Raising Mission Heat in Kids’ Ministry (Part 1)

7/08/24

Growing the Mission-Minded Child

A few years ago, I had the privilege of leading the most mission-minded child.. This boy was in year 3 and he lived out being on mission for Jesus. There wasn’t a great heritage of overseas mission or local church leadership in the family. If anything, this boy was like most other young people in our churches. But he got mission in a way that I haven’t seen in many other young people. He had his mission temperature turned right up. (You’ll hear more of his story in the second article). While this boy stood out, imagine if this was the norm for churches.

In these two articles we’ll ask the question:

How do we raise the temperature for mission in our children’s ministry programs?

Often our first inclination is often to run an event, have a ‘bring your friend’ to our afternoon program (anyone else run a ‘bring a friend get a Freddo’ week?). Events can provide catalytic moments throughout a year but what if the necessity to raise the temperature for mission isn’t to do more or invite more, but it is to focus on the children that already attend our groups? How can we walk alongside them as their mission-mind is shaped by the gospel? Children find themselves in schools, sporting teams, clubs, families and other communities in which they can be on mission long before there is an invite to a particular program or event.

Here are five characteristics of kids that get mission. As we look at each of these briefly, some kids have these as a natural disposition, but they can all be learnt and developed.

1.  They know the gospel

First and foremost, kids who are focused on mission know and understand the gospel at an age-appropriate level. They understand who they are, who God is, that Jesus has saved them, that sin is a big problem for everyone. They grasp the reality of sin and hell. They understand that without Jesus there is no hope for the world. They understand the gospel and have a strong conviction of the gospel. They see their friends, family, their school etc. as people, if they don’t know Jesus, that desperately need to know Jesus.

2.  They want to see things change

Somewhere deep down, many kids want to see things change. That is, from a young age they want to contribute and be seen as active members of a community of faith. They want to not just contribute to the status quo but want to be able to make a difference as well. These are the children that attach themselves to a cause, or they agitate for change, or they are the ones that keep asking why things are the way they are. Children that have a heart and mind for mission take this one step further and can see the difference that knowing Jesus can have in the lives of their friends and families.

3.  They are orientated towards God and the other

These kids have an orientation towards God and His’s values in the world. They don’t just have the gospel conviction they also are aligning their values with God. They pray, they give, they act, and they serve. That is, they are engaged in their own personal discipleship of Jesus, and that is expressed both individually and in their Christian community. These are the kids that are looking out for the new kid on a Sunday morning. They are the kids who (sometimes annoyingly) want to help and contribute. They are the kids make sure the other kids are having a great time.

4.  They are filled with compassion

Mission-minded kids care deeply about others. These are the kids that might be that extra bit compassionate or empathetic. They might be that extra bit sensitive to the needs of others. They take on some of the burden of someone else. And they want to do something about it. They don’t just see someone in need, they want to help. They want to change things. Whether it is praying for them, or giving, doing things or serving together, kids who get mission have a disposition towards others.

5.  They have a sense of purpose and destiny

They realise that they are part of something bigger. While they are convicted of the gospel, they see their place in what God is doing in the world. They understand that they can make a real difference in history and that God has given them a purpose. This grows out of their conviction of the gospel, but if anything, they have internalised and made it personal. This is their mission not just Jesus’ mission.

To turn up the temperature for mission in our children’s groups we must first ask, are these the types of young people we are discipling in our churches? If not, what can you do to disciple young people in this way? It isn’t about having a week of your program dedicated to ‘being on mission.’ Rather, how are these types of conversations woven into everything that you do?

In the next article we will explore what we can do within our children’s ministry programs and groups to help turn up the heat on mission. We will also look at how we can partner with the children in our groups to see them on mission to their friends and families.