I found I had nothing to worry about.”

Because Holly is teaching on one theme — the blood of Jesus — in chapel this year, she found that although she could occasionally use a story from the platform, there wasn’t a fit for every single week.

When she discovered how Incredible Islands worked, though, Holly had an idea to use this digital tool to support the curriculum they were using in Bible class at the school.

So far, it has proven ideal for the elementary Bible teachers because they can easily coordinate the stories, verses and quests to reinforce what they’re teaching in classroom. They’re also using Incredible Islands to support the school’s focus on a character trait each week.

We at AGTrust know that teachers have a lot going on, but Holly’s idea to add Incredible Islands to support the school’s curriculum was inspired. In fact, she says the game has also become an incentive for kids to complete their work quickly so they can log in to do their daily mission and, of course, enjoy the games and activities in the world.

“One thing that I’m really excited about is the offering,” says Holly.  “I love the fact that the kids play the game, basically working to earn coins, and then decide what to do with their money. I haven’t worked out the details yet, but I’m planning to get Southlands involved in sponsoring the drilling of a well in Africa. We did it last year, and the kids are already bringing in offerings, but it means so much more if it’s their own money rather than what their parents give them. This way they’re making their own choices and learning to become givers.”

Southlands is using Incredible Islands to disciple their students and provide a practical outworking of their faith at the same time.

Your gift to AGTrust today enables the production of more creative materials like Incredible Islands to reach the next generation!

GIVE NOW!