FRANKLIN — Ready! Set! Go!
As of January 2026, Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union (TN WMU) has a new tool to help children’s leaders teach about missions — and it’s free!
The missions event kit for children is available to download at tnwmu.org and is the fourth kit that TN WMU has produced. “If we want to continue sending and supporting missionaries to reach those without the gospel, it is critical to start that teaching as early as possible,” said Kim Cruse, missions discipleship specialist for Tennessee WMU. “That’s why we created this free resource to help churches do that easily.”
Leaders across the state have reported that past event kits have been fun and an interactive way to gain a holistic view of missions in a focused theme, area, or country.
“I really loved how simple it was to plan — whether we needed a half‑day or a full‑day, it fit our schedule perfectly and made hosting an associational event incredibly easy,” said Annette Elmore of Nolachucky Association WMU. “And whether you’re a small church, a large church, or an association, the flexibility makes it easy for anyone to jump in and be part of it.”
This year’s Kids’ Mission eXperience (KMX) kit theme is NAME and focuses on eight missionaries from Tennessee who are taking the NAME of Jesus to the NAME (North Africa/Middle East) region and also reaching people from those countries who live in our state. The KMX kit includes a Bible story, a missions journey through North Africa and the Middle East, games, crafts, food, decorations, music, a video and much more.
“I like how the kit came with attractive, easy-to-use graphics. I also liked the activities that allowed children to participate in missions,” said Ashley King of West Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Kingsport. “They were age-appropriate and fun. The Bible lessons were also well written. The children were able to see that even at a young age, they can support missions.”
Through the NAME KMX kit, kids learn about cultural differences, such as how men and women dress, what schools are like, which games, sports, and foods are popular, what people believe, and how those beliefs are practiced in daily life.
They learn that people have very interesting differences, but also have similarities. They learn answers to questions such as, How are boys and girls educated? Are the roles of boys and girls different?
They learn how to pray for missionaries working in a language and culture that is very different from our own, so that people there can hear about and learn to follow Jesus.
This free downloadable kit comes with an adaptable format and multiple schedule options. It can be used for a full-day or half-day session or spread out over several Wednesday nights.
The KMX kit can be a resource for homeschoolers. Parents can spend more time with their children, teaching them one-on-one about the importance of missions. Studies show that when children are raised in a home where missions are taught, they grow into adults who remain supportive of missions.
The WMU leadership team noted that the KMX kit can be part of a grandparents’ camp or weekend. This works well because many grandparents have the time to spend interacting with their grandchildren during the summer months when school is not in session and over school breaks.
WMU recommends planning a time when parents and/or grandparents can gather with children to camp outside in the world God created or set up in your living room/playroom.
Using the kit to talk about the missionaries and how Tennessee Baptists can support those who serve God and others — both at home and in other countries — is also a great activity.
These camp-outs can be done by putting up a tent in your backyard and spending a night under the stars. The important part is giving your grandchild “time” without interruptions from daily life. No phones, video games, or social media.
Other suggestions include visiting a Middle Eastern restaurant in your area with your elementary children. Plan the visit during off-peak hours so you can ask one of the workers to tell you about their country. Call ahead and ask the manager if an employee can talk with your group, especially if they are native to that country. Encourage children to ask questions about the culture, food, and customs of that area. Perhaps your group can pray for them and share Jesus’ story.
Finally, the simple act of inviting children who are not active in your church’s mission organization to attend can open all kinds of doors. Look for opportunities to include all children in missions.
With a little bit of planning — and WMU’s free missions activity kits — children can get involved with missions without ever leaving their backyards. B&R — Carolyn Tomlin, Jackson, TN writes for the Christian market and teaches the Jackson Christian Writers Fellowship.
