Missions

Missions Lesson

I was asked to teach a series of lessons on missions and missionaries to 3rd and 4th Graders.  To introduce the series, I wanted to do a mini-version of a mission's experience that I participated in during my time of working in the Missions Department in college.

The purpose of the experience was to show a little of what goes into being a foreign missionary (on a very, very simple scale).  I wanted to show them that it wasn't as easy as it sounded.

I divided the children into two groups.  Group 1 was the missionaries from America sent to reach the native people of Waggly. Group 2 was the Wagglies.

I separated the two groups and secretly gave each a set of instructions that the other group could not know about until the experience was over.  The missionaries were instructed to learn about the culture and teach the Wagglies the entire story of the Good Samaritan.  (Fortunately for them, English is the national language in Waggly.)

The Wagglies were given instructions on how to behave which included some odd customs.  These natives would only listen to people who followed all their customs.  

Each group has their own instructions.

The evening went very well.  Some "missionaries" picked up on some of the Waggly customs very quickly while others never figured out any of the strange customs.  Some missionaries learned enough of the customs and befriended some Wagglies to the point of beginning to tell the story of the Good Samaritan but none were able to make it all the way through the story as instructed.

We brought the two groups back together and discussed the instructions that each group was given.  Then we discussed what it was like to be the missionary.  All of them said it was much harder than they thought it would be.  Learning the odd customs was their first challenge.  Then when they thought they had learned the customs, they began telling the Bible story and the Wagglies ran off. The missionaries never could figure out why that happened. (See instructions for the Wagglies for details.)

They also said that when they were trying to reach the Wagglies on their own, they became discouraged quickly.  But when some friends were able to come alongside them after learning some of the customs, they felt like they could work together to reach these people.

Though this is an extremely simplified version of what it can be like to be a missionary, the children were more sympathetic and more mindful of the current missionaries we are supporting.  They were even more anxious to hear from many of the people in our congregation who are or have been missionaries and who would be presenting real life missions experiences in Bible class over the next few weeks.  

In the end, several decided they would like to be foreign missionaries when they grow up and others said it changed the way they pray for the missionaries we have and will have in the future.  

All in all, it served as a great opening lesson to our series on missions!

Paper Sack Backpack

The children like to make and decorate their own backpacks.  I have used these paper sack backpacks for many stories.  Sometimes I use them when the story talks about travelling such as Abraham travels, Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph going to the Festival at the Passover when Jesus was 12, Paul's Missionary Journeys, and many more. 

Sometimes I use the backpacks to hold crafts and papers from the entire quarter.  I send it home at the end with all their "goodies" inside.

For instructions with pictures, click here.

Fiery Furnace Magic Window

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the Fiery Furnace

Daniel 3

In this enjoyable magic window, you first see Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  When you pull the tab on the right, they are in the fiery furnace and the angel appears.

Instructions for making a magic window

Pattern for Fiery Furnace magic window

Video on how a magic window works

The magic window pattern was made with clipart from the book Bible Story Clip and Copy Patterns by Corbin Hillam.  This is one of my favorite books to use as patterns for many, many things!  This precious book is no longer in print, so Mr. Hillam has graciously allowed me to give you the pattern for free.  He is producing a CD with the art from this book.  The drawings are fantastic!  If you would like to purchase a CD for $15, you can contact him at corbinhillam@yahoo.com.  It is well worth the money!  Other items by him can be seen at www.corbinhillamdesign.weebly.com.



Jesus At the Temple Blacklight Story

Jesus at the Temple

Luke 2:39-52

Using blacklight stories always grabs the children's attention.  Just turn off the lights and turn on the blacklight.  (Hint:  Be sure to wear dark clothes.) I made this story to tell of Jesus "getting lost".  My favorite page is when Jesus cannot be seen because of the crowd in front of him.  Then if the crowd is moved, there he is!  He is teaching listening to the teachers and asking them questions.  

I made this story using the Ellison die cut machine with fluorescent paper.  I didn't have a little boy die cut so I used the Cricut.  The whole story can be made using the Cricut.

Tissue Art Card

Tissue Art Cards

These cards were made using the technique called "tissue art".  I used regular tissue paper made for gift sacks.  The technique is extremely simple and takes very little time.  I just love the way the tissue adds color and texture!  On the inside of the cards, I write my own notes or phrases.  I use them when inviting people to Bible class, telling them we missed them, for birthdays, and many other ways. 

For instructions on how to make easy tissue art projects, watch my "how to" video:

http://youtu.be/jlkubYlGPg0

For the bees wings, I crumpled the paper first and made sure it was wrinkled as I put it on.  I did not laminate the cards but I did go over the lines with a Sharpie to give it a much neater and more finished look.

Plain Paper Sack Felt Board

 Plain Paper Sack Felt Board

I created a craft to go along with the application of being a missionary and sharing the stories in God's Word with others.  This is just a simple, plain white paper lunch sack.  I glued a small rectangle of black felt to the outside.  I then cut out pieces (using an Ellison die cut machine though you can use any pattern) to go with several different stories.  I put the pieces to each story in a Ziploc bag and labeled the bag with that story.  I made many pieces so the children would have several different stories to retell.  The Ziploc bags with pieces store inside the sack (if you flatten the bag by getting out most of the air).  The children spent part of the Bible class time using their pieces and telling each other the Bible stories.  Then they took the paper sack felt boards home and tell the stories to as many people as they could.  They were excited to go home and tell their parents, grandparents, and even many of their friends!