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July 20, 2001

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Computers draw youth to Sunday school

By John M. De Marco

MERRITT ISLAND — Most children seem to love computers, but not as many feel the same way about church or, in particular, Sunday school. One teacher at North Merritt Island United Methodist Church has found a way to bring the worlds of computers and Christianity together.

Les Cottrell, retired from the Boeing company at Cape Canaveral, spent the last portion of his career in what started out as unfamiliar territory: writing computer software. Cottrell has worked for the past several years maneuvering a new wineskin through what has long been pleasant and recognizable territory for him, working with children at North Merritt Island.

Cottrell teaches a class of about half a dozen third- to sixth-graders using eight networked computers that incorporate the “Bible Zone” study series. Lessons guide students through a Bible verse and story, as well as an interactive play. The software features the now-ubiquitous HyperText Markup Language [HTML], providing the look and feel of the World Wide Web.

“The biggest enhancement is that kids will come to Sunday school that have never been interested in coming to Sunday school,” Cottrell told the Review. “It’s the same material, except for the enthusiasm generated by being able to sit at a computer. Many of them have computers at home, but a few do not. On occasion we’ll have someone brand new to computers, and we’ll sit down with them and help them.”

Cottrell has taught the class for about six years. When he began using computers, Cottrell used four Timex/Sinclair machines, similar to the old Commodore 64s. Eventually, a Boeing office donated five IBM-type computers. Church members have donated more machines.

Students are generally allowed to play a few computer games near the end of the class, a popular draw.

“When I first, as a teenager, received the call, I thought ‘I’d like to commit my life to Christ, but I don’t want to be a missionary and go to Africa,’ ” Cottrell said. “That’s what I thought committing your life meant. After months of worrying about this, I said, ‘Okay, God, we’ll do it your way.’ That was probably the first time I heard God speak to me. It was 10 years before I recognized what he really wanted me to do, and I’ve been involved with youth ever since.”

Cottrell’s career path paved the way for his current ministry to the children. During the early 1980s he was laid off from Boeing, and then went to work for Florida Power & Light for a few years. An opportunity to again work with Boeing arose, with his supervisor telling him he would write computer software at a time when commonplace use of computers was in its beginning stage. “I said, ‘I’m going to do what?’” Cottrell recalled.

Parents of the children have responded favorably to Cottrell’s unique method for teaching the class. “I’ve only heard positive feedback. Usually, it’s, ‘You’re doing a wonderful thing. My kid never wanted to come to Sunday school before,’” he said.

Cottrell and his wife, Joan, helped organize the church about 10 years ago. Joan also sponsors a young adult class. “We refuse to get old,” Les said.


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© 2001 Florida United Methodist Review Online