March 8, 2005

Two North Carolina United Methodist pastors and a print shop owner have created an interactive card to give children and youth a way to learn Bible verses as they make a cross.

The three men came up with a concept of Fun + Scripture = Memory Cross.

Memory Cross is an interactive card that puts God's word at the tips of young fingers and into their hearts. The cards are designed in the Origami style (a Japanese paper-fold) and each card contains a selected Scripture. As a card is flipped and folded, words are revealed with the last few words of the Scripture ending in the shape of a cross.

The Rev. Andy Lambert, Western North Carolina Conference General Evangelist, has been on a mission to connect young people with ways to learn Scripture. "For years I've looked for a fun, engaging way to get Scripture into kids' heads and hearts," he said. "When I couldn't find what I liked I came up with my own idea."

Lambert pitched the idea of a card and cross to the Rev. Bill Gibson, associate pastor of Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church, Greensboro, N.C. and Mike Vitamvas, owner of a printing business in High Point, N.C. Gibson and Vitamvas thought the idea good, but could not visualize it. Then pieces started to come together, Lambert said.

"One day I just started folding paper and when I made the shape of a cross, I thought that I should pursue trying to create something that works." Last year the three men spent months working on a design for the card that would be attractive, fun and informational. They officially launched Memory Cross, Inc. in January and have been promoting the product exclusively through http://www.memorycross.com.

According to Gibson, company vice president and product developer, Lambert's "idea is genius...I'm a technology geek when it comes to gadgets and such, and that is what fascinates me the most about the Memory Cross. It is really cool, simple to use, effective and oddly enough, low-tech."

Memory Cross is targeted for children ages 4-13 and the use of striking colors and graphics also make it attractive to youth and adults. Memory Cross can be used in many ways, designers say. Parents can use the cards at home. Camps can use them during devotional times. Churches may use in Sunday school classes and during children's sermons.

It is believed that if the cards are used on a regular basis, children could learn 52 Bible verses a year.

"This Scripture memory method is the coolest, most ingenious way to learn and memorize Bible verses," Lambert said. "Learning Scripture will transform lives, children love gadgets and hands-on learning, and children (and everyone else) memorize longer sentences by breaking them into small sections," he said.

While Memory Cross may be a fun way to learn Scripture, Vitamvas says the lesson learned will sustain children in the future.

"Initially kids love the way it (the card) flips around, but by using this simple tool they will memorize God's Word...When they start struggling with things that are going on in their life, the verses they learned will come back to them." Vitamvas is the secretary and treasurer of Memory Cross and is responsible for production, product development and marketing.

Lambert says that Memory Cross is catching on and the possibilities are endless. The product has expanded to offer customized messages and blank cards.

For more information about Memory Cross, Inc. or about the cards, visit http://www.memorycross.com/.

United Methodist News Service