Imagine a society where everyone reaches out to help one another, where everyone works together to make a difference. Sound impossible? Not in the world of Mission Possible Kids.
As you read this, all around the country, thousands upon thousands of young kids are taking up the mantle and leading their churches in volunteering, and inspiring the adults around them to do the same … and it began with just one child.
My son came into this world with a heart for giving. From the age of 4, he constantly pushed me to find ways for him to serve. But I quickly discovered that our society is not wired for young children to be in service. Every charity we contacted chanted the party line: “Kids have to be 16 or 18 years old to volunteer.” Frankly, I thought it was the most ludicrous thing I’d ever heard. As parents we want to instill good values, leadership and compassion in our kids, yet we’re given no way to do that.
So we devised our own projects for food banks, hospitals, and shelters. When we delivered the fruits of our labor to those very same nonprofits that had refused our help, they would inevitably say, “Can you please do this again?” They just did not yet have eyes to see what children can accomplish.
After several years and the gazillionth time my son had asked me to find a project where he could serve, God downloaded the vision for Mission Possible Kids in my brain in a flash. It was like watching a movie playing in my head. I saw the spy-themed logo, I could hear spy music playing, I could see kids excitedly working together.
I called my son in and asked what he thought about starting something called Mission Possible Kids where kids are on top-secret missions to change the world. His eyes lit up, he threw his arms open wide and announced, “Yeah, and it’s gonna’ be huge!”
Out of the mouths of babes. To my constant amazement, Mission Possible Kids is now, in fact, huge. It is not just a nonprofit, it’s a movement — a movement of kids changing the world and ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow. In 29 states plus Toronto and Juarez, Mexico, these young humanitarians know how to make a social impact, and they aren’t afraid to show the adults how it’s done.
Whether cooking for homeless shelters or making gifts for refugee kids in Africa or the Middle East, these agents are primed for action, and they walk out of each meeting, as one parent said, “feeling ten feet taller.” Together, these young “special agents” have touched almost 1,500,000 lives, proving that kids really can change the world.
If you’re looking for a way to grow your children’s ministry and, as a nice side benefit, set your church on fire for missions, let your kids take the lead. Charge them with changing the world.
Then, step back and be amazed.
KATHY MEADOWS is a speaker, writer and the founder and executive director of Mission Possible Kids.
