	Links
		Baptist State Convention of North Carolina

		North Carolina Baptist Men

		North Carolina Woman’s Missionary Union

Missions Emphasis Week Activities

Children are usually very familiar with the phrase “Are you listening?” At school and home, parents and teachers often request their listening ears and obedient hearts. This year’s theme for the North Carolina Missions Offering and Week of Prayer will remind children and youth that everyone needs to listen to God’s Word and respond with a willing spirit. Choose from the following activities to help your children think about their own part in North Carolina Baptists’ mission work. (***These activities can be stretched out over several mission meetings prior to the emphasis week.)

“Are You Listening” Game and Craft

Most children are familiar with the game, “Simon Says.” Put a twist on the game by gathering your group to play “NiC and MO Say.” As they are challenged to hear and follow directions, children learn the importance of paying attention and responding correctly.

After the game, discuss the importance of listening with the children. Ask them for examples of how they have listened and how they have not listened to parents or teachers. Tell the children how North Carolina Baptists are working through the missions and ministries of the NCMO to listen and obey God’s command to help those in need. Follow your discussion with a craft which will help children remember this year’s theme and how God wants us all to listen and obey.

“I’m Listening” Key Chains

Materials Needed (all materials are available at craft or discount stores):

Key chains rings
Elastic necklace string
Alphabet beads

Instructions:

In advance, cut a length of elastic necklace string approximately 18” long and double it over. Attached the elastic necklace string to the key chain ring using a slip knot.
Have the child spell out “I’m Listening” with the alphabet beads and thread them over the doubled string ends.
When the words are completed, tie the two ends of the necklace string in a knot and cut off any extra length.

NiC and Mo Fund-raising Math Activity

NiC and MO are on their way to Gulfport to help in the North Carolina Baptist Men’s re-building efforts. This year, for every $1 raised for the NCMO, NiC and MO will travel further along their path to Gulfport. (To check out where they are throughout the Week of Prayer and Special Offering, check out the donation map.)

Why not pretend they are stopping by your church for a visit? They would enter through the front door and walk to the pulpit to share their story and encourage us to listen and be obedient to God’s call to missions. How far would they have to walk from your church’s entrance to the pulpit? Measure the distance and encourage the children to raise $1 for every foot NiC and MO would walk in your church. Younger children can hold the tape measure and older ones can do the math. Then everyone can brainstorm ways to raise the money for NiC and MO!

Tracking NiC and MO

In the two years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region, North Carolina Baptist Men have been working tirelessly to re-build hopes and homes in Gulfport, Mississippi. They have recently added 100 homes to their goal and committed another year of ministry to the effort. During the North Carolina Missions Offering and Week of Prayer, encourage children and their families to visit the offering website at www.ncmissionsoffering.org to check on NiC and MO’s progress as they drive their pick-up truck to Gulfport.

Consider posting a map of the Southeastern United States in your youth Sunday School room and use a thumbtack or removable sticker to follow NiC and MO. (You could even glue a small toy truck onto the thumbtack.)

Children and their parents or caregivers can also go to the offering website to play a computer matching game about NiC and MO.