Ideas for children

Tell us how your church teaches missions to children.

LMCO Media Kit - Use the videos in the Children’s Leader Guide during Christmas parties, Sunday School or children’s church. The children in your church will learn that God has a place for them in missions. Order a free kit here.

Lessons for children - Bring missions to your children in a fun way in Sunday School or missions group using lessons for children, including activity sheets and coloring pages and other learning aids.

Puzzles, Puzzles - In keeping with this year’s theme, work with children to complete a puzzle each week during Sunday School or children’s church. Emphasize that just as every piece is important to the puzzle, every person is important to God. Other ideas for puzzles:

  • Ask children to paint or draw pictures. Cut the pictures into puzzle pieces.
  • Leave out one or two pieces from each puzzle, reminding children that the task is incomplete without their part.
  • Display puzzles that the children complete around the church.
  • Use craft puzzle glue to turn the puzzles into artwork. Auction these off to church members and give the money to Lottie.

Lottie’s tea cakes - Every year, children and church members enjoy making Lottie Moon’s tea cakes. Lottie used these cookies in her ministry to the children in the villages where she lived. Have a special baking party to make the cookies, explaining how even cookies can be used to spread the love of Jesus. Get the recipe. Donations for the cookies can be made to the offering in Lottie’s name.

Lottie’s birthday party - December 12 was Lottie Moon’s birthday. Have a party on or around the day for children and their families. Serve Chinese food and her famous tea cakes. Enlist someone to dress up and use a letter or drama to tell about Lottie’s life.

Christmas card design - Ask children to make homemade Christmas cards. Sell these in bundles to church members and give the money to Lottie. See how Rebecca Foster makes money for missions using her talent and enthusiasm.

Sock it to missions - Have children decorate white tube socks. Ask them to fill them with change during the month of December. Ask your pastor if children can present their filled socks during a worship service.

Children in worship - The Christmas season presents many ways kids can be used in worship. They can read facts about Lottie, missions or people groups each Sunday. They can add decorations to the tree as the church comes closer to its goal. They can distribute bags of tea cakes to members who bring their missions offering. Talk with your worship leaders about making children a special part of your church’s Christmas worship.

Lincolns for Lottie - Ask the children to name which pieces of money have Abraham Lincoln’s likeness on them (pennies, $5 bills). Then, encourage them to fill up a gallon jar labeled “Lincolns for Lottie” with these pieces.

May I see your badge? - Woman’s Missionary Union’s “Telling About Jesus” badge is a great way for children to visibly express their connection with Lottie Moon and missions. Have them wear the badges on a Sunday that Lottie Moon offerings are accepted. Find more information on how to order this and other resources at childrensmissions.com.

Grab your passport! - We’re headed for an adventure in North Africa to learn about a people group called the Berbers. Use the International Mission Study 2009 Kids Reaching Kids materials available at wmu.com/northafrica to familiarize children with this area and to create the chance for personal connections offered through the eyes of the Berbers.

Missions Christmas tree - Enlist children’s Sunday School classes to make Christmas ornaments representing missionaries and/or unreached people groups. Add an ornament to the church’s tree every time a certain amount is given to the offering.

Bulletin board contest - Ask children's Sunday School classes to decorate a Lottie Moon bulletin board. Plan a time for church members to view the boards and vote for their favorites.

Give your allowance - Plan a special time to teach children about money and the importance of giving. Ask them to save their allowance for Lottie Moon.

Missions spelling bee - Make a list of names connected with international missions (i.e., cities, countries, people groups) and give out copies in Sunday School. Then host a spelling bee during a Wednesday evening meal. Award prizes to winners in each age group.

More Ideas for children

Resources for children

Ideas for Adults, Students, Families, Whole church, Worship services, Tracking church giving