Student Missions
No longer children but not yet adults, teenagers are living through a unique and formative time of life. That’s why it is so important to be sure students have a firm foundation before they head off to make their way in the world.
Missions discipleship for teens instills a strong biblical framework, awakens in them a passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and provides opportunities for students to live out their faith in a tangible way. Missions discipleship guides students who are passionately devoted to Christ into avenues of service.

ACTEENS
Missions discipleship for teenage girls guides them to look beyond themselves and become actively involved in missions and ministry. What happens in missions discipleship doesn’t just stay within the walls of the church; girls are challenged to live their lives openly for Christ in a very authentic and influential way. They grow to see that God can use them every day in countless ways to change their world.
CONNECT WITH ACTEENS:
Acteens is a missions discipleship group for girls in grades 7–12. Founded in 1970, Acteens was commissioned to empower young women to take part in the mission of God. To this day, that mission remains the same. Acteens fosters a love of Jesus Christ and lights an unquenchable fire in the hearts of teenage girls to share His love with the world.
Each week, Acteens learn about the ways God is at work in the world around them. They also commit themselves to the Scriptures, finding strength and purpose in their words. Biblically based and mission-focused, Acteens fearlessly share the good news of Jesus Christ with everyone they meet. The leaders of tomorrow are built today in Acteens.
Acteens strive to . . .
- learn about missions,
- pray for missions,
- give to missions, and
- be on mission for Jesus Christ.
Do you need some tips and ideas for leading your missions group? If so, you’ve come to the right place!
You can use these resources to help you start and/or lead missions discipleship in your church.
Just click on the links in the list below. You can view these resources online, or you can download and print the materials you need.
Unfolding the Bible’s Mission Story
Missional Characteristics—How do students know they are missional people? Take a moment to learn about the characteristics of a missions lifestyle and how students can apply this to their own lives.
Missional Characteristics (handout)—Find out how teen girls engage in missions discipleship in Acteens.
How-To Students—Want to lead your own students to be on mission but don’t know where to start? Join us as we discuss resources and techniques that will instill a passion for missions in the hearts and minds of your student group.
Getting Acteens Started—Getting Acteens started in your church takes just a few simple steps. This PowerPoint presentation will help you get on your way.
How to Set Up Your Acteens Group—There are several ways to set up your Acteens group to truly customize your experience for the girls in your church.
Acteens Leader Responsibilities—What does it mean to be an Acteens leader? Start here to find out what it takes to be a successful Acteens leader.
Mission Journey: Students
Involve your students in ongoing missions discipleship and empower them to discover their own roles as disciples of Jesus who live on mission.
This versatile resource is customizable based on the needs of your group. Students will meet missionaries serving all around the world, be encouraged to grow in discipleship, and become active agents of gospel change in their own communities.
This is an annual digital subscription (12-monthly issues). Individual units also available for purchase.
MissionsQuest: The Acteens Individual Achievement Plan
Send Acteens on a quest to grow deeper in their faith and be more involved in sharing God’s story with the world. The revised MissionsQuest individual achievement plan is better than ever.
Coming soon!
The National Acteens Panel is a group of young women who are interested in missions and impacting their world for Christ. The young women selected as national panelists have exhibited a strong commitment to Christ and to missions through their involvement in Acteens, leadership responsibilities in their church and community, and dedication to their academic studies.
National Acteens Panelists are representatives for Acteens from across the country. Panelists serve for one year. In that time, they have many opportunities for growth, leadership experience, and sharing their ideas and hopes for the future direction of Acteens.
Girls selected for the National Acteens Panel serve at a national WMU event where they have the opportunity to interact with missionaries and other national leaders involved in missions. They may also speak at churches and events in their home states. Panelists will also write blogs and create selfie-style videos for WMU social media outlets.
One special benefit of being chosen for the National Acteens Panel is provided through the WMU Foundation. Each panelist receives a $1,500 scholarship that may be used for the college or other educational experience of her choice.
NATIONAL WMU ACTEENS CONSULTANT
Heather Keller
hkeller@wmu.org
(205) 995-4816
- Heather is the Acteens consultant and student team editor for national WMU. She is responsible for program planning, leadership development and Missions Journey: Students curriculum.
If you would like to more information from your local state office, please find their contact information here.

CHALLENGERS
As young men transition into adulthood, it is of the utmost importance that their faith grows with them. Missions discipleship prepares teenage boys to face the world with confidence in Jesus Christ and a heart on fire for the gospel. Experiences in missions discipleship build boys’ awareness that while God wants every person to know of His love and to have a relationship with Him through Christ, there are still people in the world who know nothing of God’s love. With this knowledge, boys progress from a focus on self to a focus on others. A foundation of missions is set for a lifetime.
CONNECT WITH STUDENTS:
Challengers is a missions discipleship group for boys in grades 7–12.
As young men plan and participate in missions activities like praying, giving, Bible study, ministry, and witnessing, they become Challengers. Through the study of Scripture, Challengers build a strong foundation. Through mission study, Challengers have their eyes opened to the work God is doing in the world. And through the call to action, Challengers dare to put their faith to the test in the real world. Missions discipleship with Challengers ensures that a new generation of men are Biblically rooted, world aware, inspired to serve, and actively engaged. Are you up for the challenge?
Through Challengers, teenage boys will:
- discover God in their everyday experiences,
- go beyond the ordinary in their relationships with God,
- experience God for who He is,
- become witnesses to God’s faithfulness,
- gain a greater understanding of missions and how God is at work in the world, and
- participate in God’s awesome work in the world.
Do you need some tips and ideas for leading your missions group? If so, you’ve come to the right place!
You can use these resources to help you start and/or lead missions discipleship in your church.
Just click on the links in the list below. You can view these resources online, or you can download and print the materials you need.
Unfolding the Bible’s Mission Story
Missional Characteristics for Students –How do students know they are missional people? Take a moment to learn about the characteristics of a missions lifestyle and how students can apply this to their own lives.
Missional Characteristics (handout)—Find out how teen guys engage in missions discipleship in Challengers.
How-To Students—Want to lead your own students to be on mission but don’t know where to start? Join us as we discuss resources and techniques that will instill a passion for missions in the hearts and minds of your student group.
Get Challengers Started—Getting Challengers started in your church takes just a few simple steps. This PowerPoint presentation will help you get on your way.
How to Set Up Challengers Group—There are several ways to set up your Challengers group to truly customize your experience for the teen guys in your church.
Challengers Leader Responsibilities—What does it mean to be a Challengers leader? Start here to find out what it takes to be a successful Challengers leader.
Mission Journey: Students
Involve your students in ongoing missions discipleship and empower them to discover their own roles as disciples of Jesus who live on mission.
This versatile resource is customizable based on the needs of your group. Students will meet missionaries serving all around the world, be encouraged to grow in discipleship, and become active agents of gospel change in their own communities.
This is an annual digital subscription (12-monthly issues). Individual units also available for purchase.
Coming soon!
NATIONAL WMU GIRLS IN ACTION CONSULTANT
Heather Keller
hkeller@wmu.org
(205) 995-4816
Heather is the Children’s Resource Team ministry consultant for national WMU. She is responsible for program planning and leadership development for Girls in Action and Children in Action. It only takes a minute or two of seeing Heather interact with children as she helps them learn about missions and do missions projects to know she is in her element.
If you would like to more information from your local state office, please find their contact information here.

YOUTH ON MISSION
No longer a child but not yet an adult, teenagers are living through a unique and formative time of life. That’s why it is so important to be sure students have a firm foundation before they head off to make their way in the world. Missions discipleship for teens instills a strong biblical framework, awakening a passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ and providing opportunities for students to live out their faith in a tangible way. Missions discipleship guides students passionately devoted to Christ into avenues of service.
CONNECT WITH STUDENTS:
Youth on Mission is a missions discipleship group for students in grades 7–12. Students who are active in Youth on Mission not only learn more about biblical truths, they also learn how to apply them in their daily lives. They have opportunities individually and in groups to put into practice what they are learning. This includes the opportunity to share their faith in Christ in a variety of ways and in a variety of settings.
Through Youth on Mission, students:
- discover God in their everyday experiences,
- go beyond the ordinary in their relationships with God,
- experience God for who He is,
- become witnesses to God’s faithfulness,
- gain a greater understanding of missions and how God is at work in the world, and
- participate in God’s awesome work in the world.
Do you need some tips and ideas for leading your missions group? If so, you’ve come to the right place!
You can use these resources to help you start and/or lead missions discipleship in your church.
Just click on the links in the list below. You can view these resources online, or you can download and print the materials you need.
Unfolding the Bible’s Mission Story
Missional Characteristics for Students –How do students know they are missional people? Take a moment to learn about the characteristics of a missions lifestyle and how students can apply this to their own lives.
Missional Characteristics (handout)—Find out how students engage in missions discipleship in Youth on Mission.
How-To Students—Want to lead your own students to be on mission but don’t know where to start? Join us as we discuss resources and techniques that will instill a passion for missions in the hearts and minds of your student group.
Getting Youth on Mission Started—Getting Youth on Mission started in your church takes just a few simple steps. This PowerPoint presentation will help you get on your way.
How to Set Up Youth on Mission—There are several ways to set up your Youth on Mission group to truly customize your experience for the teenagers in your church.
Youth on Mission Leader Responsibilities—What does it mean to be a Youth on Mission leader? Start here to find out what it takes to be a successful Youth on Mission leader.
Mission Journey: Students
Involve your students in ongoing missions discipleship and empower them to discover their own roles as disciples of Jesus who live on mission.
This versatile resource is customizable based on the needs of your group. Students will meet missionaries serving all around the world, be encouraged to grow in discipleship, and become active agents of gospel change in their own communities.
This is an annual digital subscription (12-monthly issues). Individual units also available for purchase.
Coming soon!
NATIONAL WMU GIRLS IN ACTION CONSULTANT
Heather Keller
hkeller@wmu.org
(205) 995-4816
Heather is the Children’s Resource Team ministry consultant for national WMU. She is responsible for program planning and leadership development for Girls in Action and Children in Action. It only takes a minute or two of seeing Heather interact with children as she helps them learn about missions and do missions projects to know she is in her element.
If you would like to more information from your local state office, please find their contact information here.