So missions week comes around and I'm scrambling trying figure out how teach kids about missions without just lecturing them about far away places they've never heard of.
Last year was disaster. Found these worksheets online about different countries. Kids colored flags learned couple facts. Emma asked why people in Africa don't just buy food at grocery store like we do. Tommy wanted know if missionaries have WiFi.
Realized they had zero clue what missions actually means or why anyone would leave home help people somewhere else. Just seemed like weird grown-up thing that didn't connect to their real lives.
This year tried different approach. Instead talking about missions did missions. Right here. With real problems they could actually see and touch and understand.
Way better. Kids got excited. Parents got involved. Even had some families start doing missions stuff at home because kids wouldn't stop talking about helping people.
Operation Christmas Child but Make It Local
Everyone knows Operation Christmas Child. Ship shoeboxes overseas. Kids love picking out toys and toothbrushes.
But this year we also did shoeboxes for homeless shelter downtown. Kids could actually visit and meet people who would get their boxes.
Sarah's daughter Emma was confused why adults would need toys. Explained how sometimes people lose everything and small gifts remind them someone cares.
Next week Emma brought her favorite stuffed animal wanted add to box. "Because maybe someone's really sad and needs something soft hug."
Way more meaningful when kids can connect gift to actual person instead abstract idea of child far away.
Sponsor Family Right Here
Instead sponsoring child other country we sponsored family from our community who was struggling.
Single mom with three kids. Dad left. Lost job. Behind on rent. Food stamps running out.
Kids collected money from allowances. Helped buy groceries. Made cards and pictures. Even helped mom find job by telling their parents about her situation.
Tommy's dad hired her to clean his office. Lisa's mom helped with childcare so she could work. Community rallied around family because kids made it personal.
Kids learned missions isn't just about sending money far away. It's about noticing needs right where you live and doing something about them.
Refugee Simulation Game
Set up stations around room like border crossing refugee camp food distribution medical clinic.
Kids had to navigate with limited resources. Carry everything they "owned" in small bag. Wait in long lines for basic needs.
Sounds maybe too heavy for kids but they totally got it. Started understanding why people leave home countries. Why families risk everything for safety.
Mike's son asked if we could help real refugees. Led to partnership with local resettlement agency. Kids started collecting household items for new families.
Now they get excited every time new refugee family arrives because they know they're helping people start over.
Water Walk Challenge
Kids had to carry water containers from parking lot to building. Experience what it's like when clean water isn't available from tap.
Started with full gallon jugs. By end everyone was tired complaining about how heavy water is.
Then showed pictures kids their age walking miles every day just to get dirty water for families.
Emma immediately wanted know how we could help. Led to fundraiser for well drilling project. Kids did extra chores raise money.
But also started paying attention to how much water they waste at home. Missions lesson that changed daily habits.
Serve at Local Food Bank
Instead just collecting food actually took kids to food bank help sort and distribute.
Families signed up for shifts. Kids worked alongside adults. Saw real people coming for help.
Tommy was shocked that some people didn't have enough food. Started asking why government doesn't just give everyone what they need.
Great conversations about poverty and systems and how regular people can make difference.
Several families started volunteering regularly because kids loved helping so much.
Make No-Sew Blankets for Shelter
Simple project. Two pieces fleece tied together. Kids love cutting fringe and tying knots.
While working talked about people who don't have warm places sleep. How something simple like blanket can show love.
Lisa's daughter Sarah asked if people really sleep outside when it's cold. Hard conversation but important one.
Delivered blankets in person so kids could see actual shelter and meet some residents. Eye opening for everyone.
Friendship Bracelet Ministry
Kids made simple friendship bracelets during class time. Gave them to visitors new families anyone who seemed lonely.
Taught them about being missionaries right here by showing kindness to people around them.
Emma made extra bracelet for new girl at school who seemed sad. Started friendship that helped both girls.
Missions lesson that kids could actually practice every day not just think about during special weeks.
Pack Blessing Bags for Homeless
Small bags with snacks socks toothbrush gift card and encouraging note. Kids helped assemble everything.
Families kept bags in cars to give when they saw people asking for help.
Tommy's family started stopping to talk with homeless man they saw regularly. Learned his name his story. Kids drew pictures for him.
Transformed family's understanding of homelessness from problem to avoid to people to care about.
Adopt Grandparents at Nursing Home
Partnered with local nursing home. Kids "adopted" residents who don't get regular visitors.
Made cards and pictures. Visited monthly. Sang songs played simple games.
Residents loved having young energy around. Kids learned about loneliness and how their presence could brighten someone's day.
Sarah's family started visiting their "grandma" outside of group visits. Real relationships formed.
Missionary Pen Pals
Connected with missionary families our church supports. Kids wrote letters asked questions shared about their own lives.
Way more personal than just learning facts about countries. Kids got excited about responses.
Emma started praying for her pen pal family by name. Asked specific questions about their work and challenges.
Made missions feel like friendship instead just charity project.
What Doesn't Work
Just talking about missions without doing anything. Kids tune out abstract concepts.
Focusing only on far away places without connecting to local needs. Makes missions seem irrelevant to daily life.
Activities that feel like school assignments instead hands-on helping. Kids want to actually make difference.
Making it about how blessed we are compared to others. Creates superiority complex instead compassion.
What Actually Works
Hands-on activities where kids actively help real people with real needs.
Local connections they can see and visit and build relationships with.
Age appropriate ways to understand complex issues like poverty and displacement.
Opportunities for ongoing involvement not just one-time projects.
Family involvement so learning continues at home.
Results We're Seeing
Kids asking about missions throughout year not just during missions week.
Families starting their own service projects at home because kids are so motivated.
Children noticing needs around them and wanting to help instead just walking by.
Prayers becoming more specific and personal for people they've actually met or helped.
Understanding that missions isn't just something adults do far away but something they can participate in right now.
Planning Next Year
Want to add more local partnerships. Maybe adopt section of neighborhood for regular cleanups.
Thinking about having kids interview missionaries via video chat so they can ask real questions.
Planning service project every month instead cramming everything into missions week.
Want to connect with sister church in different country so kids can learn about global missions through friendship.
Real Goal
Not just teaching kids about missions. Helping them become people who naturally notice needs and want to help.
Creating habits of service that will last into adulthood.
Showing them that following Jesus means caring about other people especially those who are struggling.
When kids experience joy of helping others they don't need convinced to care about missions. They choose it because it feels good to make difference in someone's life.
That's what we're really going for.
