7 ways to raise kids with a heart for global mission

Claire Walford, from mission agency Crosslinks, shares simple ways to help children love the world, pray for the unreached, and see themselves as part of God’s big story—whether they stay or go

What is your child’s current vision of overseas mission? Is it something they are even aware of? Could they name a mission partner? Do they know that many people across the world do not have access to a Bible in their own language?

I suspect as we consider these questions, most of us feel convicted that our children are relatively UK-focused. I certainly sense that if my children ever think about evangelism or mission, it is in the context of their immediate friends, family and neighbourhood.

For many of our mission partners, their ‘calling’ began in childhood – often sparked by reading books or meeting mission partners

At Crosslinks, we’re giving focused thought to how we equip churches and parents to raise the next generation of mission-minded people. We recognise that unless the local church inspires and disciples Generation Alpha in the Great Commission now, we will struggle in the future to raise up and send long-term global workers.

A journey that begins in childhood

Making the decision to serve the Lord overseas is a long process. We recently surveyed our mission partners about their pathway to the mission field: 39 per cent took between 7-10 years from ……