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Mission
Project
Make
a Whale of a Difference in the Life of a Needy Child!
 VBS
directors are often looking for mission projects that will
make kids feel like they are making an impact in the lives
of others ... that they can make a difference. Kids need
something they can touch, hold, and see to make it real.
But Directors need a project that is manageable for them,
both in time and financial resources.
Big Idea Productions has partnered with Compassion International
to "make a whale of a difference in the life of a needy
child!" Through this partnership, kids have the opportunity
to make a difference! What better way for kids to impact
lives and reach out with the message God wants them to share.
Compassion International is an organization that
works closely with Christ-centered, evangelical churches
in front-line communities to identify and register children
who urgently need care. When families choose to sponsor
one of these children, the support allows a child to participate
in a program that offers life-changing benefits and opportunities,
including educational assistance, health care, positive
interaction with Christian adults, supplemental food (if
necessary), and so much more. But, most importantly, the
child that is sponsored learns about Jesus and is encouraged
to develop a lifelong relationship with the Lord.
How
the Project Works
During
Jonah: An Overboard Adventure!, each participant
will need a bank or another safe place to keep money that
is collected. Jonah's fish banks are available for purchase
and make a great keepsake that will remind participants
how important it is to be compassionate. The cost is minimal
and simply covers manufacturing and shipping. (This means
that even the smallest contribution by a child will actually
go toward helping others!)
 On
the opening day of the program, the fish banks can be distributed
during the Opening Assembly. Children may then take the
banks home, along with directions for collection and a letter
describing what Compassion International does for
children all over the world. Participants are encouraged
to personally contribute as well as collect money from their
families, friends, and neighbors throughout the week to
help needy children. Each church and/or family is encouraged
to collect the money in any manner that is comfortable for
them. These moneys will be collected and used in a variety
of ways to help children with spiritual, economic, social,
and physical needs.
The third day of the program focuses on the lesson of compassion
and places special emphasis on reaching out to others with
compassion. This lesson provides several opportunities to
discuss the mission project and to do an activity relating
to it. The Opening Assembly that day presents a special
feature video, showing Bob and Larry visiting Compassion
International children in the Dominican Republic. Through
the video, the children can learn how the money they collect
will be used for needy children around the world.
The money that is collected using the Jonah fish banks during
the Overboard Adventure program is returned either on the
last day of the program or during the Closing Celebration
Program. All participants' contributions will be combined,
and one check will be written by the church, payable to
Compassion International. The money will be used
to help needy children all around the world!
Compassion International links resourceful, caring
Christians like the children and families in your program
to children in need throughout the world. Families will
also have the opportunity to be linked "one to one" with
a needy child through a monthly sponsorship. This allows
a caring relationship to develop that can deeply touch both
the child and the sponsor. This has been done over 800,000
times since 1952.
Big Idea feels very confident in encouraging participants
to sponsor a child through Compassion International
because some of us at Big Idea have been sponsoring children
for years. We know firsthand how effective the program is!
For
more information on Compassion International, visit
Compassion.com
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