Friends on Faith Adventures
Friends on Faith Adventures is a two-year programme of formatted sessions for groups of children aged 5 to 11. It is Bible based, taking children on an adventure around the books of the Bible, and follows a recognised pattern for each session.
Parents and carers are encouraged to engage with the sessions, staying for the beginning and returning for the end of the session and maybe being provided with a cup of coffee and a chance to chat together in between.
Children are encouraged to continue their exploring, experiencing and expressing of their faith through a walking the way challenge to do during the time between sessions. They are encouraged to take a photograph (FOFA-Cam) of something connected with the session or to use a bear mascot (FOFA bear) to accompany them between sessions and to write in the bear’s journal (could be an ordinary exercise book or notebook) what they did.
The Pilots Prayer reflects the origin of Friends on Faith Adventures, which was from a children’s organisation which has been part of the URC since before the URC was formed! You may want to use these prayers or to use the alternative.
All attempts have been made to make activities as inexpensive and environmentally friendly as possible.
The Adventure Map is a list of all the books in the Bible to enable children to see how the passage they are exploring in that session fits in with other things they may have experienced from the Bible. You may want to make one of these to display on a church noticeboard so that everyone can see and contribute to it with pictures of things they have made.
You may also want to look at Families on Faith Adventures @ Home as this weekly resource is full of ideas for prayers, storytelling, activities and challenges which could support your ministry with children and their families.
Resources to download
- Getting started (Word | 868kb) – a handy checklist to complete before you get started
- Risk and accident form (Word | 550kb)
- Safeguarding (PDF | 520kb)
- Role description for leaders and volunteers (PDF | 568kb)
Resources for sale
- Download the list of resources for sale (PDF | 226kb). Contact children.youth@urc.org.uk to purchase any items.
Pre-planned sessions
New resources!
- Mark – Blessed Children – Jesus blesses the children (Word 891kb)
- Exodus – Let my people go – Ten plagues in Egypt (Word | 129 kb)
- Matthew – Sorting the sheep from the goats (Word | 128 kb)
- John – Lazarus Lives – Lazarus is raised from the dead (Word | 128 kb)
- Ezra and Nehemiah – Rebuilding the Temple – The temple in Jerusalem (Word | 128 kb)
- Proverbs – Wise Words – Assorted biblical proverbs (Word | 133kb)
- Esther – Brave Esther Saves the Day – Queen Esther (Word | 523 kb)
- Exodus – The Burning Bush – Moses meets God in a burning bush (Word | 322 kb)
- Luke – Where Are My Sheep – The parable of the lost sheep (Word | 367 kb)
- Mark – Not on the Sabbath – the healing of the man with the withered hand (Word | 328 kb)
- Matthew – A Supper to Remember – the Last Supper (Word | 525 kb)
- Luke – Jesus Changed Me – The crippled Woman (Word | 130kb)
- Mark – Greatest Commandment – Love God and Others (Word | 521 kb)
- Amos – God’s chosen one – The prophet Amos (Word | 129kb)
- Luke – A friendship found – The lost coin (Word | 156 kb)
- Mark – The Visit of the Kings – Christmas Magi (Word | 129kb)
- Luke – I hear you knocking – Persistance in prayer (Word | 162)
- 1 Corinthians – Al together now – One Body (Word | 551 kb)
- Luke – Second Chances – Prodigal Son (Word | 157 kb)
- Ruth – Growing Friends – Ruth and Naomi (Word | 165kb)
- Luke – FInders Keepers – Lost and Found (Word | 138kb)
- Galatians – Fruits of the Spirit (Word | 128kb)
- Luke – Jesus Cares – The Widow’s Son (Word | 128 kb)
- 2 Corinthians – Love is (Word | 141kb)
- Mark – Keep the Faith – Jairus’ Daughter (Word | 129 kb)
- Genesis – Top of the Tower – Tower of Babel (Word | 127kb)
- Luke – Walking with Jesus – Emmaus Road (Word | 127kb)
- Acts: All change – seeing Jesus (Word | 158kb)
- Luke: All invited – party invite (Word | 205kb)
- John: Doubtful – Doubting Thomas (Word | 128kb)
- Exodus: Grumbling and moaning – fiery cloudy pillar (Word | 130kb)
- Exodus: Baby in the basket – the birth of Moses (Word | 243kb)
- Mark: Very tempted – Jesus is tempted in the desert (Word | 153kb)
- The Lord’s Prayer (Word | 252kb)
- Elijah and Naaman – miracles can happen (Word | 178kb)
- Rules to live by (Word | 185kb)
- Come to the party (Word | 195kb)
- The house on the rock (Word | 179kb)
- Onwards – a time for shouting (Word | 196kb)
- Are you thirsty? (Word | 223kb)
- Armour of God (Word | 182kb)
- Climbing the ladder (Word | 182kb)
- Now you see me (Word | 188kb)
- Water into wine (Word | 210kb)
- Abram’s journey (Word | 224kb)