How do you get preteens interested in missions?

“One of the most exciting elements of working with young people at church is this idea of developing Christlike habits in their lifestyles before they grow up to be the uninvolved adults we all-too-often see sitting in our pews. While kids are young, they are teachable and moldable.[1]

          Involve preteens with teen missions projects.  Preteens want to do anything that the teens are doing.  So expose them to good role models by getting them involved in supporting your youth group’s members as they prepare for a missions trip.  One church has the junior department host a spaghetti dinner in order to raise funds for the high school’s missions trip.  The high schoolers recognize and thank their preteen supporters in church when they return from their outreach.

          Expose preteens to interesting missionaries…and only interesting missionaries.  Not every person called to the field is gifted to work with children.  Don’t bore your students by parading every visiting missionary through your preteens department.  Be selective and help each guest prepare by suggesting he or she share hands-on artifacts, cultural snacks or games that are common to the foreign field.

          Connect preteens with real kids.  One way to hook kids’ interest is to have them financially support a child through a relief agency like Compassion International,[2] Children International,[3] Food for the Hungry,[4] “Operation Christmas Child” through Samaritan’s Purse,[5] or Reach International.[6]  (Elsie – Might these organizations be placed in a sidebar?)

Another way is to help your students get to know kids just like themselves who are serving with their families on the mission field.  Have your kids send care packages, including videotapes of favorite shows, tapes or CDs of new artists, and of course, favorite foods not available on the field.  Throw a party for the missionary family when they return home for visits.  And have your students correspond with their piers, especially on birthdays and holidays. 

[1] Gordon & Becki West, Dynamic Preteen Ministry (Group Publishing, 2000), page 150.

[2] Compassion International may be reached at 3955 Cragwood Drive, P.O. Box 7000, Colorado Springs, CO 80933 or 1-800-336-7676.

[3] Children International, P.O. Box 419413, Kansas City, MO 64179-0613

[4] Food for the Hungry, P.O. Box E, Scottsdale, AZ 85252

[5] Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or 1-800-353-5949

[6] Reach International, P.O. Box 34, Berrien Springs, MI 49103 or 1-800-869-1412