In this post, I will share four amazing missionary stories for childrens church with you from my personal life. These missionary stories will make a great resource for children’s church and Sunday school. You can read them aloud or even act as the narrator while the kids act the story out.
Each story captures a unique experience that happened on the mission field. There is a key takeaway for each story at the end that acts as the “lesson” from the testimony. Your children’s church can really benefit from these missionary stories that are less typical and more authentic. After the stories, we will explore a Bible memory verse about being a missionary.
Childrens Church Missionary Story #1 – Missionaries seeking shelter
One day, we were hiking the mountains of a small African country called Lesotho. I was part of a group of Christians who were traveling into the mountains to share the Gospel with a specific community who lived way up in the mountains.
There were no roads that cars could drive on, but the guide who was leading our group had been there many times before. After we’d been hiking all day, it was getting late and the sun was starting to set.
Finally, our guide confessed that he had gotten lost! He had no idea where we were or how far we were from our intended destination. Our whole group was super tired from the hike and we rested on the hillside. There were just mountains all around us and not a sign of civilization in sight.
Suddenly, we heard a lamb. There was a young man shepherding sheep! Our guide knew it was a long shot, but decided to ask the shepherd if he could help us find a place to sleep. He could see that snow was coming in and it was not a good idea to spend the night under the stars.
After just a few minutes, the shepherd led us to his tiny home nestled between the mountains. He told his family members to start carrying furniture outside to make space for “God’s people”. Our new friends fed us with a warm meal and brought us water to wash ourselves that night.
Key takeaway
This is a good example of how people’s hospitality and generosity can be a miracle. God opened stranger’s hearts to bless us with shelter and in return we were able to share the love of Christ with them too.
Childrens Church Missionary Story #2 – Mission in new ways
Another time, we were on a mission in an Indian community in South Africa. We were trying to connect with the kids, but they were so young and just wanted to play games and run around. They didn’t show much interest in hearing topical lessons about God.
Then, one of the older women in our team encouraged me to think about creative ways to approach the kids. I thought of a coloring page, but she said then we needed to buy a lot of supplies like paper and pencils. She encouraged me to think of using something that the kids are familiar with already.
I noticed that they used henna, a herb, to draw beautiful designs on their hands. We came up with a henna design to share the story of Jesus calming the storm: It had patterns of water, boats, the disciples, the wind, and so forth.
At first, I was hesitant to share the Bible lesson, but once I started it became obvious that the young children loved it.
When we came back the next day for more mission work, the girl who I had done the henna design on came running towards me with many of her friends. She said: “I told them the story of Jesus calming the storm using the henna picture. Can you tell us more and do henna for them too?’ Just like that, a new window of opportunity opened to share the Gospel with the whole neighborhood’s kids.
Key takeaway
This story is a good example of how God sometimes works in ways that we are unfamiliar with. God knew that the children we were reaching out to would connect better with henna than typical methods of teaching Bible stories and He inspired us to use that tool.
Childrens Church Missionary Story #3 – God heals a child
One day, while we were on a mission in our hometown visiting the unemployed with food, care packages, and the Gospel. The people built shelters for themselves using all kinds of materials like tin, wood, and plastic. On that particular day, God was healing many people from sicknesses through our prayers.
While we were praying for somebody inside their shelter, I noticed a young girl who was dancing around outside. She was so joyful, she was kicking up dust as she danced. When we came out of the house, she walked towards us and we saw that her leg was hurt.
We didn’t have the full details of whether she was disabled since birth or injured somehow, but her leg was bent to the side and it made it hard to move. I couldn’t believe that this was the same girl who was dancing so joyfully earlier. She came towards us and we prayed for her.
After we prayed about general things like school, family, and so forth, we asked her if we could pray for her leg. I noticed there were scuff marks on her knees when I placed my hand on them.
Everybody placed their hands on her, like they did in the Bible, and we just prayed for healing in the name of Jesus. I could feel her leg changing its shape under my hand – God was healing her right before our eyes.
Key takeaway
This day will forever be a good example of God’s healing power. The girl was so joyful when she realized she was healed and we were all praising God. Sometimes when we go to share the Gospel, God shows up as the Healer too.
Childrens Church Missionary Story #4 – Missionaries know peace
I had the opportunity once to go share the Gospel at a center where they fed kids who did not have food at home. Some of the kids were orphans staying at the center, but most of them had parents. But their parents did not work, or if they worked they used their money on bad things like drugs instead of feeding their children.
These kids were tough. Life had been harsh towards them and they thought they needed to be that way too.
As I got up to teach them about the love of God, chaos broke out in the room. Children were fighting, shouting at each other, pulling faces at me, and the teachers who worked there were losing their temper too.
For a moment, fear gripped my heart and I wondered what I should do. Then I turned around and prayed a quick prayer under my breath. I said: “Peace in Jesus’ name!” It is like Ephesians 6:15 which says “On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong.” A miracle happened.
Suddenly, the whole room quieted down and the children settled. They looked at me with big eyes and gave me their full undivided attention for the rest of the lesson. When I shared about God who is inviting them into His family, offering them a place of safety and refuge, a few of the kids teared up. God showed up as the Peacemaker that day.
Key takeaway
This story offers a good example of how God offers missionaries (those who go in His name) great promises: For example, He promises the peace that will allow us to stand strong. God is our peace and when we ask for peace, we will receive it.
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Key Bible verse for missionary stories
” Yes, “everyone who trusts in the Lord will be saved.” But before people can pray to the Lord for help, they must believe in him. And before they can believe in the Lord, they must hear about him. And for anyone to hear about the Lord, someone must tell them. And before anyone can go and tell them, they must be sent. As the Scriptures say, “How wonderful it is to see someone coming to tell good news!” Romans 10:13-15 ERV
Childrens church memorization plan for missionary Bible verse
The verse above has been used by those on the mission field for a long time. Let’s try to memorize it together:
Actions Do an action below for each line of the verse: – stretch arms out in a cross – fold hands in prayer – cup hands around ears – cup hands around mouth – point fingers in a direction – open palms to show reading a book
One word See one word below for each line of the verse: – saved – believe – hear – tell – sent – wonderful!
Backwards Consider tasking kids to place the story in the correct order: – first someone is sent – then they tell somebody about God – the person hears the message – the person believes – the person is saved
Notes for teachers
Before you jump into the true missionary stories that will encourage young children in your church to see the value of sharing the Gospel, let’s pause for a little bit… It is absolutely necessary that these mission stories be shared with kids along with three things. The following themes should be highlighted when you teach the missionary stories for children’s church:
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1) God’s Word is full of amazing missionary stories.
However great modern missionary biographies are, we need to remind kids that the Bible is also full of true stories about real missionaries. The missionary stories from the Bible are better for children’s church than missionary books. The whole big story that God has been writing since the beginning and how it spread through generations is a missionary story too. Jesus Christ was the ultimate “missionary” and His Great Commission (Matthew 28) is where we get our understanding of mission. The apostle Paul did amazing missionary work, empowered by God. Hebrews 11 is another example of a piece of the Bible that tells us about Christian heroes who did great things – by faith.
2) The truth about God as a missionary.
There is a concept called the Missio Dei that talks about the Mission of God. Yes – that’s right! The mission belongs to God and not to you or me. God’s love is so great that He invites us into the mission He is busy with. The heavenly father gives us meaning and purpose in any missionary efforts that we do. The way to have grand adventures and do great things for the Kingdom is not by going in our own strength. The hidden heroes of Christianity are great people who understood this beautiful gift: The mission belongs to God and we are coworkers with Him. Therefore, it is not about us, but it is all about Him.
3) Missionary stories can be told by anyone.
What I mean by this is not just that any person can read Bible stories or missionary books – but that each person’s own life is full of missionary stories that can be used in children’s church. We need to dismantle the term missionary and face the truth: Each one of us is called to participate in God’s mission, wherever we are. The task of sharing the Good News is not only for a select few. You are equipped and empowered and chosen by God to be a missionary too, right where you are! A great place to start is with your best friend, and then your whole family. Young people should be taught at Sunday school how to share the Gospel with new friends. Commission them as missionaries!
I hope these missionary stories for childrens church equip you to teach the Great Commission to little ones! Let us know in the comments below if your children’s church benefited from these missionary stories and if you’d like to see more posts like this one.
Eljoh Hartzer is combining theology and art to nurture faith journeys across generations. She is a Masters-level Practical Theologian with the University of Stellenbosch. She is also a writer and editor in the niche of Christianity and children's content and she illustrates children's books. Eljoh resides in the Swartland area in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
You can follow Eljoh on LinkedIn or Instagram.
