Caravan is one of the Children's Ministry programmes. It was started in 1930 by a layman named LeRoy Haynes. He was concerned about boys and girls, and envisioned a programme that would teach life-styles that go along with Nazarene beliefs and the doctrine of Holiness.

How do you begin Caravan ministry in your local church or district?

You can learn more about Caravan by ordering a manual, How to Begin Caravan? from the Literature Office. The manual is a leader’s guide on how to start the programme in the local church and has been adapted for Africa Region. The local church must appoint a local Caravan director who must read through the manual. When setting up the programme, it is recommended that teachers be assigned to a class of from 8 to 12 pupils. A small class helps the teacher and students to interact, build relationships, and do more as a class. It also helps to reduce discipline problems.

Caravan structure is very flexible and adaptable to any size church. The pupils are categorised into three groups. The first group is called Searchers which combine children in first and second grade at school. The Explorer is the second group and it combines third and fourth grade pupils. The third group is Adventurer which combines fifth to sixth/seventh grade pupils.

Plan the year. Set starting and ending dates for the Caravan year. Mark dates Caravan will not meet due to holidays or church events, such as revivals. Set dates for Caravan ceremonies (induction, Badge, Graduation). Plan the Caravan Sunday, usually the third Sunday of October. Plan the registration date. Explain the record-keeping procedure each teacher is to follow. Prepare a six-year individual record form for each child. Prepare a Caravan calendar. Discuss policies (discipline, worker absence, child absence, location, budget, etc.).

Remember that Caravan is a weekly kids club committed to the physical, social, mental, and spiritual growth of children. It uses an active, hands-on learning approach to help kids discover, develop, experience and grow. Caravan teaches the Articles of Faith of the Church of the Nazarene, information about prominent figures in Nazarene church history, and valuable skills to help them develop spiritually, socially, mentally and physically.

For more information on the Caravan ministry, go to www.caravan.nazarene.org.