A New Generation of Missionaries

Every Sunday afternoon our church campus is packed with missionaries. These aren’t the typical missionaries that you might have in mind. They have not come in from a foreign field. They are not seminary trained. This group of missionaries hasn’t even graduated high school yet!

The missionaries that fill our building are Mission Friends®, Girls in Action® (GA’s), Royal Ambassadors® (RA’s), and Acteens®. Some would say that these groups are “missionaries in training," but that is a gross misunderstanding of how these programs operate. Sure, there is a lot of missions discipleship that takes place, but missionaries are not developed through listening only; they are developed through participating in missions activities.

Our missions groups bring a wholistic discipleship approach to our church program. After our students and their adult leaders have learned about Jesus in small group Bible studies, and have expressed their love for Him in corporate worship, they need an avenue to go fulfill God’s plan for their lives. It’s a learn, love, go approach to become a fully-formed disciple.

STORY BY JASON BURDEN

When I stop in to see these groups, I see youth and children actively living out the great commandment and the great commission in tangible ways. I see kids that are excited about purposefully serving their community in the name of Jesus. I see a new generation of workers preparing to bring in a great harvest of souls for the glory of God.

That harvest of souls is happening right now. Our children and youth missions groups are the fastest growing groups in our church. These kids are so enthusiastic about their work for Jesus that they are bringing their friends along with them. Every area of our congregational life has been positively affected by the success of our missions programs. The work of these boys and girls is a point of pride for everyone in our church.

Every church has missionaries, but not every church has tapped into the life and vitality of the missions energies that reside in the hearts of our young people. I hope your church is finding ways to experience God’s blessings through the young missionaries you have among your members.