The Jackson's Ridge Children's Ministry Training Centre is all about...

The Jackson's Ridge Children's Ministries Training Centre is dedicated to equipping leaders through training and providing materials and to the reaching of children through caring for those in need, evangelism, camping programs and literature production in order to advance God's kingdom in Africa.

We are busy changing children's lives through four main programmes:

1. Training indigenous children's ministry specialists. We reach this objective through conducting children's ministries seminars and conferences both at Jackson's Ridge and at other locations throughout Africa. We also offer a one year mentoring programme designed to prepare young people for full time ministry to children. We provide the largest supply of children's materials in the country and are actively involved in creating resources like Gospel tracts and the Safari Club.

2. Conducting camping programs: We have an active on site camping program. Our camp is designed to reach children with the Gospel and disciple them into the deeper things of God. We reach this objective primarily through fun activities and challenge initiatives revolving around our ropes course, activities field and water recreation area or "Lake Buddy" as it is known. We also began Royal Family Kids Camps in December of 2001, targeting children who are the unfortunate victims of abuse and neglect. This exciting programme has now been launched country-wide.

3. Caring for abandoned and HIV+ babies: We have already opened the doors to the Jackson's Ridge Baby Shelter, a transitional home providing care for infants; some of whom have be adopted by Christian families and others who will need long term care in a loving environment.

4. Conducting Children's Evangelism Outreaches: We desire to personally reach children with the Gospel. We therefore partner with local churches and community based organizations, conducting evangelism campaigns, school programs, Bible clubs, literature distributions and shade tree Sunday Schools at various locations throughout Africa.

Do you offer full time study in Children's Ministry? No. We are not a training institution in the classical sense. We do not offer resident programmes similar to a Bible College where a student can come and be immersed in study through regular daily classroom teaching. Our training is restricted to seminars and conferences that are held on a monthly basis on-site and occasionally at other venues across Africa.

Please tell me about your internship programme? On occasion we have hand-picked an individual to serve as a JR Intern. We are proud to say that the Assemblies of God National Children's Ministries Directors for Swaziland and Namibia are former interns. Rev. Mandla Msibi and Rev. Charmaine Hendrick served as JR interns, perfecting their children's ministries skills by working along side the JR team. The heart of this programme is on-the-job training in all aspects of ministry to children. The intern raises his own financial sponsorship and then volunteers his time to be mentored at JR through a continual service oriented programme. A great deal is expected of a JR intern. We require that an intern maintain a strong Christian testimony, have an untiring work ethic and possess a calling to full-time children's ministries. If you are interested in further details, please contact Sonja Corbin at Jackson's Ridge.

Do your children's camps run only during the school holidays? No. As a matter of fact most of our camps are held at times other than school holidays. A normal JR camp begins at 5:00 pm on a Friday and ends at 2:00 pm on a Sunday. You can book a camp for your church or school group at any time of the year that fits into the JR schedule. Our camp is restricted to children ages 9-14 and is literally the best of its kind in South Africa. Children have loads of fun and learn about God's plan for their life in the process. We can tailor make a camp to meet the demands of either a church or school group.

Has the JR Baby Shelter opened yet? We are proud to announce that the Jackson’s Ridge Baby Shelter opened in late September 2003 and has already placed several babies with loving Christian families. Melissa Martinez, Nurse Practitioner and AGWM Missionary Associate from Utah is directing the day to day operations and giving excellent oversight and medical care to the babies and the JR staff at large.

Special thanks goes to Calvary Lighthouse Assembly in Rochelle, Illinois, Central Assembly of God in Cumberland, MD and the Illinois District Women’s Ministries, for their generous support of this ministry. They have made it possible for us to begin. Please pray with us that God will provide. We are in need of a long term sponsor to continue financial support of this ministry.

Do you have a Resource Centre on the JR property? Yes. We have a store where we market what we believe to be the largest supply of children's ministry materials in the country. Many of the books and materials are produced in South Africa and we maintain a healthy stock of imported goods. Since JR is located in the bush, approximately 15 K's off the tarmac, you will probably want to phone in advance and schedule a time for one of our staff to assist you. You are more than welcome to visit our resource centre, but we strongly recommend you call first. In addition, you can phone in your order or place your order on line.

For further information and bookings contact:

P.O. Box 357 Rustenburg 0300 South Africa
Phone/Fax: 014-5771148
e-mail: office@jacksonsridge.org

Conference Schedule Flyer. May be printed for distribution.