Children's mission: An outreach success story

BY KATHY MEADOWS
Mission Possible Kids

How can our church draw in more young families? It's a question we should ask if we want our church to grow. But, it's a question we must ask because we are called to reach out to those around us both in service and to draw more into the fold. Yet we're often held back by fear of pushing our beliefs on others, or worse, being seen as Holier-Than-Thou, Bible thumpers or some other less than desirable label. But there is an easy way to reach out to these families, even have them seek us out, an approach with no down side.

Give these families something they've been looking for, something they can't find anywhere else, something that will reach across denominational preferences and sometimes resistance to church in general. What can possibly break through these barriers? A captivating children's missions program.

Nothing melts a hardened heart quicker than seeing children strive to help others out of the goodness of theirs. People see that and they want their own children to be a part of it. Why? Because parents, whether they are involved in church or not, share a universal concern. How do I teach my child to be a responsible, caring human being? How can I get them to think beyond themselves to the needs of others?

There is no better way to change how kids see the world than allowing them to become active participants in changing it for the better. Give them hands-on opportunities to help others, opportunities that are usually not available until they are teens, and they will rise to the occasion. Show them they can change the world, and they will be changed in the process.

This is what the children's missions program MISSION POSSIBLE KIDS is designed to do. Elementary-aged kids work together to change the world as "special agents doing God's work." Whether they are making gifts for local children in need or helping the less fortunate in the far reaches of the world, they know their efforts really matter. They love "going on missions" to help others. Their spirits soar when for the first time they make a direct connection between what they are doing and God's purpose for their lives. God becomes real to them in ways they had never experienced before. They remain forever changed. . . and parents notice.

Parents love these options for their kids. You don't have to hammer them over the head with doctrine, just show them what's in it for their kids. They inherently understand this is what they've been looking for. Help parents with the solution to this one issue and families will automatically gravitate to your church.

Sound too good to be true? MISSION POSSIBLE KIDS has had amazing results. "Agents" are encouraged and rewarded for bringing friends. Kids don’t have the same insecurities about inviting people to church that adults do. They just know they’re having fun and want their friends to be a part of it. This approach has worked so well that as many as 10 percent of the kids involved in the program at Christ UMC did not go to church there, all coming from word-of-mouth and no outside promotion. Before long, new families were attending. Soon after, some were joining the church.

Another 20 percent were only marginally involved in the church when their kids began participating in MISSION POSSIBLE KIDS. They became so enthusiastic about what their kids were accomplishing that they began to seek out ways they could be involved in mission projects and other programs themselves—a win-win situation. And all the parents continually talk about how meaningful the experience has been for their kids.

After one mission project, parent and MISSION POSSIBLE KIDS leader Jan Leach said, "My daughter couldn't stop talking about it and telling others! I felt blessed that not only was she being given the tools through MISSION POSSIBLE KIDS to make a difference in our own community and around the world, but that the seal was being placed on her heart in a forever way to do God's work and be of service to others. What a truly great life lesson!"

Want to get young families involved at your church? Show them what you can do for their children. No matter how much Jesus had going on in "adult ministries," He never lost sight of the children, making a point to say, "Let the little children come to me." Give the children a reason to come, a way to make a difference. Let them take the lead and watch what happens.

MISSION POSSIBLE KIDS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering kids to change the world through helping others.

For more information, please visit www.mpkids.org or call 877-MPKIDS-1.