Last summer, the Missoula Church primary Sabbath School teacher, Earl [Redacted], asked his class a question: “Who do we know that we could share Jesus with?”
The class discussed the question, and the kids came up with three groups of people: their friends, the homeless and the people holding signs at the street corners.This assessment led to a unique approach to outreach sponsored by the primary class and involving other members of the church.
The first thing the class did was create care bags that could be given to anyone they met who was in need. During Sabbath School craft time, the class created cards featuring a Bible verse on one side and artwork on the other. The care bags were packed with a card, bottle of water, soft breakfast bar, GLOW (Giving Light to Our World) tract, and a map of town with a list of locations that provide services like free meals, hot showers and a place to sleep for the night.
Class members put the bags in their cars and regularly pray for opportunities to share when they are out in the community. The kids have also shared bags with other members of the congregation so they could join in the blessing of giving.
In October, the primary class went door to door in the community to solicit items for donation to the local homeless shelter. Fliers were left at more than 300 homes ahead of the event. When the class went back to collect the donations, the generosity of the community filled two large bins to overflowing with toilet paper, paper towels and other necessities for the shelter The team also collected cash and check donations of more than $35.
Primary and kindergarten Sabbath School class members were able to personally participate in bringing the items to the shelter. As the bins filled up with donations large and small, smiles covered the faces of kids, adults and shelter staff alike. Best of all, class members experienced the truth of Jesus’ words: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
