Passport Introduction

by | Aug 13, 2019 | Passport to Africa, SHARE | 0 comments

Welcome the Passport Mission Club! In our mission time together, we are going to go on an adventure! What kind of adventure? An adventure that matters for eternity. First, let me tell you what we hope to accomplish in our travels? Primarily, we hope to do two things: EXPOSE and INSPIRE. [Display these words on a chalkboard, dry erase board, on cardstock or on monitors as you explain the following]:

EXPOSE

Expose means to have an experience with something. So we hope to give you an experience with the people, the places and the various cultures of the nations.

INSPIRE

And then we hope you’ll be inspired. Inspired means to have the urge or motivation to do something. But inspired to do what? – It is our hope that through the adventures you will have in Passport, God will inspire you to go to and serve the different people and nations of the world.

Through Passport, we will visit exotic places and meet boys and girls from around the world. We will learn about their culture through experiences like tasting their food, trying on their clothes, listening to some of their music, seeing how they live, and learning what they believe about God.  In some cultures, we will find that the boys and girls are very similar to us in the way they look, live and believe.  And in other cultures, we will find the boys and girls to be very different from us. In either case, our responsibility is to love them and share the great Gospel story with them.

So, are you ready to travel the world together on a great adventure?

Display the visual: God is Creator.

As we journey through the nations, we will learn that God is Creator of the nations (Genesis 1:1) and that He created ALL people and cultures and made them all unique. His creation displays His glory (Psalm 19) and we will see what a glorious and majestic God He is as we learn about the people, animals, and places He created.

Display the visual: God is Provider

We will also learn that God is Provider for the nations. God takes care of His creation by providing food, clothes, and shelter through natural resources that are available. In addition, God sometimes provides for His people through the church. In fact, we are going to learn how God might use us to provide for others. Most importantly, however, we will learn that God ultimately provided for man’s greatest need – salvation from sin (Romans 6:23). Though many may suffer hunger, pain and persecution on this earth, if they will accept God’s provision for their sin, they will experience abundant life for eternity (John 3:16; John 10:10).

Display the visual: God is Ruler

God is the ultimate Ruler over the nations. We will learn that some people worship false gods, some people worship many gods, some worship no gods, and some worship the ONE true God. We will also learn about different religious beliefs and how they compare to the Gospel and the Word of God. But regardless of which gods people worship (if any), we will ultimately learn that God is still THE King of Kings and Lord of Lords and one day ALL people everywhere will bow down and worship Him. (Revelation 7:9-10)

Display the visual:  God is Savior

God is Savior to the nations. In this section, we will learn about the many witnesses have gone before us to the nations to share the Good News of the Savior. But we will also learn that this is the responsibility and privilege before EVERY believer, including each one of us. However, Acts 1:8 reminds us that we will not be alone in this task: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” We can trust His Spirit to empower and enable us to be His witnesses at home and around the world.

Finally, (as the name implies) through the Passport Mission Club experience, we hope you will be inspired by God to see yourself as living your life “on mission”. It is our hope that as you see the needs of the world, you will see yourself, through Christ, as one to help meet those needs.

But what are some of the needs of children in the world? Let’s stop for a minute and think about some of the basic needs that every child has?

Note to Teacher: Prior to class, gather items representing each of the following categories in order to reinforce learning (suggested items in parentheses):

  • clean water (water bottle)
  • food (a piece of fruit)
  • clothing (a shirt or jacket)
  • shelter (a hammer and nail)
  • education (a book)
  • medical care (bandages)
  • the Gospel (a Bible)

Conceal each of the items in a paper bag or pillowcase. Ask for volunteers to come and choose an item from the bag. As you hold up the item, ask students if they can figure out which basic need each item represents. Interact with students about each item to help them see how each of these necessities is helpful for survival and quality of life.

So as we continue through the year, we will look for ways to be on mission together. Specifically, as we learn about the people in different places around the world, we will also learn about the needs they have and look for ways to be used by God to help meet these needs. Let’s pray that God will be glorified and others will be blessed by our efforts.

I don’t know if you know this, but every person who desires to travel outside of their own country has to have a very special document. Does anyone know what this document is? That’s right! It’s a passport. Our passport tells us where we are going to visit this year!

Hold up Blue Student Passport and give students the opportunity to read the title.

Yes! This year we are going to travel to Latin America! It’s going to be a great adventure!

Blue Student Passport: Have each student write his/her name on the “Identity” page of their passport. Review with students the contents of the student passport.  For example, the passport book can become a record of countries prayed for, memory verses mastered, and mission projects accomplished.

In addition, explain to students that one of the primary purposes of going “on mission” is to share the Gospel message – to go in love and share the message of love – of a God who loved the world and He sent his son to save the world. Introduce the Friends with God Gospel booklet, memory verses and script and encourage students to work hard throughout the year to master the content found in this presentation to the glory of God and the benefit of the lost.