USA (MNN) — Teaching children money skills can be tricky, but an event earlier this month showed kids the value of giving back to God.
Global Disciples’ campaign GoGlobal 1Day runs through the summer and invites people to think differently about missions and how they can creatively contribute to the Great Commission. The GoGlobal 1Day campaign culminates in a celebration where people can learn about Global Disciples’ mission to reach the least-reached with the Gospel and how they can get involved.
“It’s a lesson in generosity for families and kids,” says Global Disciples’ Communications Vice President Wendy Nagle. “They can be missionaries in their own backyard and they can also be part of the giving opportunity and the praying opportunities to reach people just like them around the world.”
(Photo courtesy of Global Disciples)
This year, the GoGlobal 1Day event took place in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on September 6th. Approximately 300 adults and kids participated in GoGlobal 1Day.
But a surprising and joyful result was how the children responded.
Andrea Brubaker, a board member with Global Disciples and a long-time supporter, was enthusiastic about organizing a way kids could participate in GoGlobal 1Day. As a music director at her church for 22 years, Brubaker enjoys writing musicals and drama for kids to perform and decided to incorporate this into the event.
Brubaker says, “It was a way to involve them and get them to learn about GoGlobal and also get them to be missional right on the stage as they share about the love of Jesus.”
For each child who performed at GoGlobal 1Day, Brubaker gave them $10 as an honorarium in the form of one $5 and five $1s. She then talked to them about honoring God with our talents and resources and giving back to Him.
(Photo courtesy of Global Disciples)
“One of the things I always say to my kids, my cast before performing is, ‘Who gave you the gift?’ — and I’m obviously referring to their gifts of talent and their abilities,” says Brubaker. “I love when they reply back, ‘God gave me the gift.’ Then I say to them in response, ‘Then Who are you going to give the gift back to?’
“I think too, as we talk about missions and how do we pass on to the next generation that they become mission-minded, the one thing I just feel very passionate about is to remind our children, to remind these next generations that everything they have comes from God.”
There was a table set up for donations at GoGlobal 1Day. All financial gifts supported ministry efforts to share Jesus with least-reached people through Global Disciples.
For many of the kids, it clicked.
“Those children, many of them came up to me and said, ‘Can you go with me to the table? I want to give.’”
Brubaker says, “It’s just really fun to have them open up their envelope and stand there and they were so excited to be able to know that the money that they were giving,…what it’s being used for is to reach the least-reached.
(Photo courtesy of rawpixel.com)
“I just think it’s so important that we teach our children, this next generation, that God is the ultimate Giver of the gift. So the willing heart to give back I think is such a beautiful expression.”
The GoGlobal 1Day event may be over, but there are still many ways you can get involved in missions through Global Disciples.
First, get creative with how you give!
Consider “working for the Great Commission” for one day and donating what you would earn in one day’s work to Global Disciples! Or you can host your own fundraiser — wash cars, hold a bake sale, organize a walk-a-thon — there are many ways to creatively support Gospel ministry!
To find giving opportunities with Global Disciples, click here.
Nagle says, “We’re really encouraging people to think, how could you do something special for Global Disciples? It doesn’t have to happen near our office. But really help your friends think a little bit more about what near-culture missions is about and how you can get involved.”
(Photo courtesy of rawpixel.com)
Then, connect with Global Disciples and be encouraged by how God is moving.
“As the year goes one, stay engaged online at globaldisciples.org. Or ask us to send a newsletter and you can go online and request that as well. We’d love to keep the conversation flowing throughout the year and continue to stay focused and engaged on inviting the next generation.”
Header photo courtesy of Global Disciples.
