“You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. This is what I command you: Love one another.”

—John 15:16–17 (CSB)

My oldest child will soon graduate from college. She has been looking forward to this day for much longer than the few years she spent studying elementary education at our local university. She has dreamed of becoming a teacher since she was a little girl.

Like many preschoolers, much of her playtime in those early years was spent imitating her favorite teachers. I remember her legs dangling from the wooden rocking chair in her brother’s Noah’s ark-themed nursery, a bright green mug in her hand, full of craft sticks containing names of each of her stuffed animals in her hand. For hours she would role-play as her Mission Friends leader, selecting sticks and announcing which imaginary interest area her pretend preschoolers would be invited to enjoy. Undoubtedly, God used the impactful role those church volunteers had on her early life to fuel her heart for teaching preschoolers and children and to reveal that He was calling her to teach.

God has called you to an important role in carrying out His mission too. Preschool is a significant time in the lives of preschoolers as they develop an understanding of who God is and how they play a part in His plan for the world. God has chosen you to lead them!

When you lead preschoolers to work together to stack wooden blocks into imaginative structures, you are guiding them to move from a focus on self to a focus on others. When you organize craft supplies for your group to complete an art activity, you are inviting preschoolers to use their creativity to share God’s love. When you tell a story about a missionary, you are helping preschoolers to understand God wants all people to know of His love.

As a Missions Friends leader, God has appointed you to lay a lasting foundation that helps preschoolers grow into the next generation of Christ followers who will fulfill His Great Commission!

Prayer:

God, thank You for choosing to use Missions Friends leaders as part of Your mission of making disciples in all nations, among all generations. Help us to be mindful of both the privilege and responsibility of being called to introduce boys and girls to Your love for them and for all peoples of the world. In Jesus’ name, amen.

by Alison Howell