It’s almost time for the new church year to begin. Are you ready? 

It won’t be long until school bells are ringing to welcome kids back into classrooms. That means it’s also time for a new year of missions discipleship! The question is, are you prepared? 

Get Organized 

Now is a great time to evaluate your organization and material needs. Do you need to restock craft or classroom supplies? Or maybe you need extra hands to help in your room; Put the word out for new leaders to step up and commit to another year of ministry. Also consider your space and what works or doesn’t work. Make changes accordingly. Find more tips and helps on leading your group at How to Lead Children’s Missions Discipleship.  

Plan Ahead 

Right now is also a great time to block out dates on your church calendar for any events and service projects you’d like to plan. You can use the Church Year Calendar as a guide, or refer to the monthly Week 4 Outreach Project in the curriculum. Consider how often you might do an activity with children (monthly, quarterly, etc.) and whether or not badges or patches need to be ordered. 

And don’t forget to begin thinking about your springtime recognition service. (No, it’s not too early to think about it!) You’ll want to recognize the efforts of girls and boys who have worked so hard over the year! Consider which badges and patches you will need to order, when and where the recognition service will be held, and what plans need to be made to make the service special. Limited edition badges/patches (like this year’s theme, Ready, Set, Share) tend to go quickly, so the quicker you can order the better. 

Use Your Tools 

We know you could use a little help, which is why we made the Missions Journey: Kids Annual Planning Kit 2025–26. It gives an overview of the curriculum for the whole year; provides an introductory lesson to help kids understand the theme; offers ideas for a kickoff event; provides additional activities and games to use during meetings; and gives ideas for decorating. And to make your life easier, we also included promotional materials; ideas for an end of year event/recognition service; and fillable permission forms, budgets, and more. 

There are also other missions discipleship products available that might assist you in the new year. Visit our website to browse our complete children’s inventory. 

Don’t forget to also check out our blogs, which are updated each month. You’ll find blogs to encourage you and also help you lead, teach, and update you on each month’s missionaries. 

We at national WMU are praying for you and your children as you continue to grow in missions discipleship!  

Sarah Murray is the design editor for children’s resources at national WMU.