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Missions

Guest Blog: Kids and Missions

March 23, 2015 By michealwalley

 Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to Me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Luke 18:16

If you have ever worked with kids in any capacity, then you understand how much of a blessing they are to be around. Over the last few summers, I have had the wonderful opportunity to serve as a Bible study leader for CentriKid Camps, and it has been an incredible experience. One of the greatest gifts of working for CentriKid has been seeing the Lord draw kids to Himself.  It is a tremendous blessing to see kids passionate about the gospel, and even more awesome when a child has a passion for spending their lives proclaiming it.  Two areas of ministry that I am very passionate about are kids and missions. I believe that that the Lord has given me a unique desire for these areas and I get especially excited when I get to share my passion for missions with kids. 

No matter the capacity of your influence in the life of a child, your main role is to live by example and teach them how to live out the gospel.  As one of my favorite pastors, Voddie Bauchum, says, “Children are a blessing and inheritance from the Lord, and we want a [world] full of ballistic missiles who have been fully trained to be launched to this lost, hurting and dying world.” This is why it is important that we teach kids about missions. We must show them what it looks like to daily live out their faith so that they are ready to make an impact for the kingdom of God. Here are three steps for teaching kids about missions:

1.) Teach them the gospel and how to share it.

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands us as believers to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, ” We are called to make disciples, and that begins with discipling kids.  How can they make disciples if they do not know why they are doing it?  If our lives are supposed to be lived out for the gospel, we need to teach children that very truth.

2.) Teach them that missions is not about where you go, but rather where you are.

In Acts 1:8, Jesus said “… and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth..”  Translation: you are to live for Me in your community, in your state, in your country, and wherever else in the world I lead you.  It is important to teach kids that missions is not just about leaving the country to go and make disciples.  Yes, we are called to take the good news to the nations, but living on mission means living out the gospel where we are right now.  As Jim Elliot said, “Wherever you are, be all there!”

3.) Spark that interest (and calling) in them by getting them involved.

Here are some ideas you can use in your ministry to get kids excited about missions:

  • Focus on a specific community, nation, or people group each week.
  • Have speakers come in and share with the kids about their trips.
  • Host events to raise money for a project, a ministry, or a mission trip.
  • Plan a one-day parent-kid mission trip.

Whatever it is, you will see the excitement that kids get when they feels like they are a part of something bigger than themselves. 

Children are blessing; they are beautiful gifts from God.  However, we must remember that they are the Lord’s and we are simply stewards of them to train them up in righteousness so that they are ready take the gospel to a lost and dying world.

About the Guest Blogger:

2014 CK2 Tim Wells 1Tim Wells is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in International Studies.  He currently works for a finance company out of Biloxi, MS.  He has served two summers with CentriKid as a Bible study leader and will serve as a Camp Pastor at CentriKid at Timber Creek Camp in Mississippi this year. 

CentriKid 2014 Ministry Results

August 22, 2014 By henrydutton

In 2014, we spent the summer at CentriKid Camps studying about a God who redeems. We learned that God has had a plan to redeem His people since the beginning of time. He reaches down to redeem us, even when we are helpless. In the same way that God rescued the Israelites from captivity in Egypt, God rescues us from the captivity of our sin. God’s redeeming work was completed through the birth, perfect life, substitutionary death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and because Jesus is still alive today, we can trust Him to reconcile us to the Father. God restores His children for a purpose, and He reaches out through us as we seek to share with others about the redeeming work of Christ.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord. For there is faithful love with the Lord, and with Him is redemption in abundance. Psalm 130:7

As campers and adults encountered the truth about God’s redeeming love, hundreds of participants made salvation decisions, and many more made milestone decisions to follow Jesus more closely. We are so humbled by the way that God continues to work through the ministry of camp, and we invite you to celebrate with us as we reflect on all the things God did during the summer of 2014. For a full report, check out our ministry results page.

14 Ministry Results blog post

We are already well underway for CentriKid 2015, and we hope that you’ll join us as we explore our theme — FIT: Faith in Training! Be sure to check our blog regularly for more exciting updates.

 

Graffiti 2 Ministries Says Thanks for Your Support

December 23, 2013 By centrikid

Every summer summer at CentriKid Camps we collect a missions offering. Half of the money supports global missions projects with the International Mission Board, and half helps support local projects with the North American Mission Board. In 2013, our local missions project was Graffiti 2 Ministries in New York.

Graffiti 2 Community Ministries seeks to Revitalize, Revive, and Revolutionize the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx and society by enabling individuals to develop physically, mentally (revitalization), emotionally, spiritually, and socially (revival) so that they may become servant-leaders within their families, community, and society (revolution). Originally the plantation home of Gouverneur Morris (penman of the preamble to the Constitution), Mott Haven has become notorious for the difficult urban situations which are faced daily by its residents.

Statistics identify a high density of children who

  • Fail to meet education standards
  • Live in single-parent households
  • Lack adequate nutrition and healthcare
  • Reside in a neighborhood riddled with crime.

The money that you gave in 2013 is making a difference. Be sure to check out this video from Graffiti 2 as they say thanks for all your support.

It’s not too late to contribute to the projects that our missions offering helped support. Check out One Child Project (IMB) and Graffiti 2 Ministries (NAMB) for more information.

Your Gifts Make a Difference – The IMB Says “Thanks”

December 6, 2013 By centrikid

Earlier this year we released some exciting information about the missions offering that we collected at camp last summer. The missions offering helped support projects locally with NAMB and globally with IMB. We want you to know that your gifts truly make a difference in the Kingdom of God. Because of your faithfulness to support missions, literally millions have heard the message of Jesus Christ.

The Christmas season is a time for giving. It’s not too late to contribute to the projects that our missions offering helped support. Check out One Child Project (IMB) and Graffiti2 Ministries (NAMB) for more information.

We are excited to see how God continues to use the gifts that you have so faithfully given, and we are excited about what the future holds as we continue to support local and global missions at CentriKid.

Be sure to check out this message from Dr. Tom Elliff, the President of the International Mission Board, as he expresses his gratitude for your generosity.

The Journey is Worthwhile

October 30, 2013 By henrydutton

Recently I participated in a missions journey with my church to Europe. Our team traveled by train across Germany, Austria, and Italy. Everyone on the trip is considering serving the Lord through overseas missions, so the purpose of the trip was vision, training, and strategy. We had the opportunity to interview several key Christian leaders and believers, and although they all said different things, I noticed a recurring theme – serving in Europe is very, very difficult, but it’s worth it!

On the trip, I was reminded that it truly is a blessing to be a part of the Lord’s work. God works in mysterious ways, and He could have chosen any number of means for the proliferation of the gospel around the world. In His grace and wisdom, though, He chose us to be the carriers of His message. He has given us the privilege of serving as ambassadors on His behalf. It is our responsibility, then, to represent Him well and to plead with others to be reconciled to God.

The language from 2 Corinthians 5:20 of “pleading” implies that our task is not easy. In Europe, for example, the spiritual soil is very hard and infertile. The good news, though, is that we are not expected to complete this task on our own. God appeals through us, and Christ has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. We simply have to be faithful in our obedience to follow Him.

Seeing God accomplish the impossible is one of the most rewarding things that anyone could be a part of. Along the way, you can expect that there will be difficulty and trouble, but if we aren’t willing to stick it out, then who will?

If you are in a season of discouragement in your ministry, don’t lose hope. Remember that He who has promised is faithful (Heb. 10:23). Although the journey might be long and arduous, it is certainly worthwhile.

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