A Missions Conference Just for Kids

Have you or your children participated in a MFV children’s rally or story-time? Children are often impacted in a big way by hearing missions workers tell stories of God working in lands where few have heard of Him.


A Missions Conference Just for Kids

Ukraine has great potential and desire to send missionaries to unreached people groups — and today’s youth likely will be some of those sent. SEND Ukraine missionary Jayne Russell believes children can play a great role in missions, even at their tender age.

“Children can pray, give money, and serve others as stepping stones to a life commitment of becoming missionaries or supporting missionaries,” Jayne said. “We want children to globally live and think. A call to missions can happen even at a very young age.”

To that end, Jayne and several other SEND Ukraine missionaries partnered with a team of Ukrainian ladies who had a vision for putting on the First Children’s Missions Conference of Ukraine. Adult missions conferences may be PowerPoint-heavy events, but this one was, in a word, FUN!

Nearly 300 children went on “safari,” received “stamps” in their conference passports, walked with buckets of potatoes on their heads, made African drums, and searched for answers to questions about the country of Zambia.

They got a taste of what life is like for cross-cultural workers when they tried to learn a Bible verse in a foreign language. They heard first-hand accounts from two current missionaries — one Ukrainian and one American.

Through a skit, the children learned that no missionary goes to the field alone. Missions takes prayer support and financial support as well as spiritual care for the missionary. The kids made piggy banks to encourage them to give to missions, and they made wordless bracelets to encourage them to share the gospel wherever God leads them.

“We planted seeds for missions in the hearts of children,” Jayne said. “Children need to understand that culture is different, but the need for salvation remains the same. Only God will know the full impact of this event.”


Reprinted with permission from SEND International

Series: Mission Workers’ Perspectives

See all Read more...
Article

Leaving a Legacy

What does it mean to leave a legacy? Leaving a legacy when you're gone to serve the Kingdom Read more Read more...

Article

Why Local and Global Missions Need Each Other

"God has been in the business of pushing his people out of their current context and sending them into the wider world." Read more Read more...

Article

A Transition Toolbox

For when you look like a local but don't FEEL like a local Read more Read more...

Article

Are We Serving Orphans?

Disturbing facts about the orphanage model are causing many churches to rethink their strategy for orphan ministry. Read more Read more...

More on Mission Central

Article

To the Ends of the Earth (and around the corner)

Dr. Lockhart shared at a Mission Central round-table discussion for mission leaders and pastors, in Oct 2018. Read more Read more...

Article

Radical Discipleship: Mark 1:14-20

The good news is a call to liberation for the oppressed and the oppressors. It’s a call to leave everything. Read more Read more...

Article

7 Secrets to Being a Missionary in Your Golden Years

How old is too old to be a missionary? Is there really an ideal missionary age? Read more Read more...

Devotional

Altar Vision Devotional - Week 6

If God doesn’t control all my life, does he have any of my life? Read more Read more...

Devotional

Idols and Mighty Deeds

God desires that he is the only one to whom we direct our worship, and one of the reasons is so that His power can be demonstrated in our lives. Read more Read more...

Article

A Powerful Ministry Tool

How significant are these moments? Only the Lord knows. I do know they have warmed my heart, given me fresh perspective. Read more Read more...

Article

Global Mission: Still an Urgent Task?

Celebrating Lausanne's 40th anniversary in 2014 sparked many conversations and reflections about time and purpose. Read more Read more...

Article

Easter: Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Social Isolation

How do we break the cycle of social isolation? Read more Read more...