Record 20-45 seconds per child about his or her involvement in missions discipleship.

Parent: Record your child answering one or more questions provided by their leader. To maximize screen time, instruct your child to answer the questions rather than you asking them on camera. For example, if you ask “What has God taught you this year through GA/CA/RA?” let your child think about the question and develop an answer before giving a response on camera. When you start recording, instruct your child to share their answer: “In Girls in Action, God has taught me…”

Send your video to your child’s missions leader or designated media person.

Child: Think about the question and a specific answer for you personally. Stay away from phrases like “it was fun” or “it was awesome.” Instead, share specifically what made missions discipleship fun or awesome.

Missions Leader: Arrange for video editing if necessary. Talk with church leadership about when to post videos and what delivery works best with your church’s media resources.

Examples: Specs needed to post on Facebook, when or how often may videos be posted before or after the online church service, schedule for posting on church’s Instagram account, etc.

Text your short video to your leader or designated person.

Parent: Provide access for your child to either print or email answers to questions about their experience in missions discipleship. If permissible, take a picture of your child and include any awards/badges they may have been awarded this year through their missions discipleship experiences. 

Child: Based on questions you received from your missions leader, think about your answers and then write out, draw pictures, or email answers based on those questions. 

Missions Leader: Take submitted answers and pictures received from parents. Prepare a PowerPoint acknowledging this year’s experiences where each child is pictured along with one or more questions they answered. Ask church leadership if the PowerPoint slides can be shown before or after the online church service, posted on Facebook, or even sent to church members via email.

Parent: Take several pictures or a video of your child wearing his or her awards vest. Ask questions and listen for which badge he or she is most proud to receive. Is your child most proud of the hard work, what the experience meant, or something God did?

Child: Select a badge you are really proud of earning and explain why either in a video or in writing.

Missions Leader: Post a video or pictures through one or more media avenues and include the child’s comment about which badge is special to them and why.

Parent: Make sure Zoom (or other designated application) is downloaded on your computer or phone. Follow instructions from your missions leader to have your child prepared and ready to participate.

Child: (Child may wear his or her vest.) Be ready to take part in the Zoom recognition service. If speaking, rehearse your part and have it written out. Think about specific answers to questions rather than general answers. People want to know specifically how God is at work in your life.

Missions Leader: Consider the content of the program and aim for no longer than a 30-minute service. Will you involve other church leadership to either pray or participate? Will each child answer one of the questions provided?

If possible, decorate the area from where you are hosting and make it fun and festive. Will you mail or deliver badges to children ahead of time or display what you will be sending as you award those during the call? Include a globe and revisit the places and people you have virtually met this year.

What do you want kids, parents, and other church members to take away from the recognition service? 

Parent: Make sure your child is at the designated parade location at the agreed upon scheduled time. Follow instructions provided by your missions leader.

Child: Rehearse any speaking part and think through what you have learned and how God has influenced you this year through GA, RA, CA. Be specific and honest in your answers. It’s your story you are telling!

Missions Leader: Secure a safe location for the parade where everyone is safely distanced. This could be a local school at their covered bus drop off area, a church parking lot, a local park that has drive-through options, etc. During parade:

• Cars stop at each child for him or her to share one part designated by you.
• Once all cars participating have driven through each part of the program, they may drive through the line again and this time honk horns and display signs of congratulations.
• Reverse the parade concept so kids are in the cars and are driven to stations where they receive badges, food, prayer and appreciation from assigned church leader, appreciation from a missionary, etc.
• Provide take-home meal for participants (pizzas, hot dogs, etc.) 

Parent: Record your child answering questions as instructed by your missions leader. Send videos to the designated person provided by your leader’s instructions.

Child: Prepare answers to questions, practice whatever your missions leader has asked you to lead during the service, and wear your vest or missions shirt, if available.

Missions Leader: Decide the content of the program and assign the parts for parents to record. Rehearse parts with children via Facetime or other avenue to make certain it captures the spirit you had in mind before parents send you videos. Allow time for parents to get videos made and time for someone to put all the video pieces together. Ideas include:

• Children share what they learned, and may use questions provided or other assignments provided by missions leader.
• Record children opening their awards received in the mail or dropped off at their homes.
• Kids may sing a short song or play an instrument for special music.
• Kids may read Scripture you have studied, and have another child explain what it means to them.
• Ask other church leaders to pray over them.
• Record thank you messages from one of the missionaries you studied this year.

Ask someone to take the video clips and make a “movie” that can be shown on a big screen (ensure your set up is such that the movie can be heard outside). Invite others to the drive-in as you recognize the kids. Include pictures or movie clips from the children being involved in missions discipleship. Offer popcorn snack boxes or treats for participants.

The full recognition service video may be shared as part of your church’s online service or social media platforms. Use video clips to promote missions discipleship for next year!

Parent: Supervise children as they “hunt” for items. Follow instructions as provided by your missions leader. Items may be hidden in the yard or in the house.

Child: Use the Scavenger Hunt clue sheet to “hunt” for items hidden in their yard or house.

Missions Leader: Prepare items related to this year’s missions focuses. Drop off items to be hidden in yards (which leaders may hide) or provide items for parents to hide in the house. Prepare scavenger hunt clue sheet. Ideas include:

• Earned badges
• Missions advice given by missionaries
• Congratulations or note of encouragement from church staff and members
• Some type of goodie to eat
• Specialty items related to your missions discipleship program