STAR NEWS

Volume - 7 Issue - 2

(A Newsletter for Shining Stars, India)

October 2008

Quote of the Month: We can do anything if we stick to it long enough. - Helen Keller

The Bible Says:"Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. " Eph.6:4

Picture of the month

This picture was taken at the Discipleship camp held at St. Paul's School, Shamirpet recently, where we could able to specially train 78 dynamic youngsters how to run the RACE of life in this dangerous days of the world.

From the Director's pen

Dear Saints and Servants of God

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Praise the Lord for all blessings comes from Him. We are happy to share with you that God in His grace has enabled us to complete the goals set from July-September 2008 successfully and within the budget. Thank you all for your support and prayers.

We are happy to share with you that the recent concluded Kids camp blessed 78 children from different villages. The theme for this year was 'RACE' - Reaching At the Cross for Eternity'. Subjects derived from the word D I S C I P L E were taught for three days beginning from 1st October to 3rd October 2008. The children received the teaching very well and have committed to pursue the decisions they have taken. Not forgetting to thank God for being with some of the children as they had fever and cold. Over all the children enjoyed not only the teaching but also the fun day where in they each one painted, colored their faces with the available things like lipstick, eyeliners and simple face powders. They were very creative and amazing. They all enjoyed the sports and especially the ministry of helps. Praise the Lord for children.

What I have observed is their obedience and involvement in the task given to them, whether it is listening or writing or serving or fun or even witnessing. ' Witnessing' - This reminds me of the little girl taken away captive from Jerusalem to Syria. Who did not hesitate to tell about the prophet by whose prayer her master could be healed of the dreadful disease. Her initiative shows her involvement to testify God's wonder working power through His servants. I think the little girl took the SHAMEGO stand for God against her own life. She was brought as captive with no assurance of going back to her home town. Praise God for Children. The SHAMEGO stand for God. The stand what Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego took for God. There are three things we can observe. Going, Standing and Talking. They went to the place (location/World) where they were called obeying the King's order to assemble. But they stood for God not bowing down to the (not compromising) to the idol (influencing factors of the world) but they did not keep quite they spoke saying that even if they have to die they would not bow down to the idol. Meaning they would not do anything that displeases God (Witnessing).

Hope you would join me to thank God for these children who are valuable not only to remind us our God's work but for our encouragement too.

Kid of the Month

Hi, I am Kavitha, studying my degree final year and I want share how God Iworking in My life.

I am helping in developing 9th & 10 class children in Nacharam centre. My parents always oppose me to pray, read the bible and go to any Christian activity. Recently I asked my parents permission to go for Shining Stars Discipleship camp, but they said I should not only go to the camp but also to discontinue going to the tuition centre. I was shocked to here this because I am not going to church, this is the only place where I can get spiritual nourishment. I came to SS office and explained my problem and there the staff encouraged me and said don't force your parents, but if God really want to go to camp he will change your parents, your job is to pray to Jesus also quoted Phil. 4:6&7, and we all prayed for the situation. While we all the family are having dinner my mother asked my father "shall we let Kavitha go to camp?" then my father said 'yes she can'. I praise God in my heart and tears came out of my eyes. I can not explain how I felt at that moment, but I can say my God is so great. I really enjoyed the camp.

Please pray for me to be faithful as I am facing this kind of hindrances in my life.

Prayer & Praise points

Praise God for:The blessed time with 12 teens during our Teens camp during 15th to 17th August 2008.

New centres leaders training programme in July, where 9 leaders from different churches attended.

God's provision for Discipleship camp held during 1st - 3rd Oct'08.

Please Pray for:

The children who attended the Discipleship camp will pursue the decisions that they have taken in the camp to have right relationship with God, family and friends.

The on going programmes and discipleship in all centres.

The upcoming programmes 5 days Sunday School teachers workshop at Vizag and Christmas programmes etc.

God's provision for continual programmes.

Needs:

- A digital camera to use in the ministry.

- Curtains for the doors and windows

- Wall Painting for the office

- Christmas Bonus for the staff

If you would like to make a contribution please contact us, or send a DD, Cheque or MO to the following address:

Shining Stars

Plot 59 & 60A, VST Colony, Nacharam, Hyderabad, A.P. 500076- India

Ph. 040-27157343

E- mail: shiningstarsindia@hotmail.com; shiningstarsclubs@gmail.com

Web: http://www.shiningstarsindia.org/

RACE

Dear Friends and Co-Workers in Christ,

It is a refreshing time again for kids!Another year passed, as usual, and now we are here to conduct another kid's camp for all the children from different centers working in partnership with Shining Stars.We are planning to have a camp this academic year for our Shining Stars kids from the 1st - 3rd October 2008. This year we are having camp at a beautiful green school campus just outside of the city limits.Our theme for this year is "RACE"! (Reaching at the Cross for Eternity). We have subjects like "Disciple", "I", "Stewardship", "Christian Discipline", etc. and have invited some gifted speakers (including our own staff) to teach.Please pray for us! Pray that God will fill us with His Spirit, energy, wisdom and that it will just be a great time of connecting with the kids in the Spirit . . . that they will go away full of vigor to live for Him and run their "RACE" for God! We hope that about 100 will be there, including staff, and have estimated the total costs of the camp to be about Rs. 25000.00 ($570.00) which will come to Rs. 250.00 ($ 6.00) per person. We have asked the children to pay about ($ 3.00) If any of you would like to contribute in order to sponsor the remaining amount of $ 3.00 for some children it would be greatly appreciated. Just respond to this email and we will let you know how to send it.



Unlike last time, we are sending out this letter earlier! God bless you, Uttam Kumar If you would like to make a contribution please contact us, or send a DD, Cheque or MO to the following address: Shining Stars Plot 59 & 60A, VST Colony, Nacharam, Hyderabad, A.P. 500076- India Ph. 040-27157343

E- mail: "mailto:shiningstarsindia@hotmail.com" shiningstarsindia@hotmail.com, "mailto:shiningstarsindia@gmail.com" shiningstarsindia@gmail.com
Web: "http://www.shiningstarsindia.org/" http://www.shiningstarsindia.org/
Blog: http://shiningstarskids.blogspot.com/
For U.S. contributions DM Stearns P.O. Box 1578 North Wales PA 19454
Note: Please designate any gifts for acct. No. 378 in the "memo" section of your check.

The Vision of Shining Stars

The Vision of Shining Stars:

“Raising Godly leaders by discipling children for the long-term and implementing holistic, developmental programs run in partnership with like-minded churches”.

Full Story

STAR NEWS - (A News letter for Shining Stars, India) July 2008

STAR NEWS
(A News letter for Shining Stars, India) July 2008

Quote of the Month :“It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” - Chinese Proverb

The Bible Says: “Jesus said unto them, suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14

From the Director’s pen:

Dear Friends,
Greetings in Jesus Precious name!
We hope that this letter finds you all well. In Luke 10:13-14, it says…and they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the ingdom of God. – Mark 10:13-14 Why did Jesus relate children to Kingdom of God – The Point Jesus is trying to make I think is not only to then His disciples but also to us Yesterday while I was having my personal devotion – The writer posted a question Will the niverse sustain a lie? And he also said that the contemporary society is increasingly facing and needing to deal with ‘situational ethics’, which would have us believe that sometimes under certain situations, a lie is admissible. And that he says is a dangerous and deadly path. The writer also gave an example: What if someone come to your house to murder a member of your family and asked if that person was in – how would you respond? Would it not be right to lie in such circumstances? Situational ethics may demand a ‘Yes’. But the Bible says ‘No’ Because…..God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? – Num 23:19 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth – 1 John 2:21 Society is nothing but a company of people. And all these people before becoming a society were also children. Children those were pure in their hearts that don’t lie (mostly). But today the society as the man of God mentioned above is caught in this ‘situational ethics’. Interesting term isn’t it. Yes today the world has invented a term that looks right for every iniquity that happens. But I believe the society of people should be like children before God, pure in heart, for children speak the truth and they don’t have any hidden agenda. I there fore thank God for the vision He has given to Shining Stars through Mr. Peter Wiig to “Be a part of raising a new generation of Godly leaders who stand up for what is right?”. For the children who are children now are going to be tomorrow’s society. The vision begins with ‘Be a part of…, there fore I thank you all for supporting us with your time, monies and most of all your prayers to build a new generation, a society that fights against the so called ‘situational ethics’ which demands ‘yes’ but these children will honor the Word of God and say ‘No’ and stand up for what is right!

Update:
I praise and thank God for enabling me to join the family of Shining Stars this year arch 2008. The weather now in Hyderabad has cooled down and is very pleasant. We thank God for conducting VBS in 23 centres covering rural, semi-urban and city. All of these centres put together a total of 1800 children attended VBS. Some of these places are new where the children attended were mostly heard Jesus for the first time. Join us in thanking and praising God, for 208 children gave their life for first time. It is truly and totally the work of the Holy Spirit of God. Last month we had a financial set back but again Praise God our Father for He is Jehovah Jireh – The Lord Who provides. The commitments for the month of June were met. I thank God for my dear brother Peter Wiig, who raised funds that will enable the smooth running of the organization for couple of months. We there fore have the need for regular donors. We request you to pray along with us that God will open doors and bless Shining Stars and the vision with continual committed donors. On June 14th the Annual General Body Meeting was successfully completed. The goals and plans for the year 2008-09 was approved and a budget of Rs.18, 37,240/- was approved. Which means a monthly budget of around 1.53 lacs? To simplify it is Rs.250/- per child. As Mr. Peter informed in the last news letter we are adding 9 new centres for the development of children, the first orientation programme is being held on August 5, 2008. Kindly pray that all the new centre leaders will join their vision with the vision of Shining Stars and own the burden of discipling children and build the Kingdom of God in their respective places. Kindly pray for Mr. & Mrs. Peter Wiig’s family of five as they will be driving up to Ooty to join their children in school this month end. The staff at Shining Stars will be missing them for a short period but we believe our hearts always together though we are physically apart. We agree with our Lord that theirfamily will be refreshed and renewed by the Spirit of the Lord as they spend some time in Ooty. We trust that their children will get adapted to the new environment in the school and feel at home.
We thank you and appreciate your support and prayers.

Kid of the Month
We can make every child in India feel this way We can make every child in India feel this way with your help with your help with your help.

This is real example that children need mentors. On the first day of our VBS at Rathupalli (remote village in Karimnagar district.) children were scary about us and didn’t want even to come near us. On the first day we have began the programme with some games to create friendly atmosphere. Then we moved on to teach few songs. By the time we explained the song, more than half of the children slipped out may be they were not interested. But day by day as we spent time with them playing and teaching, they became attached to our team members and on
the final day they didn’t want let us go, some started crying, some wanted to spend more time with us some just climbed up to our necks (you can see in the photo). Can you see the value?

Humor Column

in God's Time

A man is talking to God. The man asks God how much a million years is to him God says that it's a second. Then he asks how much a million dollars is to him God says it's a penny.
So the man asked, "God can I have a penny?"
And God replied, "Just a second."

Prayer & praise points:

Please Pray for:

Þ The children in all of our centres that God will bless them in their studies and all areas of their lives.
Þ Gods blessings to accomplish the goals for this year and for his financial support.
Þ A Teens camp is planned from 15th to 17th August 2008. Pray for teachers that they be filled with Spirit of God and Wisdom to teach the teens and that these young people will bear fruit.
Þ Pray for Gods provision.
Þ Peter Wiig & family as they will be driving up to Ooty to join their children in school this month end.
Þ For the follow-up of disciples who attended to the last year discipleship camp.
Þ Ongoing disciple in all centres, for the teachers and children.

Praise God for:

Þ The wonderful summer.
Þ The 23 successful VBS programmes, where we could equip 48 teachers & volunteers and reach about 1861 children out of which 206 children gave their lives to Jesus for first time.
Þ Successful completion of Centre Leaders seminar
Þ The great time of staff retreat on 26th & 27t of July’08.

Needs of the Month

Our monthly needs are increasing. If you would like to sponsor-a-child (or a few) for just (Rs. 250.00 or about $ 6.00) per child, per month please let us know.

Sponsor-a-center – (Rs. 2000.00, $ 45.00) per month.

Scholarship a poor child/children for their studies (Rs. 4000.00 per year per
child, $ 100.00).

File Cabinet- (Rs. 10000, $ 220).

Teens retreat in August willcost - (Rs. 12000.00 - $ 300.00)


Note: Please fill in the portion below and send your contribution towards Children Development to our office address above and or call for any
other clarifications if you wish.

I wish to donate Monthly, one child ____________children @ Rs. 250/- per child.

I wish to donate Quarterly, one child __________ children @ Rs. 750/- per child.

I wish to donate Half-yearly, one child _________children @ Rs. 1500/- per child.

I wish to donate Yearly, one child ____________ children @ Rs. 3000/- per child.

Other _______________________________________________________________

Your contribution makes deference in children life

If you would like to make a contribution please contact us, or send a DD, Cheque or MO to the following address:


Shining Stars
Plot 59 & 60A,
VST Colony, Nacharam, Hyderabad,
A.P. 500076- India
Ph. 040-27157343

E- mail: shiningstarsindia@hotmail.com, shiningstarsindia@gmail.com
Web: www.shiningstarsindia.org

For U.S. contributions

DM Stearns
P.O. Box 1578
North Wales
PA 19454

Note: Please designate any gifts for acct. No. 378 in the “memo” section of your check.

STAR NEWS Volume - 6, Issue - 3

STAR NEWS Volume - 6, Issue - 3(A Newsletter for Shining Stars, India) April 2008

Quote of the Month: "If a child is good it's acceptable, if mischievous, normal, if too good, suspicious."- Peter Wiig

Picture of the month:

This picture was taken at our Discipleship & Disciple makers Camp in October 2007. 71 children and 14 disciple makers attended. It was a blessed time for the children and teachers.

The Bible Says: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will no depart from it." Proverbs. 22:6

From the Director's pen:

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Jesus name! We hope that this letter finds you all wellIn Matthew 21, after Jesus had driven out the merchants from the temple, He then healed the lame and blind. The natural reaction of children was praise, they shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David", which is a victory cry. The teachers of the law were angry and asked Jesus, "Do you hear what those children are saying", Jesus replied, quoting from Psalms 8:2, "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise." But, I wonder why the teachers were so angry? I think we have a clue if we look at the rest of the verse in Psalms, " . because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger." I am sure that Satan's anger was coming out of them because the Son of God and he are enemies, (as were the teachers of the law) and he did not want to be silenced.

I was thinking about why praise from children is so important. Do you think that it is because it is spontaneous, without any unnecessary intellectual baggage & pure? I think that we need to teach children to praise God, and then sit back and learn from them how to really do it!

Summer is upon us here in Hyderabad, we are bracing ourselves for the heat and a great time of ministry. We hope to be involved in helping to run more than 20 VBS programmes around Andhra Pradesh . . . please see the back for more details on how you can be involved!

After much time and prayer, Mercy and I have decided to take a bit of a break- like a sabbatical from Shining Stars (after 12 years). We felt we needed to refresh, refocus and just abide in the Lord for some time - and rebuild our family.

After a lot of consideration, the Shining Stars Executive Committee has agreed for Mr. Uttam Kumar to be the Director in my place. He is a Godly man who used to work with Haggai International (an organization that holds leadership seminars) and has done some Pastoral work as well, and he loves kids and people. He has given a minimum commitment until July 1st, 2009. After that, there are some unknowns, but we believe that God will make His will clear to all of us as time goes on. We are still burdened for the vision of Shining Stars and will be involved as much as we can. Please join me in welcoming Brother Uttam and praying that God would bless and use him greatly.

Among other things, Mercy and I will be busy with some studies, reading, writing, discipleship, hopefully involved in some of the kids activities at their school, some camps we hope. I, Peter, will be working with Mr. Jaipaul Swamidass, part of the time, to do some research on the feasibility of starting English schools in rural India, where there is so much need (with the continued intent of developing children for the Kingdom).We would certainly appreciate your prayers in this time of transition.

Humor Column

The Three Wise Women

You do know what would have happened if it had been three wise WOMEN instead of men, don't you?
They would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought disposable diapers as gifts!

Kids of the Month

Esther Rani is studying in 8th class in the Quthbullapur centre. Before coming to tuition her behavior wasn't good. She was not obedient to her parents or doing well in her studies. After she started coming to tuition, her life is being transformed, because she accepted Jesus as her personal Saviour. Now she is praying for her needs and depending on Jesus Christ. Recently her uncle ran away from home and all the family and relatives were tired & searching for him here and there, but they could not find him She prayed in with her relative, in faith, for the situation and the very next day her uncle came back home and all the relatives were happy. She also prayed that she that she would get first rank in her 7th class exams last year and she got 406 marks, which was top in her class.An other greater thing in her life is she led one girl to Jesus, is it not amazing how God is working in our children's life let us praise God.

VBS 2008

Dear Friends- the summer has come and we are in preparation for VBS 2008. We would like to invite you to participate in this great occasion. How can you be involved?" Let me first explain about these summers plans: The theme for this year is "I am the salt of the earth". We are hoping to run 25 five day programmes and reach about 1300 children the budget for this year is Rs. 77000.00 ($ 1750.00). One programme will cost about Rs. 3080.00 ($ 77.00) and Rs. 61.00 ($ 1.50) per a child. We also need more teachers and volunteers.If you would like to serve as a teacher or volunteer for 1 programme or more (we will be running from April 23rd to the end of May), send someone else or support financially please let us know. We would appreciate your prayers for us. For more details of how you can be involved see the back of the letter.

Your contribution towards VBS 2008

I want to come as a teacher / volunteer / come and visit.

I want to support, financially,
5 / 10 / 20 / 50 children (@ Rs. 61.00 ($ 1.50) per child)- Rs. __________

I want to support one or more programmes
(@ Rs. 3080.00 ($ 77.00) each) Rs. ___________

I want to support the sum of Rs. ($)
________________ Other _________________

Note: Please fill in and tear the portion above and send your contribution towards VBS to our office address and or call for any other clarifications if you wish.

Please send M.O. or cheque to the office address or call us if you want us to come and collect your contribution (within Hyderabad).

Prayer Requests Pray for:

The upcoming training programme in Vizak' (April 7 & 8).
The teachers, volunteers and financial needs of VBS 2008.
Good weather and God's protection throughout the summer.
God's provision for the next fiscal year to run His ministry.
God's wisdom for Mr. Uttam Kumar, the new Director of the organization.

If you would like to make a contribution please contact us, or send a DD, Cheque or MO to the following address:

Shining StarsPlot 59 & 60A, VST Colony, Nacharam, Hyderabad,

A.P. 500076- IndiaPh. 040-27157343

E- mail: mail@shiningstarsindia.org

or shiningstarsindia@hotmail.com

Web: http://www.shiningstarsindia.org/