Mission Friends

Mission Friends is the missions organization for birth through Kindergarten. In Mission Friends, preschoolers are led to move their focus from self to others. They are introduced to missions through sensory experiences and activities. They learn about God's helpers who tell people about His love. They learn that they can be helpers too. In Mission Friends, preschoolers begin building a foundation which will one day lead them to learn of God's plan for their lives as well as for the entire world.

Mission Friends is a vital missions education program for preschoolers to learn about missionaries all around the world and the countries they serve in and that they, too, can be missionaries right here where they live by telling others about Jesus and His love.  Each month Mission Friends focuses on one of our Southern Baptist missionaries. Each week Mission Friends teachers tell a missions story, plan an activity related to the country, give all preschoolers the opportunity to pray for the missionary, give the preschoolers a light snack, and play games related to the country where the missionary lives.  God uses Mission Friends to plant the seeds of becoming a missionary in the minds of little ones!  It is a blessing to see and hear preschoolers praying for the missionary they learn about monthly and know that Mission Friends is having a positive impact in the life of God's precious preschoolers.

 

How has Tulip Group implemented Mission Friends?

Mission Friends:

  • teaches missions to preschoolers in three-year-old through five-year-old classes
  • meets in the classrooms on the second floor of the educational building
  • meets every Wednesday night from 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m
  • promotes at the beginning of the school year

 

2009-2010 Mission Friends Projects

August: Christmas in August

We collected the following items for our Georgia missionary:

hot and cold drink mixes, hand sanitizer, paper bowls, cups, napkins, plates, toilet tissue,

paper towels, plastic flatware, plastic bags (gallon, garbage, quart size)

 

September: Diaper Bag Ministry

Help young, single, or poverty-stricken mothers get the supplies they need to care for their babies.

Mission Friends will be doing a Diaper Bag Ministry to support the Pregnancy Care Center.

All types of baby items are needed. Any clothing (baby or maternity) should be gently used.

Donations may be placed in the collection bin in the Preschool Welcome Center.

 

October: World Hunger Emphasis

Collect food for our Crisis Closet.

 

November: Operation Shoebox

Collect toys for the NBA Toy Store.

 

 

 

MISSION FRIENDS NEWS

Fall 2009

 

As the new church year begins, Mission Friends will be gearing up to learn about new missionaries and to help with new service projects.  Our theme for the year is "Love God, Love Others", and we will be teaching our preschoolers how to help others just as Jesus did. 

     In August we will learn about missionaries close to us in Georgia and South Carolina.  We will also participate in the "Christmas in August" project by collecting supplies requested by the Cowboy Church in Fairmount, Georgia.  Items we will collect include:  hot and cold drink mixes, hand sanitizer, paper bowls, cups, napkins, plates and paper towels, toilet tissue, plastic flatware and plastic bags (gallon, garbage, quart).  We invite anyone interested to participate with us.

     In September we will talk about what God can do in our community. Our missionary is from Kentucky.  We will participate in a Diaper Bag Ministry, started by our missionary, Bessie McPeek, to help young, single, or poverty-stricken mothers get the supplies they need to care for their babies. 

     In October we will learn how much God loves us and "travel" to Central Asia to meet our missionaries and learn about the work they are doing there.  We will learn about World Hunger and collect items needed for our Food Closet at Tulip Grove Baptist Church.

     In November we will learn about the Bible and how we should love God and others.  We will also participate in Operation Shoebox to help children less fortunate than ourselves have a Merry Christmas and learn the true meaning of Christmas. Our missionary this month is from Vermont. 

     It is vital to help our little ones understand the importance of sharing and giving to others... especially those who do not have as much as we do.  We encourage parents to talk with your children about our different projects and include them in the shopping and donating of the items that are needed.  Help them to be a part of the process so they can feel how good it is to do something for someone else and understand what "MISSION" friends is really all about.               

 

Linda Sharp

Mission Friends Director

 

 

Related Links:

 

Mission Friends Web Site