TRU STORY: A new spiritual formation curriculum 1st-8th grade.
Tru was written with the spiritual formation of children in mind. This means helping kids build a life-long relationship with God, giving them a strong foundation in biblical knowledge, and being intentional about creating space for kids to encounter the living God. Through the process of spiritual formation, we desire children to open their hearts to God, learn His voice, have a desire to obey Him, and to do so in the power the Holy Spirit offers to each believer.
One exciting component this curriculum offers each week is The Big God Story. Bible stories are no longer isolated with Noah being the star one week and Abraham the next, but instead told in the context of the main story, where Jesus, the Redeemer, is elevated to his rightful place as Savior and Lord. 
Students are reminded that God is the author and He is still writing His big story, which includes all of us. As we help kids see that the bigger story has been lived out for thousands of years, they have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the wonder of it all; the great mystery of who God is and how He has chosen a part for each of us to play.
Another exciting component includes a opportunity and call for students to Respond each week to what they have heard, through both guided worship times, and Worship Response Stations. Children are encouraged to make space for the Holy Spirit and respond in a personal but communal way. We desperately want to break away from creating robots who parrot Sunday school answers and make room for God to transforms little lives as they encounter His presence and power.
Each week ends with the Blessing. The Small Group Shepherds send each child out with a blessing with the idea that they transition from being blessed to being a blessing to the world around them. In big church, we call this the benediction. Parent will be invited to join in this time of blessing when they pick up their children.
Finally, this curriculum comes with a huge family component. We recognize that you as parents are your children’s primary spiritual teachers. Since students, 1st-8th grade, will all be studying the same thing, you’ll have greater opportunities to talk as a family about what God is doing. Tru has designed a resource to help parents intentionally spend time in God’s Word with their children before coming to church each week. It’s called the HOMEFRONT Weekly. The HOMEFRONT is a weekly half sheet that will be sent home with your child each Sunday. It is accompanied by a monthly HOMEFRONT magazine filled with suggestions for creating spiritually forming time in the home. The monthly HOMEFRONT magazine will be available at the Spotlight Booth each month with reminders to pick it up in the bulletin.
