Introduction to

Children in Action

Children in ActionChildren in Actionsmsm is a fun-filled is a fun-filled missions organization for girls and missions organization for girls and boys in grades 1 through 6 that helps boys in grades 1 through 6 that helps children develop spiritually toward a children develop spiritually toward a missional lifestyle.missional lifestyle.

• a biblical worldview that encompasses the globe.

• ways to demonstrate the love of Christ to others.

• how God is working around the world.

• that they are a part of God’s plan.

Children learn . . .Children learn . . .

Children in Action MottoChildren in Action Motto

Send Me!Send Me!

Children in Action PledgeChildren in Action Pledge

As a member of Children in As a member of Children in Action, Action,

I will pray for missions, I will pray for missions, give to missions, give to missions,

learn about missions, learn about missions, and do missions and do missions

through the power of Christ.through the power of Christ.

Children in Action Children in Action Scripture VerseScripture Verse

I can do everything by the I can do everything by the power of Christ. He gives me power of Christ. He gives me

strength.strength.——Philippians 4:13 (NIrV)Philippians 4:13 (NIrV)

““Children in Action Song” Children in Action Song” ChorusChorus

CiA is here to stay.CiA is here to stay.

We’re on a mission every We’re on a mission every day, day,

To live for Jesus in every way.To live for Jesus in every way.

When He’s the attraction,When He’s the attraction,

We’re Children in Action.We’re Children in Action.

Basis for Children in ActionBasis for Children in Action

The foundation of Children in Action is the The foundation of Children in Action is the meetings. Here, children journey together meetings. Here, children journey together as they learn about and do missions with as they learn about and do missions with their peers. their peers.

The yearly curriculum is designed to give The yearly curriculum is designed to give children a broad view of how God is working children a broad view of how God is working through missions around the world.through missions around the world.

Children discover a variety of missions Children discover a variety of missions needs and ministries. They participate in needs and ministries. They participate in projects that make a difference in their projects that make a difference in their communities and around the world.communities and around the world.

Unit StructureUnit Structure Each session introduces children to a Each session introduces children to a

different aspect of missions, providing different aspect of missions, providing them with a holistic understanding of the them with a holistic understanding of the missions area by the end of the month. missions area by the end of the month.

Each session builds upon the previous Each session builds upon the previous weeks’ sessions to help children grow in weeks’ sessions to help children grow in their understanding and application of their understanding and application of Scripture, discipleship, and missions.Scripture, discipleship, and missions.

Session OneSession One

Introduces the Biblical Basis of Introduces the Biblical Basis of the Month’s Topic:the Month’s Topic:

What does the Bible say?What does the Bible say?

Session TwoSession Two

Introduces the Need being Addressed Introduces the Need being Addressed by by

that Month’s Featured Ministry:that Month’s Featured Ministry:

What is the need?What is the need?

Session ThreeSession Three

Introduces In-Depth Detail about the Introduces In-Depth Detail about the Ministry Featured in the Unit: Ministry Featured in the Unit:

What is being done to meet What is being done to meet the need?the need?

Session FourSession Four

Provides a Live Action Project—a Provides a Live Action Project—a hands-on ministry idea—related to hands-on ministry idea—related to

the unit:the unit:

How can I help meet this How can I help meet this need or a similar need in need or a similar need in

my own community?my own community?

Session FiveSession Five

Provides groups with the option of working Provides groups with the option of working on Special Assignmentson Special Assignmentssmsm or participating or participating

in in additional activities related to the unit: additional activities related to the unit:

What else do I need to know to What else do I need to know to personalize and apply my personalize and apply my

learning?learning?

This is the guide for This is the guide for starting Children in starting Children in Action. Action.

One book per leader is One book per leader is recommended.recommended.

Getting Started: Step 1Getting Started: Step 1

How to Involve Children How to Involve Children In MissionsIn Missions

This resource gives details about how This resource gives details about how the Children in Action organization the Children in Action organization works and is set up. It includes works and is set up. It includes detailed information about each detailed information about each curriculum piece, information to curriculum piece, information to guide leaders in teaching children, guide leaders in teaching children, reproducible forms, and other helpful reproducible forms, and other helpful resources.resources.

Getting Started: Step 2Getting Started: Step 2

CurriculumCurriculum Children in Action Leader Children in Action Leader is the bimonthly is the bimonthly

curriculum guide for Children in Action. curriculum guide for Children in Action. Subscriptions to this bimonthly leader Subscriptions to this bimonthly leader

guide may be ordered through WMU guide may be ordered through WMU Customer Service. Customer Service.

The guide is delivered 3 to 4 weeks before The guide is delivered 3 to 4 weeks before the unit begins.the unit begins.

Children in Action LeaderChildren in Action Leader

This is the leader guide to weekly teaching plans. Includes activity posters and banners.

One guide needed per leader.

Children in Action LeaderChildren in Action Leader

IncludesIncludes session planssession plans interactive gamesinteractive games activitiesactivities mapsmaps bannersbanners

. . . and much more!. . . and much more!

Children in Action LeaderChildren in Action Leader

Children in Action LeaderChildren in Action Leader provides monthly provides monthly plans for Children in Action groups to learn plans for Children in Action groups to learn about a different missions area. about a different missions area.

Each month’s unit includes plans for four Each month’s unit includes plans for four weekly sessions and one Live Action weekly sessions and one Live Action Project. Project.

Sessions provide ideas for leading all Sessions provide ideas for leading all children, grades 1 through 6.children, grades 1 through 6.

Basic Sessions for Two Basic Sessions for Two WeeksWeeks

A Glimpse of the A Glimpse of the Session LayoutSession Layout

Orientation Orientation (10–15 minutes)(10–15 minutes) InvestigationInvestigation (15–20 minutes) (15–20 minutes) ReconnaissanceReconnaissance (20 minutes) (20 minutes) Debriefing Debriefing (10 minutes)(10 minutes)

OrientationOrientation

(15 minutes)(15 minutes)

Scrumptious snacks Scrumptious snacks

Fun introductoryFun introductory activity

InvestigationInvestigation

(15 minutes)(15 minutes)

Exciting exploration of the Exciting exploration of the Scripture passage, culture, Scripture passage, culture,

and/or missionary focusand/or missionary focus

ReconnaissanceReconnaissance

(20 minutes)(20 minutes)

Creative activities to Creative activities to

reinforce learningreinforce learning

DebriefingDebriefing

(10 minutes)(10 minutes)

Reflective closing activity with Reflective closing activity with

prayer for an MK (missionary prayer for an MK (missionary kid)kid)

More for Families in More for Families in Children in Action LeaderChildren in Action Leader

Family Missions FocusFamily Missions Focus A monthly Family Missions Focus page can A monthly Family Missions Focus page can

be copied and sent home to parents each be copied and sent home to parents each month. month.

The Family Missions Focus page helps The Family Missions Focus page helps parents reinforce learning in Children in parents reinforce learning in Children in Action, and provides them with family Action, and provides them with family missions activities they can do together at missions activities they can do together at home.home.

More for LeadersMore for Leaders

Leadership ArticlesLeadership Articles

Each Each Children in Action LeaderChildren in Action Leader has a has a variety of articles to assist leaders with variety of articles to assist leaders with planning, outreach, events, and more. planning, outreach, events, and more.

Each bimonthly issue also includes helpful Each bimonthly issue also includes helpful tips, feedback, stories, and ideas from tips, feedback, stories, and ideas from other leaders.other leaders.

Special AssignmentsSpecial Assignments

This is the individualized achievement plan for Children in Action.

One book is needed per group.

Special AssignmentsSpecial Assignments

This optional plan is designed for use This optional plan is designed for use once every month or quarter. Helps once every month or quarter. Helps leaders customize projects that help leaders customize projects that help children grow spiritually and mature children grow spiritually and mature in their understanding of missions.in their understanding of missions.

Pins are awarded upon completion. Pins are awarded upon completion.

Getting Started: Step 3Getting Started: Step 3

PlanningPlanning WMU provides every church with tools to WMU provides every church with tools to

plan and promote Children in Action. plan and promote Children in Action. These includeThese include www.wmu.com/getstartedwww.wmu.com/getstarted WMU Year Book 2011–2012WMU Year Book 2011–2012 www.wmu.com/childrenwww.wmu.com/children personal consultation and training through personal consultation and training through

state WMU officesstate WMU offices

Planning for 2011–2012Planning for 2011–2012

www.wmu.com/getstartedwww.wmu.com/getstarted This Web page contains helpful This Web page contains helpful

information to help churches start Children information to help churches start Children in Action.in Action.

Information includes Children in Action Information includes Children in Action basic information flyer, invitations, bulletin basic information flyer, invitations, bulletin or newsletter inserts, and a downloadable or newsletter inserts, and a downloadable issue of issue of Children in Action Leader.Children in Action Leader.

Planning for 2011–2012Planning for 2011–2012

WMU Year Book 2011–2012WMU Year Book 2011–2012 The Children in Action year runs September The Children in Action year runs September

through August. The WMU Year Book is through August. The WMU Year Book is available the February before the year starts. available the February before the year starts.

This resource previews the Children in Action This resource previews the Children in Action year—from the yearly theme to the each year—from the yearly theme to the each month’s focus. Also provides leaders with new month’s focus. Also provides leaders with new resources and creative ideas for the year resources and creative ideas for the year ahead. ahead.

Planning for 2011–2012Planning for 2011–2012

www.wmu.com/childrenwww.wmu.com/children Planning resources are posted June Planning resources are posted June

through August before the new year through August before the new year starts. starts.

Children in Action leader forum: Leaders Children in Action leader forum: Leaders share and find tips and new ideas. share and find tips and new ideas.

Training: Presentations and conference Training: Presentations and conference outlines are available for leaders to outlines are available for leaders to train new leaders in their own churches.train new leaders in their own churches.

Planning for 2011–2012Planning for 2011–2012

State WMU OfficesState WMU Offices Each state has a WMU office that will Each state has a WMU office that will

provide training and consulting to provide training and consulting to churches and individuals.churches and individuals.

Many states provide state or regional Many states provide state or regional training.training.

Use the contact information at Use the contact information at www.wmu.com/childrenwww.wmu.com/children to contact your to contact your state WMU office.state WMU office.

Getting Started: Part 4Getting Started: Part 4

Children in Action Extras Children in Action Extras See See How to Involve Children in MissionsHow to Involve Children in Missions and and

www.wmu.com/childrenwww.wmu.com/children or or www.wmustore.comwww.wmustore.com for more information about the following for more information about the following

resources:resources: Game On! Promotion Pack (2011–2012)Game On! Promotion Pack (2011–2012) Children’s Ministry Day: February 18, 2012Children’s Ministry Day: February 18, 2012 BadgesBadges Identity ItemsIdentity Items Missions idea books for church and homeMissions idea books for church and home ““Exploring God’s World” Reading ClubExploring God’s World” Reading Club

RecapRecap

Children in Action BasicsChildren in Action Basics How to Involve Children in MissionsHow to Involve Children in Missions Children in Action LeaderChildren in Action Leader Special AssignmentsSpecial Assignments www.wmu.com/childrenwww.wmu.com/children ExtrasExtras

Children in Action ResourcesChildren in Action Resources

To order a subscription to To order a subscription to Children in Children in Action LeaderAction Leader, call WMU Customer , call WMU Customer Service at 1-800-968-7301.Service at 1-800-968-7301.

To order products or renew your To order products or renew your subscription, visit subscription, visit www.wmustore.comwww.wmustore.com or call WMU Customer Service at or call WMU Customer Service at 1-800-968-7301.1-800-968-7301.

Thank you for viewing this Thank you for viewing this presentation.presentation.

For additional assistance, For additional assistance, send us an email atsend us an email atchildren@wmu.orgchildren@wmu.org. .