The truth is there are goers and senders in the call to missions. Goers are those who actually go to the local or international destination to share the gospel. Senders are the ones who pray, help raise funds, support, and prepare missionaries to go! Both are necessary and we as followers of Jesus are called to one or the other or both. Teach this to your children.
I’ve been wrestling with something lately both as a mom and a KidMin leader. Are we teaching our children to have a heart for the Nations? Do we disciple them to love and champion and obey the Great Commission?
As church cultures are changing and family schedules are becoming busier, kids are going to church less and less. Therefore, we have to use every opportunity that we have to teach kids the gospel and then help foster an urgency for them to share their faith with others. This includes their community, their city, and unreached people groups in foreign nations.
KidMin leaders only see kids 1-2 hours per week at the most. Therefore, we need to make the most of our teaching hours on Sunday mornings and any other time during the week, always including stories of missionaries and those who have not heard the gospel. We need to equip parents to embrace the Great Commission at home, teaching their children what it means to go make disciples.
We must ask ourselves these questions: Who are the next goers and senders to the unreached? How are we preparing our children to say yes?
This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come (Matthew 24:14, HCSB).
Jana Magruder serves as the Director of Kids Ministry Publishing. Jana brings a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and curriculum writing. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children attend Forest Hills Baptist Church where she teaches The Gospel Project to preteen girls.
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