Skill Sharpeners for Children’s Missions Leaders
Did you know that a dull knife is more dangerous to use than a sharp one? It takes more effort to make a cut with a dull knife, and you are more likely to injure yourself in the process.
If we apply this idea to leading missions discipleship, taking time to sharpen our leadership skills will result in less effort and better results when actually leading.
Whether you are a new or a long-time leader, we can all use some well-applied knowledge. So how and where do we get this knowledge to sharpen our skills? We have several online and human resources to help you!
Resources for Sharpening Your Leadership Skills
How to Lead Children’s Missions Discipleship
The first place to start is wmu.com/howtoleadchildren. Our team has compiled a wealth of information here for leaders, from helping you understand how the story of missions unfolds throughout the Bible to the characteristics you need to teach that will lead a child to live a life on mission.
We also have practical information for leaders, such as the ways children learn, various learning styles you can incorporate into your meeting to help reach different kinds of learners, and even strategies to help with behavior management in your group.
And if you are currently leading or interested in leading a specific group, like Girls in Action, Royal Ambassadors, or Children in Action, you can find resources to help you. These include resources to get started, like a free starter pack; or resources to help you lead, like tips for setting up the group, leader responsibilities, and suggestions for planning a lesson.
All of these resources are meant to be used by leaders, or to help current leaders teach new volunteers to lead.
Blogs and Enewsletters for Children’s Missions Leaders
We also offer blogs every month that are designed with children’s missions leaders in mind, from practical ideas to augment your weekly lessons or engagement with families (e.g., “Resources for Discipling Children to Pray for Mission”) to strategies that will make you a better teacher and leader (e.g., “Fostering Healthy Minds in Children at Church”).
You can find these at wmu.com/blogs, or you can subscribe to our Children’s Missions Enewsletter, where each month we provide links to these articles plus monthly curriculum-related content, and more.
State WMU Events, Training, and Support
Still looking for more? Contact your state WMU to find out if they are offering any upcoming conferences or training for leaders. Your state board of missions may also be able to recommend similar offerings.
You may also ask your state WMU if there are other churches in your area providing missions discipleship. Reach out to those leaders. We are all working toward the same goal, and they may be able to offer insight, ideas, and even encouragement. You could even partner with them to do missions, like for Children’s Missions Day!
WMU Children’s Resource Team
We always want to help leaders be the very best they can be. Our ministry consultants are available to answer questions you may have. Please let us know how we can help!
Email us at children@wmu.com.
