Many write for adults and few are those who write for children. Also, many occupy themselves talking with adults, but rare are those who love to talk to children.

So, sometimes children feel they are not the core of attention and respect of adults, and accordingly they try to draw their attention by many ways, perhaps by outcry or stubbornness or (naughtiness).

In this book, we need to talk about the child, his mentality and how to relate to him and gain his love, and to serve him spiritually, socially and culturally.

Because the child is the first cell of the society and the church, if we gain him, we win an entire generation, and if we lose him we lose the future of the generation we live in, and consequent loss of the other generations.

I personally love children and love to joke, play, talk and make friends with them. In childhood I find innocence, truth and openness, as well as the quick response which we lack in adults.

This book is not the outcome of a study of books of psychology and education, but the result of personal experiences with the children in Sunday School or at the numerous meetings at the Church, and with families, kindergartens, clubs, etc...

I offer this book as a present to those responsible for education at church and also at home and those concerned with children. I gave many lectures on this subject; the most recent was at St. George’s Church, Sporting, Alexandria in August 1992, at the “Week of the Child” prepared by Rev. Fr Tadros Yacoub Malaty, may God bless his sincere efforts to serve the stage of childhood.

Pope Shenouda III

It gives me great joy to dedicate this first publication to:

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark

Commemorating his fortieth anniversary as Bishop of Christian Education
30 September 2002

His Holiness Pope Shenouda I11 has been and still is instrumental in teaching his people all aspects of Christian faith. His knowledge of the Scriptures, the rich heritage of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, its history and doctrine is an inspiration to all those millions of people that have come to know him.

Through his weekly sermons at St. Mark Cathedral in Cairo, his many books (over 100 in fact), his thousands of articles in newspapers and magazines and his lectures at the Theological College we come to have a real sense of this great teacher and preacher of our time. All of this has earned him the title of "Best preacher in the world" in 1978 as well as many honorary PhD's from renowned universities all around the world.

Knowing that I am unworthy, yet I have personally tasted what it means to be his disciple at the Papal residence at St. Bishoy monastery in Wadi El-Natroun (4th century Scetis) and to learn from his fountain of knowledge, spirituality and humility.

We ask the Lord God Almighty to preserve the life of our honoured pontiff, His Holiness Pope Shenouda I11 for many more blessed and peaceful years to come and that he may continue to educate his people and lead them to salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord

THE SPIRITUAL MINISTRY

H. H. POPE SHENOUDA III