Scripture: 1 Samuel 20
Learning Objectives:
- Students will review Jonathan’s loyalty and friendship with David when he helped him escape far away from Saul.
- Students will write letters to pen pals with students from another community or country to form friendships with people of different backgrounds.
Guiding Question: How can we form new friendships by writing to people of different backgrounds?
Materials: paper, pencil, stamps, addresses of people from another church organization, mission site, etc.
Procedure: Review the story of David and Jonathan emphasizing their loyalty to each other despite David’s background as a shepherd and Jonathan’s background as King Saul’s son. Focus on how they were good friends even when David had to flee Saul’s anger. Set up correspondence with a church or other mission organization of another country. If you cannot set it up with another country, do it with another more local community that is different than the students’. Ideally, they could speak the same language.
Tell students that they can draw pictures for their friends or send photos. As a group, brainstorm topics that they can write about to help students get started. This can be hobbies, favorite foods, games, describe their geographic area, etc. Encourage students to focus on things that are not necessarily driven by economics or could lead to boasting/competition. Discuss some appropriate questions that they could ask their friends. Tell students that they can draw pictures for their friends or send photos. Discuss the appropriate format for a letter including the opening, describing yourself, asking questions, and concluding.
Additional Questions:
- How does writing to people from different backgrounds teach you about the world?
- How is this type of writing different than other letters that you have written? What makes it easier or more challenging?
Supplemental Activity: Students can research the geography and culture of their pen pal’s community. How does knowing more about your friend’s community, help you understand them better?
Written by: Savannah Negas