BackPack Missions

• Easy, exciting, and effective strategy
• Teaches Great Commission principles and Southern Baptist Cooperative Missions to children 
• Object lessons presented by a character, "BackPack Andy," using objects taken from his backpack.
• Integrates into existing ministries focused on children such as:
  • Children's Church
  • Sunday School
  • small groups
  • camps
  • retreats
  • field trips

Lessons

Artist for Jesus

Object: small bronze statue or large photos of bronze statues
Scripture: Isaiah 64:8
Purpose: To illustrate how God provides us with special skills and gifts that we can use in missionary service.

Being God’s Servant

Object: pocket knife
Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-2
Purpose: To help children know that everyone has a choice whether or not to serve God.

Big and Small, God Uses Them All

Object: Campbell’s Soup can or label
Scripture: John 6:9
Purpose: To teach children to offer themselves and what they have to God, knowing He can do great and mighty things with these gifts.

Breaking Into Jail

Object: hiking boot
Scripture: Matthew 25:36
Purpose: To show how North American Mission Board chaplains share Jesus to inmates living in prisons.

Cleaning Up for the Gospel

Objects: pan of warm water, bar of soap, washcloth, and hand towel
Scripture: Acts 13:32
Purpose: To illustrate how missionaries can use something as simple as good health and hygiene habits to open the doors to sharing the gospel.

Does Anybody Care About Us?

Object: video camera
Scripture: Matthew 19:26
Purpose: To help children consider video as a way that Southern Baptists can help others know about people who need to know Christ.

Everyone Everywhere

Object: bag of marbles
Scripture: Revelation 7:9
Purpose: To help children understand that there all kinds of people living around the world and all of them need to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Friends Tell Friends About Jesus

Object: soccer ball
Scripture: John 15:13
Purpose: To illustrate the importance of missionaries building relationships with other people in order to effectively share the gospel in other cultures.

Go Tell Everyone

Objects: pancakes and waffles in a to-go food container and bottle of syrup
Scripture: Matthew 24:14
Purpose: To help children understand that God desires for His people to take the gospel to everyone.

Greetings from Atlanta Georgia

Object: bowling ball or swim goggles
Scripture: Luke 14:23
Purpose: To introduce the ministry of Baptist mission centers.

How Can I Help?

Object: ladder
Scripture: John 6:9
Purpose: To make children aware of the importance of praying for missionaries.

Is There a Doctor in the House?

Object: stethoscope, thermometer, or blood-pressure cuff
Scripture: James 5:14
Purpose: To show that medical missions is an effective way to open doors to sharing the gospel.

Meeting People Where They Are

Object: snow ski or accessory
Scripture: Psalm 19:1
Purpose: To introduce the resort missions setting and a missionary who serves in the Yellowstone National Park.

Pigs and Goats for Jesus

Object: package of bacon and/or cheese and milk
Scripture: Mark 6:37
Purpose: To show how giving a gift of pigs and goats to people in need helps them to know and understand the love of Jesus Christ.

We Work Together

Object: baseball bat or ball
Scripture: Mark 16:15
Purpose: To strengthen awareness of associational missions and the Cooperative Program.

What Is a Missionary?

Object: large sealed envelope
Scripture: Acts 9:15
Purpose: To help children understand what a missionary is and how many missionaries Southern Baptists support through the Cooperative Program.

Whatever It Takes to Get There

Objects: a car key, a bicycle horn (or other item that would represent a bike), a boat paddle (or boat cushion) and a hiking boot
Scripture: Acts 27:2
Purpose: To illustrate how Southern Baptist missionaries use every mode of transportation available in taking the gospel to those who have not heard it.

Where He Leads I Will Follow

Objects: Bible and a variety of maps
Scripture: Psalm 119:105; Acts 1:8
Purpose: To illustrate that missionaries are faithful to obey God.

Who Will Go?

Object: pack of peanuts or peanut shape cut-out
Scripture: Romans 10:14
Purpose: To raise awareness of unreached people groups and how children can pray for them.

World Hunger: Bagging World Hunger

Objects: Two large grocery bags (one paper and the other plastic)
Scripture: Matthew 25:35
Purpose: To help children understand hunger in North America by introducing them to Appalachian Regional Ministry and one way they share the gospel with the people of Appalachia.

World Hunger: Bread of Life

Objects: Loaf of bread (not sliced) and a Bible
Scripture: John 6:35
Purpose: To introduce how one Southern Baptist missionary is sharing God’s love in word and deed by helping feed hungry people and telling them of God’s care.

World Hunger: Give Them Something to Eat

Object: Unopened bag of rice and bowl
Scripture: Mark 6:37
Purpose: To help raise awareness and understanding of the challenges of world hunger and how the Southern Baptist Convention World Hunger Fund helps provide physical food in the name of Christ.

World Hunger: More than Food

Objects: Kitchen utensils and other items
Scripture: Luke 10:27
Purpose: To help children understand how the World Hunger Fund assists Southern Baptist representatives and volunteers who respond in Jesus’ name to people following natural disasters overseas.

World Hunger: Pouring out God’s Love

Objects: Large bottle of water and a large plastic bowl
Scripture: Matthew 25:35
Purpose: To help children to understand how SBC Hunger Funds help Southern Baptist International Mission Board Missionaries and volunteers ministers through providing clean drinking water.

You Are Special

Object: mirror
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:27
Purpose: To encourage children to know that you are never too young to share the gospel.

You Give to What You Love

Object: dollar bill
Scripture: Psalm 96:3
Purpose: To help children understand that monies given through the Cooperative Program support Southern Baptist’s involvement in global missions.