Parents, pastors and leaders — if we want to raise a generation passionate about Christ’s mission, we need to start now. Scripture calls us to pass down the truth of God’s ways. When we do, the next generation will rise up and declare his righteousness to those yet unborn (Psalm 22:31).
So how can we get our young people engaged in the global mission of making disciples? Here are 10 practical, hands-on ideas you can try this week:
1. Pray Together for a Missionary, Country or People Group
Grab a prayer card and set aside time to pray together as a family or church. These cards include photos and helpful background information. ACGC offers a great set here. Keep a card on your dinner table or in your church pews as a visual reminder to lift up a missionary during meals or worship.
2. Read and Talk Through Scripture Together
Crack open your Bible and explore what it says about God’s heart for the nations. Start with Matthew 28:18–20, Acts 1:8 or Genesis 12:1–3. Encourage young people to read, ask questions and share their thoughts. Let them see that the Bible is alive with God’s global mission.
3. Discuss Global Current Events That Affect the Gospel
Turn world news into teachable moments. Check out sites like Mission Network News, Operation World, or the Joshua Project. These sites give detailed information about events, issues and challenges for global missions. Choose a specific issue or country and learn together. Talk about what’s going on — and then pray about it.
4. Cook a Meal from Another Country
Find a recipe from a country you’re praying for and cook it together. Before you eat, take time to pray for the people of that nation. You don’t have to search far — many international ingredients are in your local supermarket, and global food stores often carry the rest. (I recently tried biryani — it’s full of flavor and fun to make!)
5. Invite a Missionary Over for a Meal or Stay
If you have the opportunity, open your home to a missionary, former missionary or ministry leader. Hearing their stories in person brings missions to life for young people. I still remember the missionaries my family hosted when I was a kid — those moments left a lasting mark.
6. Encourage Giving from the Heart
Teach young people to support missions financially, even with small gifts. Many churches participate in Penny Crusade, our largest source of mission funding. Help your kids give a portion of their allowance or run a fundraiser. It’s about the heart, not the amount (see Mark 12:41–44 and 2 Corinthians 8:12).
7. Host a Prayer Night with a Missionary Guest
Plan a mission-focused prayer event. Invite a missionary to join via video call or in person. Want help connecting? Our international missions department can assist. Contact us at [email protected]. Let young people ask questions, hear stories from the field, and pray intentionally.
8. Build Friendships with Missionary Kids
Missionary kids often move frequently and struggle to maintain friendships. Your young people can step in to build lasting connections — through video chats, social media or even care packages. They don’t need to talk about “missions” — just be friends. That kind of support goes a long way.
9. Celebrate Culture with a Multicultural Event
Host a cultural night at your church or in your home. Invite young people and their friends to bring dishes from their heritage. Sharing stories, food and fun is a powerful way to honor God’s creativity and learn from each other.
10. Let Young People Research and Share
Pick a country, people group or ministry and help young people dig into the culture — what people eat, what they believe and how they live. Give them time to present what they learn during youth group, Sunday school or even a worship service. This gives them ownership and shows their voice matters.
Final Thought
If you don’t prioritize Christ’s mission, your kids won’t either. But when they see you engaged — praying, giving, inviting, sharing — they’ll follow your lead. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to show up. So, let’s go all in together!
