LEADER S GUIDE Four missions experiences on joining God s mission through giving Location: South Asia Focus verse: Psalm 96:3 (ESV), Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! Overall message: God wants all people in all nations to worship Him. He is worthy of their praise, and He loves them so much that He wants them to have eternal life. God has given us, as the church, the task to reach the nations. When we give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, we join the work of Christians dedicated to telling people about Jesus, making disciples and planting new churches. DJ is a missionary kid who used to live in South Asia. He went back to visit friends who are working there. As your kids learn about taking the gospel to people in South Asia, they will also discover that they can be a part of the task to reach the nations. This guide includes four missions experiences, each designed to be 10-15 minutes. You can use them as weekly experiences with your existing children s programs, or combine them for an hour-long Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO) focus. Decide if you will collect an offering within your class or children s department or encourage children to give of their own resources (allowance, birthday money, etc.) to the church-wide offering.
EXPERIENCE 1 From imb.org/childrensresources, download the video SOUTH ASIA: They matter to Jesus. Download and print the focus verse and the South Asia map. Set up two tables or stations in your room: one with a snack and water for each child and one with an assortment of Band-Aids or other small bandages. As children enter, they will pass by each table to have a snack and receive pretend medical care. This will help them identify with the children in South Asia they will learn about. If you d like to be authentic with a snack, have small bowls of rice or pieces of naan, a South Asian bread now commonly found in many U.S. grocery markets. Introduction As kids enter have them pass by each table. After they eat a snack, have them come to the medical table. Pretend to find a sore that needs a Band-Aid or an arm that needs a bandage, for example. After the kids have experienced the tables, ask them to gather in a circle to learn about kids in South Asia and Christians who are dedicated to telling them about Jesus. Explain that they will meet DJ, an IMB missionary kid who used to live in South Asia and now lives in Canada. He went back to South Asia to visit some Christian workers who live there. Tell them that they will watch a video and see kids who live in the slums but come to a children s center for food, medical care and Bible teaching. DJ will be their host. Different and the same Before the video, show the South Asia map and point out some of the countries like India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Play the SOUTH ASIA: They matter to Jesus video. After the video, ask them what they think life would be like as a slum child. What kind of love do Uncle Donald and Auntie Helen show the children? What s the most important thing they do for the children? (Tell them about Jesus.) Tell them that the money given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering helps support the work of people like Uncle Donald and Auntie Helen people who are willing to live and serve away from their homes in the U.S. to tell people about Jesus. As you close your time together, show the Because of Who He Is focus verse and read it together. Thank God that we can be a part of sharing His glory with all peoples in all nations.
EXPERIENCE 2 From imb.org/childrensresources, download and print the South Asia photos. Plan to show them to the kids and ask them to read the captions. Recap DJ is an IMB missionary kid who used to live in South Asia but now lives in Canada. He went back to visit Christian workers who minister to children who live in the slums. They also work to tell many people about Jesus and plant new churches for people who are new believers in Jesus. Because of who He is, God deserves the worship of all people in all nations. We help make this happen through our gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO). A visit to South Asia Explain that it s good to learn about the places where the Lottie Moon offering money goes. Distribute the South Asia photos and ask for volunteers to read the captions. As you look at each photo, discuss specific ways that money given to the offering might help the Christian workers. For example, looking at the photo of the auto-rickshaw, you might mention that Christian workers need money for transportation. If your group is big enough, divide kids into pairs or groups of three. If easier, plan to have the prayer time in one group. Take the South Asia photos and place them around the room. Give each group a piece of paper and pencil. Ask them to walk around the room. As kids stop at each photo, ask them to write on their paper one way they can pray for South Asians and Christian workers in South Asia. After each group has their list of prayer prompts, tell them to take time to pray. After each group is finished with their prayer times, voice a prayer asking God to provide for the needs of Christian workers all over the world. Thank Him that we can be a part of it through our gifts to missions.
EXPERIENCE 3 From imb.org/childrensresources, prepare to show the SOUTH ASIANS IN CANADA: Giving matters video. Download and print the South Asia acrostic. Have one for each child in your group. Recap DJ is an IMB missionary kid who used to live in South Asia but now lives in Canada. He went back to visit Christian workers who minister to children who live in the slums. They also work to tell many people about Jesus and plant new churches for people who are new believers in Jesus. Because of who He is, God deserves the worship of all people in all nations. We help make this happen through our gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO). Giving matters Show the SOUTH ASIANS IN CANADA: Giving matters video. Ask what kinds of things the Lottie Moon Offering might help provide for DJ and his family. (e.g., house, education, ministry supplies) Explain that some Christian workers and missionaries have the same needs. For example, every family needs food to eat! But some needs are different depending on where they live. In South Asia, DJ s family needed water filters because the water was not clean enough to drink. But in Canada, they can drink clean water from the faucet. In South Asia they did not need a car because they only used public transportation, like trains, buses and auto-rickshaws. In Canada, they need a vehicle big enough for their family of seven! Tell the kids that every dollar they give matters to the kingdom of God. When we give, we are providing what Christian workers need and joining them in their work. Because of who He is Distribute the South Asia acrostic activity sheets. Ask them to write one great thing about God, starting with each letter in the acrostic. They will see examples on the sheet. As time permits, ask them to share some of their answers. Use this as a time of praise to tell God how great He is. Thank God for who He is and that we can join Him in the work to reach all nations with the message of Jesus.
EXPERIENCE 4 From imb.org/childrensresources, download and print the South Asia map and the U.S. map. Display these side by side in your room. Bring yarn, tape and index cards or small pieces of paper to use for the map activity. Also download the Serve South Asia NOW document. Make a copy for each child. Recap DJ is an IMB missionary kid who used to live in South Asia but now lives in Canada. He went back to visit Christian workers who minister to children who live in the slums. They also work to tell many people about Jesus and plant new churches for people who are new believers in Jesus. Because of who He is, God deserves the worship of all people in all nations. We help make this happen through our gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO). Serve NOW Distribute the Serve South Asia NOW activity sheets. Explain that churches can bring the gospel to South Asians in several ways. Here are some examples: - They can pray. - They can go on mission trips to South Asia. - They can support Christians who are already there by praying and by giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. - They can find South Asians who live in their communities. Ask why it s so important to reach South Asians with the gospel as soon as possible. Answer: South Asia has more than 1 billion people, and most of those people do not know Jesus. Every few minutes more than 100 people die without knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior. Direct attention on the sheet to the ways your church can get involved to reach South Asians with the gospel. As you discuss ways to serve South Asians, ask volunteers to write each suggestion on an index card and tape it beside the South Asia map. Try to think of one suggestion for each country. Suggestions might include giving to disaster relief efforts (like the earthquake response in Nepal), providing Bibles or sending missionaries from your church. continued on next page
EXPERIENCE 4 continued from previous page Using tape and yarn, connect each request with a country in South Asia. Try to think of one serving suggestion for each country. For example, you might connect Nepal with Give to disaster relief efforts and for Christian workers with India. Using the U.S. map, connect your state to several ways that your kids can reach South Asians where you live. Suggestions might include hosting outreach events in South Asian neighborhoods, inviting South Asian families to your homes, visiting a restaurant or South Asian market and getting to know the people who work there. These relationships can lead to telling people about Jesus. that your church will join the work by praying, giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and getting involved in the work to reach South Asians with the message of Jesus.
GOING FURTHER More ideas to involve kids in giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO): From imb.org/childrensresources, download and print the parent letter. Give this to parents so families can plan together how they will give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. You ll find two more LMCO videos for children on imb.org/childrensresources. SOUTHEAST ASIA: A good news story is about kids in North Carolina who are making a difference in Southeast Asia. AFRICA: An important part is about how we all play a part in sharing the gospel, even in the remote country of Lesotho. Use these to help children as they continue to learn about joining God s mission to reach all peoples and all nations. Download and print the coloring pages for younger children. Download and copy the Family Missions Devotion Guide to encourage families to spend time on mission together. Download and print the Your Lottie Moon Gifts at Work booklet for ways your church s giving is making a difference to spread the gospel to all nations and peoples. You may order this booklet in bulk for your whole church by calling (800) 999-3113 or by ordering online from imb.org. Plan church-wide work days for your kids so they can each make money to give to the offering. Ask members to hire kids for chores around their homes or yards. Find up-to-date key projects from South Asia that need funding at southasianpeoples.imb.org/ give. Consider ways your kids and your church can be involved. Review the list of ways to reach South Asians in your community that your kids suggested in Experience 4. Make plans for an outreach activity using their suggestions.