Latest
News #290
November 11, 2004
The following news concerns the United Arab Emirates.
Just
for Kids team enthrals all ages
in the United Arab Emirates
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| Delight clearly expressed on the faces of children at the performance given by the Just for Kids drama and music troupe at the Dubai Evangelical Church Centre during its tour of the UAE in October 2004. Photo: Bible Society in the Gulf. (GUL04DJ-8.JPG) |
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — Despite its name, it was not just children who were captivated by the performances put on by the Just for Kids drama and music troupe during its tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in October. At each venue, it did not take long for adults and children alike to join in enthusiastically with the singing, dancing and sketches presented by the troupe's five members.
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| Adults and children alike flocked to see the performance given by the Just for Kids drama and music troupe in Sharjah during its tour of the UAE in October 2004. Photo: Bible Society in the Gulf. (GUL04DJ-6.JPG) |
Having heard how successful the Lebanon-based program has already been in presenting the Scriptures in countries including Iraq (see Latest News #202), Syria and Jordan, the Bible Society in the Gulf arranged for the troupe to undertake a tour which began in the UAE before moving on to Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait. This venture formed part of the Society's Year of the Bible 2004 initiative, through which it is joining with other Bible Societies in the Middle East to emphasise the relevance of the Bible message (see Latest News #265).
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| A clown was one of the characters who entertained children at the performance given by the Just for Kids drama and music troupe in Jebel Ali during its tour of the UAE in October 2004. Photo: Bible Society in the Gulf. (GUL04DJ-9.JPG) |
In the UAE alone, the Just for Kids performances in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah and Dubai were attended by more than 2,000 children and a similar number of adults from the Christian community. The troupe was able to convey timeless spiritual truths with such creativity, dramatic skill and lightness of touch that it had audiences laughing with delight and excitement. Children and adults alike were soon on their feet, clapping and singing along with the performers.
Many of the adults commented afterwards on the effectiveness of using music and drama to help children understand the Bible. The children's faces, too, were full of smiles as they left. Each child will now receive a copy of the Book of Hope, which presents the story of the life of Jesus as told in the Gospels, to reinforce what was presented to them so entertainingly. (313 words - UAE.11.11.04)Photographs are available to accompany this story. For more information or to order, please contact the UBS Photo Department.
For further information please contact Andrew Mathewson, UBS Editor.
Alternatively, write to:
Andrew Mathewson
UBS Editor,
UBS World Service Center
Reading Bridge House, 7th Floor
Reading
RG1 8PJ
England