Boost the start of a new year in kids’ missions with a great kick-off. Consider using the first week of the new missions year with a kick-off event. Create excitement about the missions work around the world that preschoolers and children will learn about this year. A fun kick-off event gives a preview of the year to kids and parents.
Plan your kick-off with a big city theme to go along with the Meet Me in the City theme this year for Mission Friends, Girls in Action, Royal Ambassadors, and Children in Action. Showcase that kids will learn how God is at work in big cities around the world, from Miami to Kathmandu. Information about the cities can be found in the Meet Me in the City Promotion Pack, along with posters for display.
Decorate for your kick-off with a city skyline. Make a city landscape on a wall by showing tall buildings and bridges. Do you still have the taxi from the Big Apple Adventure VBS? Plan on using the taxi again as a prop or for photo ops. Another idea is to use maps of the various cities in making a banner or backdrop.
Prepare several activities or games related to the cities, and have a corner food cart with refreshments. Give each child a passport that will be stamped with the city for each month throughout the year. A passport template is available in the Meet Me in the City Promotion Pack. Provide sign-up sheets for parents to enroll their children in your missions ministry.
For your kick-off, consider having a ministry project for kids to do at the event, such as bringing school supplies and sorting them into backpacks for children in need. Or use the event to kick off a longer-term ministry project such as preparation of shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Help kids to see that missions is more than learning about different places, but also involves sharing God’s love with others ourselves.
Kids have a lot to look forward to in kids’ missions ministry this year. As you kick off the year of missions experiences for kids, say a prayer that during this year God will place the people in these cities on the hearts of kids in your church.
This post was written by guest blogger Joye Smith, Preschool Ministry Consultant, WMU.
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