4myboys, I find this thread interesting and I am praying for you. Our church uses Orange, as well. Up until January, I volunteered one Sunday a month in our K-5th class (up to 50 kids a week). The previous church we attended used Orange and I liked it for preschoolers there. When my daughter entered kindergarten, it just didn’t fit the way they set it up. Part of the issue there was the class and volunteer setup. We found out new church and really, our first church home almost 4 years ago. They have been using Orange the entire time. First and foremost, I concluded what mattered most was my husband and I’s spiritual growth. If we weren’t growing, who were we to model and teach out children? Then, I began volunteering in the classroom…partially to try to see how the curriculum for K-5th worked. My issue is the same as you stated:
“Our biggest problem isn’t that it’s light on Bible content — I can generally expand on the story without difficulty when I am leading a group — our problem is that the lessons start in the wrong place. They choose a virtue first, then say “where do we find a bible story to illustrate this”, rather than going to the Biblical text and saying “what is God showing us about Himself here and how should we respond”.”
Just a few months ago, I had an Ah-ha moment with the curriculum though. The core values ARE being instilled in my children. Now that my daughter is 9 and has been in the same classroom for 4 years, she also gets the Bible stories. I still wish it was reversed but I realize the motive of Orange. . . for the kids to have those repetitive Life App mottos become second nature to them – based on Biblical stories. For example, “I will treat others as I want to be treated.” Just the last couple of months, I see my daughter connecting the Biblical reasoning behind it versus the nice thing to do.
Please do come back and share what you find and decide on. Personally, this decision is not up to me in my church but I’m not afraid to give input. I’m going to check out the Gospel Project. And I have to say, the leaders make all the difference in our church versus previous experience. They do tweak discussions based on what is going on in the kids lives and they have worship time and more.