God has created a very diverse world with many different types of places. Latin America and the Caribbean have rural areas, cities, islands and deserts. In each of these unique locations people need to hear the Gospel. We have no greater gift than to share the Gospel and there is no place God cannot reach. He asks those who believe in Him to share His story, which means physically taking the Gospel to these many different places. God can use you, too!
Take a look at a slideshow to see all the different types of places missionaries can serve. Click HERE
•How are the places you just saw are different and how they are alike?
• Even though these places are different, each one is filled with people who need Jesus.
That’s why God sends missionaries all over the world to work in every type of place He has created.
• Do you know where these different pictures are from? All of these were from Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Show the Latin America and Caribbean map and use the map’s key to point out some of the very different places found in this part of the world. ClickHere to watch a video about a family serving as missionaries in Brazil. 1. What are some of the needs that you saw in this video? 2. Take time to pray for the people that the Reese's are working with.
In some places of the world, missionaries are not welcome and being a follower of Jesus can be dangerous. People living in these places may not believe in Jesus. They may put their faith in other people and things. They may follow other religions. It can be hard for people living in these places to change the way they’ve thought and believed to follow Jesus. Sometimes the governments and leaders of these places want to control what people believe. They don’t want their people to hear about Jesus and change the way they live and what they believe. But God loves the people living in these unnamed places and He wants us to be a part of His work there.
Today we are going to take a look at one of those places. The name of the place won't be shared to protected the missionaries. We are going to watch a video about Avery Claman, whose parents are Christian workers in an unnamed place. Since we can’t show Avery, his friend, Adam, will tell us the Clamans’ story.
Discussion- 1. Have you child sit for a minute in the quiet. Have them imagine there is an angry mob outside their door.
How would you feel?
What would you do?
2. How did the Claman family respond to the attacks on their house? 3. Read the following verse- Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.’”
What Jesus means when He says to take up our cross and follow Him?
(Jesus’ cross was the physical cross. He was obedient to God by dying on the cross to save those who believe in Him. Jesus asks believers to be like Him. We need to be obedient to do whatever God asks us to do.)
4. We don’t typically need to worry about people wanting to cause us harm for sharing about Jesus. In the video, Adam asks what we can do to be obedient to Jesus. Ask kids to share some of their ideas.
Whether you are giving our time, our prayers, our money or our lives, God asks us to be obedient to follow Him, too. We can be a part of what God is doing now. Our task is no different from that of believers living and working in these unnamed places.
Prayer time- Take time to pray for missionaries who are working in areas that are not safe for Christians. Pray for their safety. Also pray that God would soften the people's hearts who they are working with so that they can hear the Good News. Also be praying that God would show your family how you can be involved in missions- maybe locally, supporting missionaries or praying for missionaries.
As Christians, our mission field starts at home and stretches throughout the world. It’s the same for missionaries who live in another country. Caroline is a missionary kid who lives in Thailand. She knows that “home” is an important mission field for her. She has learned to appreciate the Thai culture so that she can share Christ with her friends.
Find Thailand on the map.
Facts about Thailand-
•Thailand is a Buddhist country in Southeast Asia. We will learn more about Buddhism today. • Thailand is known as “the land of smiles” because Thai people are friendly and very polite.
• What was your favorite scene? Is there something that you would want to visit? • Did any of you notice scenes of the Buddhists? (Consider playing the video back and pausing on one of the pictures of Buddhists at the temple).
What is Buddhism-
Buddhism teaches that there is no god, but Buddhists worship many idols and statues.
Buddhist's goal is "enlightenment"- a state of peace and ultimate wisdom.
Buddhists believe a person can reach enlightenment through strict discipline, study and by performing good works.
Buddhist often mix their beliefs with different religions and cultures.
Many are also animists, which means they believe spirits inhabit the natural world like trees and rivers
Discuss the differences between Buddhism and Christianity. For each fact about Buddhism, can your kidsexplain what Christians believe?
Most people in Thailand do not know Jesus. Missionaries who live there are telling the people about Jesus. The Thai people enjoy many festivals. Missionaries use these festivals as witnessing opportunities. They know they have to share Jesus at home and around the world, just like we do.
Let's take a look at Caroline in Thailand! Click here
Discussion-
• Caroline, other Christian workers and Thai Christians want to find ways to tell people around them about Jesus. • How did you see Caroline sharing the love of Jesus? • What are some ways that you can tell people around them about Jesus?
One important way that Christians witness is by telling people what Jesus means to them.
Take a few minutes to think about what Jesus means to you. (Parents you may need to help your kids think through this by first sharing what Jesus means to you.) If you are struggling have kids talk about what it feels like to know that Jesus loves them.
Have your child role play with you and practice sharing what Jesus means to them. Have them imagine that they are sharing with a friend that they know doesn't know Jesus.
Prayer Wrap up- Take some time as a family to pray for Thailand. Here are some suggestions. • For Buddhists to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. • For missionaries to find chances to share Jesus’ love. • For Thai people to have Bibles in their own language. • For missionaries to have things they need. • For new churches to start in Thailand.
When missionaries make their home in another country, they make new friends. These friendships
often lead to opportunities to tell people about Jesus. Caroline’s parents are missionaries. Her family
lives in Thailand, but they used to live in India. Wherever Caroline lives, she tells her friends about Jesus.
We need to make sure we’re telling our friends about Jesus, too.
In the video, You will see what it’s like for people who call India “home.”
Discussion Questions-
• What unusual things did you see that they would not see in the U.S.?
• What do they think it would be like to make friends in India?
• Ask your child to tell you about how they met one new friend at school this year?
• Missionaries around the world have to make new friends whenever they move. Those friendships
are important because they make their place feel like “home.” Those friendships also lead to
opportunities for them to share about God.
• Missionary kids in India get to experience many different things in India, but mostly they get to do what all kids do when having fun with their friends. Children in India love to play badminton and a sport called cricket. They also like to hang out, eat snacks, fly kites and draw pictures.
A friend thing
Henna is an important part of Indian culture. It is temporary
artwork drawn on the skin., is a major part of some cultures. Women put
beautiful designs on their hands and feet for special occasions.
Friends gather to share stories and share artwork. The
special, temporary dye used is made from the Henna plant. Chrisitan workers living in places like India often gather with their
friends and use the art as a way to share about Jesus. They will make
special designs on their hands and feet that tell stories from the
Bible.
Click here to open a file of sample Henna patterns that tell a Bible story. Using a magic marker let your child draw the picture on their hand. If you would like a less messy option, trace their hand onto a piece of paper and then draw design. If you would like, You can find intricate henna patterns and how missionaries are using henna art with their friends at www.hennastories.org.
Focus Verse-
This is My command: Love one another as I have
loved you. No one has greater love than this,
that someone would
lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:12-13
• Ask:
What did Jesus command us to do?
How do we love each other like Jesus loves us? (Jesus showed love to his friends and prayed for His friends and we should pray for our friends, too.)
What did Jesus do for us?
Prayer Points-
-Thank God for missionaries around the world who are sharing Jesus with their friends.
-Ask God to help you to see and meet friends who need to hear about Jesus.
-Also ask God to give you the courage to share!
-Pray for a specific friend that you know who doesn't know Jesus.
Welcome families from Extreme and Adventure Zone! To start off your weekly challenge, please click here and watch the short video that comes up.
Missionaries often have to move – sometimes to a different house, sometimes to a different
country. Wherever they go, they learn to make a home with their families and find out how God wants to use them right where they are. Caroline’s parents are missionaries and her family has lived in several Asian countries. She went on a trip to visit China, a country that her family used to call “home.” Today her family serves the Lord in a new home in Thailand. Wherever home is for us, we can serve the Lord, too.
In the next video Caroline will tell you about her trip to China.
Discussion Questions for your child-
• What new things did you see in the video about China?
• Ask kids to think about what it might be like to live in a country where the language is different. Would
you enjoy the challenge? Or would you be afraid?
• Ask them to think about what it would be like to live in a country where people do not go to church or
know about Jesus. Ask them to discuss ways they could talk about Jesus in that place.
Take a moment to read Jeremiah 29:11
“ ‘For I know the plans I have for you’ –
this is the Lord’s declaration –
‘plans for your welfare, not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope.’ ”
These verses were written for people who had to leave their homes a long time ago.
They were Israelites who had been sent to live in Babylon. The Israelites were sad that they had to
leave their homes. God told the people that they would have to live in Babylon for 70 years. God
wanted the people to live happily in Babylon and told them to pray for Babylon.
• How hard is it to write in another language? Can anyone read what they have written?
• Aren’t you glad that missionaries are willing to learn another language so they can tell others about
Jesus?
One way Christian workers share the Gospel in China is by teaching English. Sometimes,
Christian workers offer short English lessons at “English corners.” Chinese are often anxious to practice
their English and look forward to meeting at the corner or in the coffee shop or wherever they find
people willing to help them.
Now we're going to practice your Chinese! Click here!
Do you think that it would be easy to learn another language?
Missionaries learn other languages, but they also help people who want
to learn English. They use things like “English corners” to build
relationships with people. Sometimes they teach English using the Bible
or stories about Jesus. That way the people are learning English and
learning about Jesus at the same time!
Prayer Wrap-Up-
Thank God that Christians are willing to make their home in China, so people there can hear about
Jesus. Pray for their safety as they tell others about God. Also pray that God would help make you aware every day of chances you have to tell someone about Jesus.
Your child MAY be moving to the next classroom this Sunday, September 2nd.
Not sure where they go? - Zone 56: 5th & 6th graders - Extreme Zone: 3rd & 4th graders - Adventure Zone: 1st & 2nd grade - Wonder Zone: 4 year olds thru Kindergarten - Lil' Wonder Zone: 3 year olds - Nursery: babies - 2 year olds
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Did you know CrossWalk Kids gives their “regular” staff time off in July
and August each summer? It’s a chance for them to recharge and a
chance for others to serve short time with our kids. We like to call
this time in the summer, Fuel! Serve the World opportunity for ALL men, young and old(er) -
We have an opening for you to step up in July and August and help with
Fuel. We need you to come, hang out and have fun with a small group of
Elementary age boys during either first or second service. It's an
easy way to serve and you will receive training that will help you
succeed. And dads, if your son attends one of these classes, keep in
mind that this is a GREAT way to connect with your son!
Click Here to watch a video about a family serving as missionaries in Brazil. 1. What are some of the needs that you saw in this video? 2. Take time to pray for the people that the Reese's are working with.
