Description

This lesson will be delivered as a digital PDF file and a PPT slideshow presentation. The PDF leader guide includes the text for each part of the missions story for kids as well as printable visuals, photos, activity pages to accompany each part of the story.

Big Idea: God’s Word is for everyone!

Key Verse: Romans 10:14 –  “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?”

Story Excerpt: Cam offered someone a paper that talked about Jesus, but the man scoffed and said, “Do you have one in Kaqchikel?” “I don’t,” said Cam. “If your God is so great, why can’t he speak my language?” the man said angrily. Cam didn’t know what to say. God speaks every language because God knows everything and is everywhere. God’s Word is for everyone, but how could the Kaqchikel (CATCH-i-kel). people get a Bible in their unwritten language?

Cam Townsend couldn’t stop thinking about the man’s comment about God not speaking Kaqchikel He asked God to send someone to help the Kaqchikel people receive his Word. This person would need to study the science of words and languages. When you think of science, you probably think about inventions or experiments, but studying how languages work is also science. The scientific study of languages is called linguistics. There would also be a need for technology to print and distribute the Kaqchikel language. Who could God use for this difficult job?

One day Cam talked about this problem with a Kaqchikel man who had believed in Jesus as they traveled together to sell Bibles and tell people about Jesus. That conversation changed Cam’s life. “Why doesn’t someone start schools for the Kaqchikel people?” Cam asked. The man explained that, because there was no written language, someone who started a school would have to teach the people to speak, read, and write Spanish first, and that would take a lot of time that people just didn’t have. Most people also looked down on the Kaqchikel and wouldn’t want to teach or help them anyway. Then the man looked at Cam and said, “Why don’t you start a school? You could translate the Bible into Kaqchikel and then teach us how to read it!” At first Cam thought that would be impossible. He didn’t have a a college degree or any linguistics training (the science of how languages work). How could he possibly do such a thing? Then he realized that God could help him do that. God was answering his prayer by telling him to be the one to help the Kaqchikel! He wasn’t sure where to start, but he knew he had to try and started praying for God’s help.

In addition to this missionary story, you can also use the FREE “Good News for The World” activity guide to help children learn more about world missions.