19 ideas to help kids serve at home and around the
world.
Why is it that we have to beg adults to serve,
while children are always ready to give? Children seem to be born
with a desire to serve others. Even a 2-year-old will automatically
comfort a crying baby by sharing a toy.
In 2004 when the tsunami hit Southeast Asia, and again when the
hurricanes hit the southern United States in 2005, kids were among
the first to get involved. Children are pre-wired for
service!
And Christian children have an added motivation to serve God. They
serve the same God and have the same spiritual gifts as the rest of
us. And they've been given the same challenge and promise from God:
"You will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere -- in
Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth" (Acts 1:8). For children, that might sound
something like this: "You'll be my witnesses, telling people about
me everywhere -- at home and school, throughout your town, across
the country, and to the ends of the earth."
Let's take a look at the many ways you can incorporate service
into the fiber of your ministry from home to church to community to
country to the world-just as in Acts 1:8.
Service at Home
It's not as exciting as a missions trip to Africa, but
contributing at home is truly the foundation for a lifetime of
service. Here are ideas you can use to get kids serving at
home.
- Helper's Hints-On slips of
paper, have kids write or draw a picture of a way to serve each
family member. Then place the slips in a decorated shoebox. For
example, kids might write, "Make Mom's bed," "Give a hug," or "Do
the dishes." Each morning kids can choose a slip of paper and use
the "hint" to serve someone that day. Periodically have kids come
up with new ideas to add to their boxes at home.
- Flower Power-Younger children can create six
construction-paper flowers, while older kids may enjoy arranging
six artificial flowers in a decorative plastic cup. Have kids write
one way they'll serve their families on each flower. Kids can place
the flowers at home where they'll see them every day and remember
to serve.
- Love Language-Discuss with kids how service is
doing what someone else needs, not simply doing what we like to do
for others. Then ask kids to identify meaningful ways they can show
love to their families. Have kids create a service plan for the
following week and keep a short journal of people's reactions to
their acts of service. Share reports the following week.
- Service Celebration-Challenge kids to complete
one act of kindness for each family member during the week. In your
classroom, have kids share ways they served their families so other
kids get new ideas. Then serve the kids snacks as a celebration of
their service.
Service at Church
Provide opportunities for kids and their families to serve at
church with these ideas.
- Sneak Surprise-Have preteens wash all the car
windshields in your parking lot during worship services. Leave
behind preprinted notes that say, "Jesus Loves You!"
- Toy Wash-Children can help your nursery staff
by washing toys. Preschoolers and preteens can work together to
scrub plastic toys according to your nursery policies.
- Birthday Party for Jesus-Have an "after
Christmas" party where children can give their gently used toys to
your children's ministry or a shelter in honor of Jesus.
- Family Workday-Announce a workday for families
at your church. Make a list of chores such as vacuuming, painting,
gardening, or spring cleaning. Provide coffee, juice, and
doughnuts. Create "To Do" and "Done" columns on a wall, and write
instructions for each job on a sticky note. Post the notes on the
"To Do" side. Families can choose their projects and celebrate by
moving the sticky note to the "Done" column when they finish.
- "I'm Serving God" Buttons-Have kids design
buttons that say, "I'm serving God!" Make the buttons by cutting
out 3-inch diameter card stock circles and having kids decorate
them using stickers, markers, and glitter. Use a hot glue gun
(adults only) to fasten clasps (available at craft stores) on the
backs. Discuss the various ways people serve in your church, then
have children thank these people with a handmade button. Give every
child a button, too, as you celebrate their service at church.
Service in the Community
Seventy-three percent of kids believe they can make a difference
in their communities. We only need to provide opportunities for
children to act on this belief. Try these opportunities.
- Volunteer to read. Libraries and schools are
always looking for volunteer readers. Offer to staff your public
library's reading hour with families from your church, or encourage
kids to help younger readers at their schools outside regular
classes.
- Start a Chronicles of Narnia Club. Draw
families into your church by hosting a family reading night. Let
younger children "host" while older kids read. With the current
interest in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, this is
the perfect story to use to kick-start a new outreach.
- Be a good neighbor. Older kids can help
neighbors by weeding, mowing, painting, house-sitting, or
pet-sitting. Preschoolers enjoy leaving flowers or handmade cards
on doorsteps.
- Give something special. Encourage families to
clean closets by giving gently used clothing and toys directly to
less fortunate families or organizations supporting families in
need.
Service Across the Country
As children get older, they gain more understanding of needs
outside their communities. Elementary and preteen kids love to get
involved with national projects.
- Stuff Envelopes-Most nonprofit organizations
or church denominations have regular mailings requiring hours of
stuffing and labeling. Ask your church or favorite charity about
their needs.
- Pray for States-Pick one location each month
and have kids pray for the people living there and those who need
to hear about Jesus. Share stories from missionaries your church
supports in the regions you choose.
- Help in Hardship-Kids hear about needs within
our country and want to help. When natural disasters occur, kids
and families can get involved with well-known national relief
agencies such as these.
- American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) has a number
of ways kids and families can gather funds or needed items during
national crises. Contact your local chapter for more details.
- Salvation Army (www.salvation
army.org) has many ways for families with younger children to
serve, including serving holiday meals, ministry to the homebound,
clothing drives, bell ringing, and special needs at times of
national disaster. Check with your local chapter to see how your
kids can serve.
Celebrate your kids' service on National & Global Youth
Service Day (www.ysa.org/nysd). Youth
Service America sponsors this day to focus on youth involvement in
lifelong service.
Service Around the World
The world is a big place, but children better understand their
impact when service projects are tangible and practical. Kids'
vision and comprehension of the world expands when we involve them
in hands-on, meaningful projects.
- Blanket the World With Jesus'
Love-Operation Kid-to-Kid is one of the world's largest
forces mobilizing kids to serve other kids. For more information,
go to www.ok2k.org
- Prayer Aware-When kids pray for other
children, they make a deeper connection to those in need. Have kids
choose a world region to learn about and pray for the children
there regularly.
- Special Operations-Samaritan's Purse's
Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes have children gather and send
practical items such as school supplies and toys to kids around the
world.
Gordon and Becki West are the founders of KidZ Kan!, a
ministry of KidZ At Heart International (www.kidZatheart.org).
This article is excerpted from Children's Ministry
Magazine.
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