Wanting to encourage grandparents, parents, and children to know more about the Bible, Penn Valley Church, a Grace Brethren congregation in Telford, Pa. (Tim Boal, multi-site network executive director) has launched the e100 Challenge – a 100-day Bible reading program created by Scripture Union.
This is definitely not your father’s (or your mother’s) flannel board full of stories.
“The e100 Challenge is comprised of 100 of the basic Bible stories. And we’re challenging everyone to spend [time] each day reading the passage,” says Michelle Kane, communications director for the multi-site church, which also includes campuses in nearby Warrington and along the Route 422 corridor. Stories include the birth of Moses; the relationships of Joseph, Jacob, and Esau; the Tower of Babel; and more.
Currently being utilized on the Bux-Mont (Warrington) and Telford campuses, the program is supplemented with a blog. (See pennvalleychurchnetworkblog.blogspot.com.)
“[The pastors] are adding questions and things to think about that coincide with each day’s reading,” stresses Kane. For example, the story of Joseph being sold into slavery asks “Is it good for parents to love one child more than the other children?”
“I’m sure it would bring up a lot of fun conversations of who’s the favorite!” Kane speculates.
The e100 Challenge involves all generations. Kane explains that they are “trying to encourage families to make it part of their dinner table talk.”
When asked about the goals of the program, Kane says, “[developing] a deeper knowledge of God’s word; that it would be more at the tip of your brain than perhaps it used to be. And I think developing that muscle of spending time in devotionals.” – by Andrea Skowronski