What Is Children in Action?
Children in Action^® is a WMU^® missions organization for boys and girls who are age 6—11 or in grades 1—6. Children in Action can help children in your church begin to develop spiritually towards a missions lifestyle as they learn what God is doing in the world and discover their place in God's plan.
     The purpose of Children in Action is summed up in the Children in Action Pledge, Motto, and Scripture Verse.

Children in Action Pledge: As a member of Children in Action, I will pray for missions, give to missions, learn about missions, and do missions through the power of Christ.

Children in Action Motto: Send me!

Children in Action Scripture Verse: "I can do everything by the power of Christ. He gives me strength" (Phil. 4:13 NIrV).

How to Start a New Children in Action Organization 1. Pray for God's guidance.
2. Review this Starter Packet. Visit www.wmu.com/start to download a sample unit of Missions MatchFile for Children in Action. Call WMU at 1-800-968-7301 or visit www.wmustore.com to purchase the WMU How-To: Children in Action.
3. Meet with your pastor and children's minister and tell them of your desire to start Children in Action. Explain the organization and the resources to them. Give them an estimated cost to start and maintain Children in Action. Pray together about this decision.
4. If the pastor and children's minister are in agreement, go forward! Talk it up with parents and church leaders. Win their support for the new organization.
5. Call a WMU Customer Service Representative to order copies of Missions MatchFile for each director and other resources as needed.
6. Recruit potential leaders by visiting one-on-one. Share with potential leaders a job description (pg. 3, WMU How-To: Children in Action) and your expectations. Show them a sample lesson from Missions MatchFile. If possible, leave them a copy of WMU How-To: Children in Action. Tell the potential directors or co-directors that you will give them a week to pray and think about accepting the position. Follow up one week later.
7. Begin promoting Children in Action six to eight weeks before it begins. Use the church's bulletin or newsletter and bulletin boards/posters.
8. Train directors and co-directors by using the conference outline in WMU How-To: Children in Action. Also, contact your state's WMU office for training (and camping) opportunities.
9. Start the first Children in Action session with prayer. Keep children busy the whole meeting learning about missions. Congratulations, and have a great first year!

Who Leads Children in Action?
Children in Action director—Each Children in Action group needs an adult leader, referred to as the director, who is responsible for planning, preparing for, and carrying out the work of the group. When there is more than one leader, both leaders are called co-directors.

Children in Action coordinator—Where there are multiple Children in Action groups, the coordinator works with the WMU director and appropriate church staff to plan, conduct, and evaluate the work of the groups. (See other duties in WMU How-To: Children in Action.)

Children in Action planning team—Made up of the coordinator and directors/co-director. Plans and coordinates work between groups (referred to as units).

What About a Children in Action meeting?
Children in Action groups usually meet for an hour once a week. Groups can meet at your church, in homes, or in any appropriate location.

What Happens in a Children in Action Meeting?
Lots of missions learning experiences! Each monthly unit teaches a missions topic. The unit builds weekly as children learn. The first week sets the foundation with the biblical basis for the missions area of study. The second week, agents discover the culture of the missions area. The third week, boys and girls learn about the ministries and missions in the missions area. And the fourth week culminates with the agents participating in a ministry project called a Live Action Project.
     Each week, children are involved in an array of hands-on missions learning experiences. These creative experiences engage children in missions learning through games, crafts, drama, activity pages, arts, Bible learning activities, prayer, and much more. Every week, children learn about and pray for missionaries' kids. Children learn about the work of missionaries from a child's perspective.
     On the fifth week (once a quarter), children may work on Special Assignments, an individual achievement plan.

What resources do Children in Action leaders need?

Missions MatchFile for Children in Action is the quarterly curriculum guide for the Children in Action Director. Each Missions MatchFile also contains leadership helps.

WMU How-To: Children in Action explains everything a Children in Action director needs to know about Children in Action.

What Other Resources Are Available for Children in Action?
The WMU Year Book is an essential planning resource that gives a preview of the curriculum and special projects for the year plus a complete list of Children in Action resources and information about other WMU ministries.

Special Assignments is a one-book resource for an individualized achievement plan. Special Assignments gives children the opportunity for more in-depth learning about missions as well as the opportunity to put this into practice in their daily lives. A reward system complements the plan.

The "Change the World: Mission Songs for Children" CD is full of inspirational and fun mission songs that will enhance your ministry to children. The CD includes the brand new Children in Action Song and much more.

The Children in Action Web site at www.wmucia.com is an interactive site that includes the MK of the Month, games, news, leader helps, and more.

State and associational WMU offices offer various Children in Action opportunities. Most states offer some kind of Children in Action leader training or have consultants to assist churches with training. Some state and associational WMU offices offer various kinds of camping experiences for Children in Action agents during the summer. These camps may be weeklong or weekend camps. Also, some state and associational WMU/Children in Action organizations host events to give boys and girls opportunities to enjoy missions activities with children from other churches. For more information on opportunities in your state, call your state WMU office or associational office.

Other children's materials, such as mission storybooks, reward badges, ministry project helps, and Children in Action identity items are available. Check out the children's section in the WMU Catalog (included in this packet.)

For more information, please see the Children in Action Web site.