by Kimberly Sowell
When my son was 10 months old, I helped him learn to walk. I talked about it with him, modeled the skill
before him, and held his hands to guide him through the process. It was an age-appropriate skill that he needed to master.
When my son became a toddler, I turned my attention to helping him eat with a spoon. I talked about it, modeled my spoon skills, and held his hand in mine as we wielded the spoon in the direction of his mouth. It took a lot of paper towels and gobs of stain remover for both of our clothes, but it was time; he needed to master a spoon, and I guided him through the process.
It’s a basic strategy of parenting. We decide what our children need to learn, and then we talk about it, model it, and train them in that skill by providing them with real-life experiences. We introduce these skills and values to them at age-appropriate stages of life, knowing that what we emphasize to our children today shapes their skills and priorities for tomorrow.
As Christian parents, we’re training our children to be followers of Christ, and we joyfully usher them to the next stages of discipleship as they grow and mature. Our challenge as parents is to give training, as age appropriate, in every aspect of what it means to be a follower of Christ—including learning about cross-cultural missions and living like a missionary in any context.
Perhaps we hesitate as parents because missions is an act of surrender and sacrifice; exactly when are our children ready for missions? When is it age-appropriate to expect them to deny themselves, pick up a cross, and follow Jesus (Mark 8:34)? The greater realization is that they’ll never be ready if they see us shielding them from sacrifice, but they’ll embrace missions as a lifestyle if we’re talking about it, modeling it, and guiding them through the process.
What can missional parenting look like at each stage of a child’s life?
Preschoolers. Allow your preschooler to give of his possessions—toys, coins, or clothing—and take him with you to deliver the donations; encourage donations that require sacrifice from your preschooler. Ask your child to pray with you by name for people who need Jesus.
Children. Shop with your children to fill a soldier’s care package, then ask them to write a letter of encouragement and witness to the soldier, using Scripture in the letter. Ask your children about their classmates’ spiritual needs, and encourage them to pray for boldness to reach their classmates for Christ. Discover your child’s heartbeat for missional living and take a family missions trip to serve together in that way—feeding the hungry, helping the homeless, distributing Bibles, etc.
Teens. Make God’s will the center of every conversation about your teen’s future. Instead of the make-up-your-mind speech or heavy talk about money and financial security, continually encourage your teen to stay surrendered to God’s will. Then, give your teen the freedom to delve into missions, trusting God with your child. Challenge your teen to give of his resources, more sacrificially as his resources gradually increase.
Living on mission for Christ is not out of reach for even the youngest child when we as parents break down this act of worship into its basic elements. Missions is about Christ-like compassion put into action, seasoned with truth and wrapped in love. Your children can embrace it as you lead one missional parenting step at a time.
Kimberly Sowell is founder and president of Kingdom Heart Ministries, dedicated to inspiring women to make their relationship with Jesus Christ the center of who they are and how they live each moment—growing in Christ and sharing their faith with the world. She and her husband, Kevin, along with their children, make their home in Lancaster, South Carolina. Contact Kimberly at ksowell@comporium.net; www.kimberlysowell.com.
