N O R TH N S W CO N FE R E N CE N E WS
APR
2012 Autumn leaves
Families prayed for at Table Talk launch interrupted by beeps and tweets, or by multi-media that now invades the sanctuary of the home.” Julie Weslake, Director of Children’s Ministries for the SPD, says, “It is great to see this important project completed and finding its way into our homes. This tool is part of our Deuteronomy 6:4-12 emphasis, where we want to see our homes claiming God moments during the rhythm of their day to pass on faith to the next generation.” Recent studies demonstrate that the often-overlooked family meal can be described as the “silver bullet” for a whole lot of reasons — the more often families eat together, the less likely their children are to smoke, drink, do drugs, get depressed, develop eating disorders or consider suicide. Families that eat meals together also have children who are more likely to be healthy, do well in school and delay having sex.
On Sunday, 19 February, the new resource Table Talk was launched at the New South Wales Home Grown Children’s Ministries Expo in Sydney. Participants gathered around a table, symbolic of the tables found in our homes, and dedicated the resource to God. Pastor Daron Pratt, Director of Children’s and Family Ministries for the North New South Wales (NNSW) Conference, says, “We prayed that homes right across this nation would be impacted by this resource and that many faith conversations will develop because of Table Talk.” The Table Talk cards are designed as conversation starters, and are based around the Gracelink Curriculum themes of grace, community, worship and service. Questions are relevant to all ages. The development of the series has taken around two years from the initial idea to getting it “on the table.” Pastor Pratt says this tool really works. “I road-tested it with my extended family one Friday evening when we gathered for our regular special Friday night meal. Gathered in the room were people aged from four to 67. It was a great success and a great family bonding moment.”
“Besides these protective factors, families that eat regular meals together build their identity and culture,” says Pastor Pratt. “Stories are passed down, jokes are shared and eventually the wider world is examined through the lens of a family’s values. The magic at the dinner table is not found in the food — it is found in the conversations that happen around it.” Robin Fox, an anthropologist who teaches at Rutgers University in New Jersey, says, “If it were just about food, we would squirt it into their mouths with a tube. A meal is about civilizing children. It’s about teaching them to be a member of their culture.” Pastor Pratt hopes that the Table Talk tin and cards will become an heirloom in many homes, and that the memories it helps to create will be ones treasured and shared by the families who use it. Table Talk is available from Adventist Book Centres for $14.95. For more information, contact Pastor Pratt via daronpratt@adventist.org.au. — Daron Pratt/Adele Nash
Table Talk was written by the Australian Union Conference Children’s Ministries directors and Amanda Bews to encourage spiritual conversation in families. It is a response to the challenges many families now face, as they are often busy and over-scheduled. It was produced and sponsored by the South Pacific Division’s (SPD) Children’s Ministries department and Pastor Pratt. Pastor Pratt says, “The home-cooked family meal is under threat, and is often replaced by fast food zapped in the microwave and eaten hastily. The meal is also constantly
In this issue:
Page 2: From the President: Where are the elders? Page 3: Coaching training for area mentors Page 7: Memorial continues evangelism focus with Kenya outreach Page 11: Comprehensive online shop coming soon for NNSW ABC N O RT H P O I N T // 1
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