It has been
said that Christianity is only one generation away from
extinction.
It would be
so easy to leave the responsibility of spiritual training at the door of
the Sunday school teacher or youth pastor, but the truth is that if we are
going to raise up a generation of world changers, we have to aim higher than
simply raising obedient and respectful citizens. The responsibility rests on
our shoulders as keepers of our home to go the distance in building in our
children a missional mindset that will not let them rest until they have heeded
Jesus’ call to go into the entire world.
Here are 5
ways to build a missional mindset in our children:
Read stories
of past missionary heroes: Amy Carmichael, Hudson, Taylor, Adironam Judson, Mary Slessor, Gladys
Aylward. Their stories are filled with adventure, and will inspire your
young children from a young age to seek for more than career with a good salary
and benefits. It will challenge them heed a call to lay up treasures in heaven.
Adopt a
missionary: Sponsor a
missionary, put their picture on your fridge and pray for them daily. Write
letters and ask questions and send birthday and Christmas cards. Make them one
of them family. Not only will this help your children connect with one of
today’s missionaries, it will bless the missionary, too. Many missionaries feel
forgotten and so far from home. Having someone on the home front (who isn’t
their mom) who sends cards, letters and candy bars they can’t get where they
live will mean so much!
Sponsor a
child: Connect
with World Vision or another child sponsor program to adopt a child. Remind
your children that this is a command of Jesus and that when we feed and clothe
those in need; we are feeding and clothing Jesus, too! Introduce the child you
are sponsoring to them and hang his picture on your fridge so they can connect
with him on a more personal level. Talk about the country they live in, find it
on a map and then pray for the child every day.
Get involved
in local missions: Volunteer as a family at a local soup kitchen, collect toys for a
Christmas toy drive, or pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. As you
work together, share with your children about the how the work you are doing
not only provides for the physical needs of those you are helping, but also for
their spiritual needs. Pray together for the work you are doing as a family and
for the people you will be ministering to.
Make a
mission wall: Purchase a
map of the nation your missionary serves in, gather pictures, statistical data
and other interesting information about their country and make a mission wall
in your home to help you remain connected to the work they are doing.
As I have
talked with fellow missionaries, one thing has stood out in our conversations:
they feel that general interest in missions is waning. Perhaps it is
because of the economic struggles many are facing, so in their struggle to just
survive they have let their interest in missions slip to the back burner.
Whatever the reason, one thing is certain – we can’t afford to let the idea of
missions – whether local missions or world missions – fall by the wayside.
We must pass on the importance of Jesus’ command to the next generation!
By Rosilind Jukic
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