Reaching Out at Easter
By Stefanie Reubell
Children can make a difference through outreach evangelism!
One of the neatest parts of being a Sunday School teacher is witnessing children’s natural selflessness toward the needy, neglected, and downtrodden. I’ve seen kids wiping away tears while watching videos of starving people or the homeless. I have collected bulging Buddy Barrels from kids who saved their allowance for missions instead of buying a new Xbox game.
One little girl I used to teach, *Ginny, was concerned about her next-door neighbor, a girl who was being raised in a secular home. Ginny often prayed for the girl, *Kate, and showed she cared by helping her with her chores or giving her a little baggie of holiday cookies she’d made. One day, Ginny invited Kate to church—and she came! Although Kate didn’t make a decision for the Lord that day, she now asks Ginny questions about God every time she sees her. I believe this is evidence that Ginny’s prayers and tangible love are seeds growing a harvest in Kate’s heart. There’s no age limit on who can “go into the world and make disciples!”
Encourage your students’ tender hearts for the lost this Easter by involving them in community outreach.
Ideas for places to minister
(call/ask/notify your chosen place first and be sure you have enough adult chaperones and signed parental permission for all students involved)
- Orphanage
- Homeless shelter
- Nursing home
- A local business
- Host a neighborhood Easter egg hunt at your church
- Or collect money and send letters to a place of great need, like Zimbabwe
Ideas for what to give, offer, or send to people
- Plastic Easter eggs stuffed with candy
- Grocery card (some supermarkets carry pre-loadable gift cards)
- A kid-cooked meal
- Flower bouquets
- Donated bakery goods from local eateries, wrapped attractively
- Colorful bandages/antibiotic ointment (check shipping charges to see if money would be more economical)
- Be sure to include a card, letter, or booklet telling them about Jesus and/or directing them to your children’s Sunday School/church ministries
Resources
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Happy Easter Card (PDF) — Print out these PDF cards on heavy paper or business card stock and hand them out during the outreach, or attach them to Easter baggies with ribbon. You can stamp the back of each card with your church address and email or even a map leading people to the church.
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Who Is Jesus Booklet (PDF) — Print out this booklet and staple or bind it together for a more lengthy explanation of the gospel and the Easter message. Be sure to include contact information and your church address so people have someone to talk to if they have more questions or make a decision for Christ.
* names have been changed
