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Children in Action Mission Match File Review by Dawn King
Woman's Missionary Union800-968-7301
PO Box 830010
Birmingham, Alabama 35283-0010
http://www.wmu.com/index.php?q=children
The Children in Action Missions Match File is a lesson manual for a Children in Action group (grades 1-6). The manual covers three units with five weekly sessions for each unit. The unit topics for my review copy were Quiet Time and Prayer Life, God's Plan - My Part in Guinea, and Mission in Madagascar.
At the beginning of each unit, there is a handy overview section that lists the supplies necessary, a snack schedule, and the unit memory verse. Each weekly session is divided into four parts and will take about an hour to complete. The orientation time is also snack time. Sometimes the snack ties in with the lesson. After the children eat, there is a "Theme Mixer" activity or game to do. The Investigation section has either discussion questions or activities to do to get deeper into the unit's theme. The third part of the lesson is either a Reconnaissance time or a Live Action Project. Reconnaissance usually consists of a story for the leader to read, then discussion about the story. During the Live Action Project (usually the fourth week in the unit) the students will complete a project that goes with the theme. The final section is a ten-minute Debriefing, which wraps up the day's lesson.
Week 5 is a little different. Instead of the Investigation and Reconnaissance sections, the manual refers to another book called Special Assignments for a project to do. Also there is a Special Projects time in which the children make a special project to help them remember the lesson.
I like the heavy missions theme of the book. All masters needed for the lessons are included so you do not have to get anything else except the Special Assignments book. There are even bookmarks to hand out each week that have a featured missionary for the child to pray for. It is wonderful to teach our children about missionaries and give them a part in missions work by praying for them.
While I believe that Children in Action groups are an awesome concept that will work wonderfully for Sunday schools, children's clubs, and co-ops, it may be difficult to do at home because many of the activities are geared toward a group.
