God

The “I Am” Study on the Claims of Christ

 in Bible / Education / God / Jesus / Mia's Children / Ministry  tagged Bible study / I Am / International Students / Romanian by

Mia and the children have recently been working through a study called “I Am: a Bible Study Series on the Claims of Jesus Christ,” by Richard J. Mendola.

International Students, Inc., a non-denominational ministry out of Colorado Springs, CO, publishes the study. It is designed for small groups or individuals.

By “claims of Jesus” the study refers to different things Jesus claimed to be during his time on earth: I am the Bread of Life, I am the Good Shepherd, I am the “I Am”, etc. There are seven lessons, and each lesson includes background information, a Biblical passage, observation questions, analysis and discussion questions, and a time for reflection.

The study is appropriate for both believers and non-believing friends. PDF copies from International Students, Inc., cost around $2.40 (2 copies permitted per study, as it is copyrighted).

If you would like to order a study and follow along with Mia’s Children as they look at the character of Christ, just contact us and we will make an order for you and other supporters!

Art for the Children of the World

 in Art / Family / God / Hope / Jesus / Mia's Children  tagged European Union / flowers / Iraq / Spain / still life by

A few months ago, a Romanian diplomat with the European Union came by Mia’s Children and saw some of our youth’s amazing paintings. He asked if he could exhibit their work in an international show meant to bridge cultures and give hope.

He has since chosen 47 paintings to show in Iraq, with more to be shown in Spain and possibly the U.S. later.

Mia calls the exhibit “a message of love and peace for all the children in the world” and says, “We are honored to represent Romania because it is a way to display how God has put in these children His gifts, with seeds planted, and we all together help them grow and be fruitful.  So it is not only about art; it’s about something beyond – the love of God to and through His children and all His people who answer the commandment to love one another, instead of despising and/or giving no hope for the hopeless.  It shows the agape love of Jesus in action.”

For the last 12 years, Mia has taught every child who walks through her doors how to paint, starting mostly with flowers and other still life pieces. It began as therapy and then led to competitions and even scholarship opportunities around Romania.

But these newer paintings veer away from the typical bouquet taught by Mia in the first years.

Each one is unique. They show a developed confidence and creativity. Children who walked through our doors twelve years ago unsure of who they were are now expressing themselves through art, just as they do in their schoolwork and relationships with others.

For us, these paintings represent more than the great talent it took to create them, or even the hope displayed through the show in Iraq: they are a symbol of how far we’ve come, of how beautifully the family at Mia’s Children has grown up.