Ep. 22: Not Just a Story: Bringing the Christmas Story to Life with Michelle Pinkston

Today, we have Michelle Pinkston, Global Director of the Prestonwood Christian Learning Center, discussing a special event called "The Journey to Bethlehem," aimed at teaching young children about the birth of Jesus. She has a passion for teaching young children the truth of the Gospel in age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate ways. In this podcast episode, Michelle talks with Monica about a special program called "The Journey to Bethlehem" that she implements in her Christian preschool. The program aims to bring the story of Jesus' birth to life for young children and help them understand the true meaning of Christmas. Michelle describes how the program is structured, with children dressing up in costumes, going on a journey to Bethlehem, interacting with different characters like shepherds and a tax collector, and ultimately arriving at the nativity scene. She also explains how teachers can adapt the program for their own classrooms, even if they don't have the resources for a large-scale production. Michelle emphasizes the importance of making the story experiential and engaging for children, as well as providing tangible take-home items like ornaments and devotionals for them to share with their families. Monica and Michelle discuss the impact of the program on children and their families and the potential long-term effects of introducing young children to the story of Jesus' birth. Monica ends the episode by discussing the generational impact of sending kids home with excitement for the story of Jesus' birth. How will you make the bible come alive this Christmas season? Do something a little extra special and watch the wonder and awe of young children reignite your own faith as well.   We have several Journey to Bethlehem resources available for you HERE including the devotional Michelle talked about in the episode.   As always, we would love to connect with you on Instagram HERE and on Facebook HERE.