Secret Hope Notes

To have the children be like prophets and share messages of hope with others who might need encouragement

The children will create five ?Hope Notes? to be given secretly to people in their lives who need support or encouragement.

• Chalkboard or flip chart
• 4? x 4? squares of colored paper (five per child)
• Bibles (one per child)
• Colored markers
• Small religious stickers (optional)

• List on the chalkboard or a flip chart some of the following Scripture references from Second Isaiah: Isaiah 41:10, 41:13, 43:1, 48:17, 49:15, 49:23b
• List some passages from other books of the Bible:

Deuteronomy 30:20
Psalm 34:19, 34:20, 46:1

• Remind the children that in this session they learned that prophets were called not only to speak God's message of truth and reform but also his message of hope and encouragement.
• Ask the children to think of at least five people with whom they have regular contact who need support or encouragement (such as parents, teachers, friends at school or in their neighborhood, teammates, and other family members).
• With these people in mind, ask the children to create a short message of hope that would be appropriate to share with these people.
• Suggest that they look for examples in the Bible like the passages listed on the board.
• They could also create their own messages, such as:

?Keep hoping?God keeps his promises!?
?Don't be discouraged?all is well!?
?The Lord is your strength?trust him!?

• Once the children have decided on their five messages of hope, ask them to write one message on each of their five small squares of colored paper and to add a decorative border or a sticker to each note.
• Tell them to look for opportunities during the coming week to share these ?Hope Notes? in some inconspicuous way. (For example, they could put one on their parents' pillows, and put others in their friends' backpacks or in their siblings' lunch boxes.) Tell them to try to give the notes away without being seen.

Art/Space Smart, Self Smart

If there are children in your group with special needs (physical, visual, hearing, language, or behavioral disabilities), adapt the activity accordingly.