Girls in Action

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Welcome to the Children in ActionSM training
presentation
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• In the Summer of 2004,
• the Childrens Resource Team of WMU
• began an evaluation of the Children in Action
  curriculum.
• As a part of this year and half
• research project, WMU surveyed CiAs,
• CiA leaders, childrens ministers, parents,
• and state WMU leadership.

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• The research phase culminated with a month-long
  pilot project that included CiA leaders and
  children from approximately 60 churches across
  North America.
• Based on their responses and our research, WMU
  created a new design for the CiA curriculum.
• WMU listened and responded to what agents and
  leaders said they wanted.

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• The research phase culminated with a pilot
  project that include participation from 30
  churches, leaders, and children.
• Based on the responses we enhanced the basic
  curriculum.
• WMU listened and responded to what children and
  leaders said they wanted!

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• WMU is excited to announce the launch of a new
  line of
• Children in Action resources in September 2007!

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The New Design is

• Grounded in Scripture learning and application
• Fun
• Interactive
• Easy to use
• Active
• Simple to implement
• Inspiring to children, leaders, and parents

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• Another way to explain it is
• Relevant
• Redesigned
• Ready to Use

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• Whats new
• Children in Action Leader (replaces Missions
  MatchFile)
• Bimonthly delivery, starting with
  September/October 2007
• Fresh, vibrant designs for todays children and
  leaders
• More ideas and features from real leaders and
  groups

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• Whats the same
• WMUs commitment to age-appropriate,
  learner-focused missions education
• Fun, hands-on activities to help children learn
  about missionaries and missions work around the
  world
• Content that challenges children to understand
  and be involved in the mission of God

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• Presenting
• the new
• Children in Action
• curriculum

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How to Involve Children in Missions

• The essential training resource for Children in
  Action
• Recommended for every leader
• Information on how to start and strengthen
  Children in Action
• Articles to help leaders teach children
• And More

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Children in Action Leader

• The all-in-one planning resource for Children in
  Action
• Replaces Missions Matchfile
• 32 pages
• Bimonthly
• Spiral-bound
• Includes a full-color poster
• Recommended for every leader

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Children in Action Leader

• Children in Action Leader contains easy-to-use
  session plans that CiA leaders have come to love,
  plus a fresh design and additional features that
  will benefit leaders and members alike.

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Children in Action Unit of Study

• Each month, Children in Action Leader provides
  plans for CiA groups to learn about a different
  missions area.
• Each months material will include plans for four
  weekly sessions and one Live Action Project.
• Sessions will provide ideas for leading all
  children, grades 16.

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Unit Structure

• Each session introduces children to a different
  aspect of missions, providing them with a
  holistic understanding of the missions area by
  the end of the month.
• Each session builds upon the previous weeks
  sessions to help children grow in their
  understanding and application of Scripture,
  discipleship, and missions.

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Session One

• This session introduces the biblical basis of the
  months topic.
• It answers the question
• What does the Bible say?

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Session Two

• This session introduces the culture or missions
  need described in the unit.
• It answers the question
• What is the need?

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Session Three

• This session includes in-depth details about the
  missions work or ministry featured in the unit.
• It answers the question
• What is being done to meet
• the need?

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Session Four

• This session provides a Live Action Project,
  hands-on ministry idea, related to the unit.
• It answers the question
• How can I help meet this need or a similar need
  in my community?

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Session Five

• This session provides groups with the option of
  working on Special Assignments or participation
  in additional activities related to the unit.
• It answers the question
• What else do I need to know to personalize and
  apply my learning?

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A Glimpse of the CiA Session Layout

• Orientation (1015 minutes)
• Investigation (1520 minutes)
• Reconnaissance (20 minutes)
• Debriefing (10 minutes)

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Sample Session Layout
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Orientation

• Orientation (1015 minutes)
• Scrumptious snacks
• Fun introduction activity

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Investigation

• Investigation (1520 minutes)
• Exciting exploration of the Scripture passage,
  culture, missionary focus

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Reconnaissance

• Reconnaissance (20 minutes)
• Creative activities to reinforce learning

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Debriefing

• Debriefing (10 minutes)
• Reflective closing with MK prayer time

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Children in Action Leader

• Activity Pages
• Reproducible activity pages.
• Pages contain games, fact strips, crafts, and
  other reproducible items.
• Leaders are free to make unlimited copies of each
  activity page.

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Children in Action Leader

• Poster
• Interactive games
• Activities
• Maps
• Banners
• And much more

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Children in Action Leader

• Family Missions Focus
• A reproducible page for leaders to give to
  parents to help reinforce missions learning
• at home.
• This page will share with parents what children
  are learning during the month, and includes
  suggestions for ways families can learn about and
  do missions together.

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Children in Action Leader

• Leadership Helps
• Hot Topic multiple articles in each issue
  addresses a topic of interest to leaders
• Children in Action Spotlight
• Leadership tips
• Much more

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Children in Action Webwww.wmucia.org

• Additional Ideas
• Activity ideas for younger children
• Activity ideas for older children
• Scripture learning activities
• Leadership tips
• Much more

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Reflections on Children in Action Leader

• Take a moment and reflect on the new
• Children in Action Leader
• What are the differences?
• How will this affect planning?
• How will this affect the children missions
  education experience?

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Subscriptions

• Subscriptions to Missions Matchfile will
  automatically transfer
• to Children in Action Leader.
• To order additional copies of the new materials,
  or for questions concerning your subscription,
• please call WMU customer service at
• 1-800-968-7301.

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Thank you!

• I hope that this has been very informative for
  you. If you have questions, please email me at
  meaker_at_wmu.org.
• I will address your questions through the
  20072008 FAQ section on www.gapassport.com.
• To learn more, contact your state Children in
  Action consultant. Visit www.gapassport.com for
  contact information.

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Thank you!

• Thank you for ministering to children through
  missions education!
• You are very important to us, but even more
  important to the boys and girls whose lives you
  are shaping and preparing to live a missional
  lifestyle.