Nursery rhyme games with mission-oriented words

Teach that kids can do missions too

2-5 year olds, any size class with adequate helpers

5 min each

Inflatable globe

Luke 18:28-30

A palm paddle game

Learn that God wants us to take/send the Good news to people who still wait, and look for ways to do it

2-5 year olds, any size class with adequate help

10-20 minutes

Balloons, paper plates, elastic, various other items for optional obstacle course

Matthew 28:19

Children draw their full body silhouettes and personalize with a job they could do

Learn ways of serving on God's team

2-5 year olds, any size class with adequate helpers

15 minutes

Large rolls of paper, tape, crayons, scissors, photocopies

Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 4:16

Missionary playhouses from around the world

Teach that missionaries live in many different types of homes and teach kids to pray

2-5 year olds, any size class with adequate helpers

10-15 minutes, extensive set-up time

Large cardboard appliance boxes, paint, blankets, tents, crayons

Matthew 19:29, 1 Timothy 6:8

A matching game and handwork page with sets of transportation

Teach about missionary travel and learn to pray

Pre-school, any size class with adequate helpers

10-15 minutes, extensive set-up time

Photocopies, 18" x 24" paper, music, glue sticks, and scissors for work page option

2 Corinthians 11:26

Guess missionary occupations from clues, plus colouring pages

Teach children that missionaries do different jobs and to pray for missionaries

Preschool, any size class with adequate helpers

Shoebox: 2-5 minutes, colouring pages: 2-3 minutes

Shoebox filled with items listed

Colossians 3:17

Tight-rope walking on the floor, plus two crafts

Teach that missionaries go to others

2-5 year olds, any size class with adequate helpers

10-15 minutes each

Rope, Bibles, picture of Jesus, various items for stepping over; paper and crayons or paint, overhead projector

Romans 10:15, Mark 16:15

Pack a bag with items a missionary needs

General missions education and learning to pray

2-5 year olds, any size class with adequate helpers

10-15 minutes

Over-night bag or small suitcase, items listed on pages 2-4

2 Timothy 4:13, Philippians 4:19

Follow clues that lead to treasure letters hidden around the room, plus a craft to do

Learn that God treasures people around the world

Preschool, any size class with adequate helpers

10-15 minutes

Large cut out letters from A-Z, the book From Arapesh to Zuni, copies and listed supplies for craft

Revelation 5:9, Matthew 28:19, 20

2 finger plays and ethnic dress-up

Teach children that they can give God's Word to people who wait

2-year olds through preschool, any size class with adequate helpers

3 minutes with A-Z story, 2 minutes alone

From Arapesh to Zuni, optional clothing

2 Timothy 3:15

Participants write and draw on a world map

To focus on the world and options for missions involvement

Grades 1-6, any size group

20-30 minutes

Large outline of the world (example provided); photocopied cards; pens, crayons or chalk; pictures of your missionaries; atlas

Psalm 67:1-2

A team game to play before snack or meal

Illustrate need for Bible translation

Primary through high school, 8 or more participants

10-15 minutes

2 pencils, 2 scissors, 2 pieces of paper plus a banquet table of very kid-desirable foods

Romans 10:8-15, Revelation 5:9 and 7:9-10

A game contrasting participants who pass a whispered and written message

To illustrate the importance of having God's Word in your own written language

Children grades 1-6, minimum 10 participants

10 minutes

Pen and paper

Romans 5:8, 2 Chronicles 34:14-33

One of three seemingly impossible stunts with simple solutions

To capture attention, then make missions application

Primary through adults, any size group

10-15 minutes

2 paper clips, £5 note / $1 bill

1 Timothy 6:10, Matthew 28:19 (the Great Commission, not the Great Optional Activity!)

A game that teaches children about different facets of words

To show one part of producing an accurate translation

Children grades 1-6, any size group

15-20 minutes

Sets of snap cards, for each group of three players you need 6 sets of cards, or use one set of huge cards for a combined game

Isaiah 1:18

A game in which a package is passed around and unwrapped

To illustrate our responsibility to pass the Good News of Jesus on to others

Children grades 1-6, any size group

15 minutes

Wrapping paper, candy, cardstock, Bible, music (live or taped)

1 Timothy 6:18, Romans 6:23, John 8:36, 10:10, 12:46

A craft that teaches children how to pray for missionaries

To stimulate prayer for missions

Children grades 1-4, any size group

25-30 minutes

Scissors, glue sticks, colouring pens, copies of prayer cube pattern from master

Ephesians 6:18-19

Fun ways to pray in an ice-breaker way, plus a work page

To pray for Bibleless people in a kid-friendly manner

Pre-school through high school, depending on the coolness factor, any size group

Various

The book, From Arapesh to Zuni, available from Wycliffe, plus various items listed

Colossians 4:2-4, Ephesians 2:10

A team contest with audience participation

To demonstrate difficulties of Bible translation, the need for a team, and God's power

Grades 1-6, 10 or more kids

10-15 minutes

A rope and costumes (signs can replace costumes)

2 Chronicles 32:7-8, Jeremiah 17:5-8, 1 Samuel 17:45-47, Ephesians 6:12

A translation problem to solve with audience participation

To show how small words make a big difference in understanding God's word

Teenagers and adults, any size group

10-15 minutes

Overhead Projector, transparency masters (included)

A simulation in which participants have to create a language and then try learning one

To experience a few of the many frustrations and challenges created by language barriers

Teenagers or adults, any number of people minimum 8

35 Minutes

Scrap paper and pencils

Genesis 11:1-8

A story to read or tell

To show just how effective translated Scriptures are in evangelism and church-planting

Teenagers through adults, any number

5 minutes

None

Hebrews 4:12, 2 Corinthians 3:14-18

Panel game in which the audience guesses meaning of idioms

Show the difference between literal and true meaning

Teenagers and adults, any size group, minimum 6

20-30 min

Provided: 3 Panel scripts, True/False cards master, transparency master.  You provide overhead projector

Small group discussion and Bible Study

Show how essential it is for Christians to have a Bible in their own language

Teenagers through adults, minimum 4 people

20 minutes

Bibles, pencils, discussion sheet copies

Various listed within

A series of multiple choice discussion starters

To highlight choices Christian workers face when working in different cultures

Teenagers and adults, any size group

20-30 minutes

Pencils, copies of discussion sheet

1 Corinthians 9:22-23, Philippians 2:3-11

Ethnic foods eaten according to different cultural rules

Awareness of and appreciation for different cultures

Teenagers through adults, minimum 8

1 hour

Ingredients listed, cooking and serving utensils, jug, bowl, sheets, no silverware

1 Timothy 4:4

A Pictionary-like game followed by discussion

To explore questions of lifestyle for overseas Christian workers

Teenagers and adults, (children when there is a mixed group), any size group, minimum six

25 minutes

Scrap paper, pencils

2 Corinthians 8:9

A game and a story

To illustrate the impact of the Good News when people hear it for the first time in their own language

Primary through adults, any size group

10 minutes

A piece of apple, cheese, and chocolate, blindfold

Psalm 119:103-104, 1 Peter 2:1-3

Market place simulation with 2 different cultures interacting

Experience how cross-cultural conflict affects overseas Christian workers

Teenagers through adults, minimum 15 participants

30 minutes

Scissors, photocopied sheets, optional food, clothing, tools and cloth

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

An activity sheet

To experience using an unfamiliar script and to teach that different scripts are used for Bible Translation

Children, any number

20 minutes

Activity sheets (photocopy masters included) pencils, coloured pens, scissors, glue sticks, card

Psalm 119:130, Hebrews 4:12