Day 1: Atomic Opening Assembly
Mission Moment (4 minutes)
SHOW: “It’s About Time” slide
This week at Time Lab, we’re learning that Jesus, the Son of God, existed before all of time and creation! Before the world began, Jesus was God and he was with God. The Son of God took part in creating the universe. Along with the earth, he created the sun and the moon to mark the days and seasons, and man and animals to live on the earth. In his loving care, he gave plants to feed the people that he created. Even at the beginning of time, the Son of God has been man’s perfect Provider! 
All over the world, and even in our own neighborhoods, there are kids just like us whose families don’t have enough to eat every day. Jesus tells us that if he gives food to the birds that he created, he will surely give food to his people, whom he died for. More importantly, he offers eternal life to everyone and wants them to know him as the Son of God and the great Creator. Read Luke 12:24–31. 
The Son of God loved us by giving up his life for us so that we could be forgiven and have eternal life with him in heaven. He gave his life without asking for anything back from us. The Bible tells us to give to others because we have received, and that when we give to the poor, it is an act of love to the great Creator. Read Proverbs 14:31.
Each day this week, we’re going to learn about Jesus’ goodness toward his people in the past, present, and future. Since Jesus has been so good to us, we are called to do good to others by meeting their needs. So, we’re traveling through time to give meals to kids who don’t have enough to eat. 
We’re teaming up with Children’s Hunger Fund to deliver food and hope to children all over the world! Each day, we’ll learn about a special girl or boy in a different part of the world and the unique problems they face. Then, after learning about them, we’re going to do something to help them! 
SHOW: “It’s About Time—Esther” slide
Today, we’re meeting a very special little girl in Haiti, named Esther. We’ll see how Esther learns about the great Creator, who knows and loves her. 
SHOW: Video 1—Esther
Child’s Name: Esther
Country: Haiti
Problem: Disaster
Haiti is a little island in the Caribbean. In 2010, Haiti experienced a big earthquake. A lot of homes and buildings were destroyed in the earthquake, and many people were left without food and shelter. Not only did Esther and her family lose their home, but her father died in the earthquake as well. Esther and her family now have to live in a tent.
Even many years after the earthquake, life is still difficult for Esther and her mom. Thankfully, through the support of Children’s Hunger Fund and kids like you, a pastor in Haiti visits the tent city where Esther lives to bring food and share the hope of the gospel with Esther and her mom. The Son of God, the Creator, is not only providing for her physical needs through this pastor, but also her spiritual needs. 
Now it’s time for us to make a difference and deliver hope to kids like Esther! Here’s our plan. Thanks to Children’s Hunger Fund, churches deliver Food Paks to hungry kids and share the gospel with them—and we can help by raising money for meals to go in the Food Paks. Each meal only costs 25 cents!
We’re each going to take one of these Coin Paks home (show Coin Pak), and you’re going to show the coin boxes to your family and friends and tell them about kids like Esther! Ask them to help you donate coins for meals. Remember, every 25 cents provides one meal for a hungry child! 
Tomorrow, bring the coins you’ve collected. Each day, we’ll count how many meals you’ve raised so far! Together, we can deliver hope to kids in need all over the world. Not only are we raising meals for them to eat, but we’re also helping them hear about the good news of the Son of God, who is the great Creator and has existed for all of time! 
Send each child home with an “Esther” profile sheet and a pop-up coin collection bank. Sturdy, pop-up collection banks are available for purchase from Children’s Hunger Fund. See Mission Moment page for ordering instructions. Printable sheets and banks are included on the Resource DVD-ROM.
Day 2: Atomic Opening Assembly
Mission Moment (4 minutes)
SHOW: “It’s About Time” slide
Hey kids, as we learned yesterday, our mission project for the week is called It’s About Time. We’re working together to raise meals that cost 25 cents to help children who are hungry and hurting all over the world. 
Every quarter we raise for Children’s Hunger Fund will provide one meal for a kid just like you! These meals will be delivered by local church volunteers who care for them and want to share the good news of the Son of God! 
The clock is ticking—how many of you have started to collect coins to raise meals already? Wait for participation. 
Fantastic! We’re already off to an amazing start. Determine with your director when you will announce the amount of money raised each day. If you decide to do that during this time, say the following; otherwise, modify this to fit your schedule. I’m so proud of how many meals we’ve already raised—and we’ll hear that number . . . after we travel in time to our next destination for the day!
Remember yesterday’s report about Esther in Haiti? Well, today we’re meeting another special child, this time from the European country of Ukraine. His name is Dmitry.
SHOW: “It’s About Time—Dmitry” slide
Like Esther, Dmitry and his family lost their home. But, Dmitry was forced out of his home after war began in Ukraine in 2014. Since the family had to leave their home, Dmitry’s dad has not been able to find a job, and his family does not have enough money to buy food or fix the heater in the new place where they’re living. 
Let’s learn more about Dmitry and how we can help kids like him by going back in time with Dr. Wen II!
SHOW: Video 2—Dmitry
Child’s Name: Dmitry 
Country: Ukraine
Problem: Refugee
Dmitry and his family were forced to flee their home after a war broke out in Ukraine in 2014. It is very cold during wintertime in Ukraine, and the heater in Dmitry’s new home is broken. Not only that, but Dmitry’s dad has been unable to find a job in their new community. There is not enough money to buy food and fix the heater. 
Dmitry must be very scared living in a new place, in an uncomfortable home, and without enough food. But, there is a church near Dmitry’s new home. A few volunteers from the church heard that Dmitry and his family were refugees and started visiting their house with Food Paks. Since they are receiving meals, they have been able to save money to buy a new heater. Dmitry now goes to church, where he has made friends and heard about the God who is in control of everything. Even though Dmitry’s life has changed, his hope can rest in the great I AM who never changes! 
There are many other kids like Dmitry who need our help! It’s time for us to raise meals so that they, too, can hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ and find hope in him! But first, did I forget something? Was I supposed to tell you something? Oh, that’s right! Who’s ready to hear how many meals we’ve raised for kids like Dmitry so far? Well, we counted the coins you brought in and so far, we’ve raised ____ Food Pak meals! Remember, every dollar provides 4 meals. To calculate your VBS meal progress, multiply the dollars raised by 4.
SHOW: Progress Tracker slide Day 2, with current meal count filled in 
Awesome! Don’t forget to bring your coins tomorrow so we can keep delivering hope to hungry kids around the world!
Send each child home with a “Dmitry” profile sheet.
Day 3: Atomic Opening Assembly
Mission Moment (4 minutes)
SHOW: “It’s About Time” slide
Okay, time travelers! Do you know what time it is? It’s time for our Mission Moment again! We’re halfway through our destinations and just about ready to meet our third friend for the week. 
Every day this week, we’re working together to collect coins that will raise meals for children in need all over the world. These meals will be packed in Children’s Hunger Fund Food Paks and hand delivered by local church volunteers to the homes of kids across the globe. And, every meal is a chance for a child to learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Let’s get ready to travel back in time! 
SHOW: “It’s About Time—Tombe” slide 
Today, Dr. Wen II is going to tell us about a little boy who lives all the way on the other side of the world, in Uganda! Kampala, the capital of Uganda, is a bustling city center with a modern clock tower. But not all of Uganda looks like Kampala. In fact, Uganda is a country that has a lot of poverty.
Ready to travel back in time to our next destination? Let’s join Dr. Wen II, high up in her clock tower!
SHOW: Video 3—Tombe 
Child’s Name: Tombe
Country: Uganda
Problem: Extreme Poverty 
Tombe has eight brothers and sisters. His dad left their family in search of a job but never came back. His mom had to start working two jobs so that she could make enough money to bring food home for her family. Because of this, Tombe had to stop going to school so he could take care of his siblings while his mom was working. Tombe’s family is facing extreme poverty that has changed their lives forever. 
The meals that we raise will allow local church volunteers to help families like Tombe’s. By hand-delivering Food Paks, a pastor was able to build a relationship with Tombe and his family. He would bring them meals and share the gospel of Jesus, or Immanuel—God with us! 
Every 25 cents raised provides one meal for a child in need and gives the opportunity for pastors and church volunteers to tell people about the God who will never leave them or forsake them.
But, before we set out to collect more meals, who wants to hear how many we’ve raised so far? Okay, in just two days time, you’ve all raised ___meals! Remember, every dollar provides 4 meals. To calculate your VBS meal progress, multiply the dollars raised by 4. That’s incredible! These meals will go directly to kids all over the world who need food and hope. 
SHOW: Progress Tracker slide Day 3 with current meal count filled in
We’re on track to make a difference in the lives of kids in need all over the world! We still have time to make an even bigger difference! Keep up the great work as you collect more coins to give meals to children in need.
Send each child home with a “Tombe” profile sheet.
Day 4: Atomic Opening Assembly
Mission Moment (4 minutes)
SHOW: “It’s About Time” slide 
It’s time for us to go to our fourth destination! Who’s ready to travel back in time to 2015 to meet our new friend? Pause for participation. Great! I am, too! 
Hasn’t it been fun traveling in time to learn about kids just like you? Remember, the coins we collect don’t just give children a meal to eat, but also allow them to hear about the everlasting love of the Son of God. We can be thankful that he has never left us or forsaken us because he has been with us forever!
Before we join Dr. Wen II, I have a couple questions for you. First, how much does it cost to raise one meal? That’s right! 25 cents! Okay, second, if you have five dollars, how many meals does that provide? Yes! 20 meals! Isn’t that amazing?
Now, let’s go back in time with Dr. Wen II and learn about how our coins can help a little girl who lives in Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia. 
SHOW: “It’s About Time—Isra” slide
Are you ready to hear about Isra? 
SHOW: Video 4—Isra
Child’s Name: Isra
Country: Thailand
Problem: Generational Poverty 
Isra is part of a family that has faced poverty for many generations. She was born into poverty. Since her family does not have enough money for food, Isra was sent away to sell candy so that she could send money back to her family. Sadly, she is far from home and is treated poorly by the person that makes her sell candy.
But, the Son of God, who has loved Isra for all of time, sent Christians to rescue Isra and bring her to safety. These Christians fed Isra with food from Children’s Hunger Fund Food Paks and told her about Jesus. She learned that he is our High Priest and our Intercessor.
Do you want to know how many meals we have raised for Food Paks to give to children like Isra? A lot of time has passed and we have one more day to collect coins. So far, we have collected enough coins to give ___meals to kids in need! Praise God! Remember, every dollar provides 4 meals. To calculate your VBS meal progress, multiply the dollars raised by 4.
SHOW: Progress Tracker slide Day 4 with current meal count filled in
The clock is ticking, but there’s still time for us to collect more coins! Let’s make tomorrow our biggest impact! Remember that 25¢ equals one meal—let’s collect those coins!
Send each child home with an “Isra” profile sheet.
Day 5: Atomic Opening Assembly
Mission Moment (4 minutes)
SHOW: “It’s About Time” slide 
Where has the time gone? Today is our last day and we have traveled all over the world and throughout time! We have learned so much about Jesus, whose kindness, love, and faithfulness has never changed!
On our first day, we learned about how the Son of God loved us by giving up his life for us. When we give to others, we are loving and obeying the Son of God in our service to others. This week, we’ve been doing just that by collecting coins for Children’s Hunger Fund Food Paks, and I’m so proud of how everyone has joined in. 
It’s important to remember that we can always be serving others, both people we know and people we may not know, that are in need. Ask your family to help you find ways to help the poor even after VBS is over. You can still deliver hope from home! 
Okay, we still have time to meet one more little boy. It’s been so much fun to travel through time with Dr. Wen II this week. Today, she’s going to take us back in time to 2017 to meet a little boy named Jeremy.
SHOW: “It’s About Time—Jeremy” slide
Jeremy lives right here in the United States, in the city of Chicago. His dad lost his job and Jeremy and his family had to move into a small apartment. They had a hard time paying their electricity bills and didn’t have enough money for food. Let’s hear how we can help kids like Jeremy, who might even live in our own neighborhood.
SHOW: Video 5—Jeremy
Child’s Name: Jeremy
Country: United States 
Problem: Invisible Poor
Isn’t it great that a church in Jeremy’s neighborhood was able to share the good news of Jesus with Jeremy and his family? Thanks to Food Paks, Jeremy’s family was able to save money to pay for their electricity bills, and they came to know the hope of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 
Did you know that there may be children in your neighborhood or at school who are facing poverty? People all over the world are suffering from poverty. But with your help, they can be fed and hear about the love of Jesus. All it takes is one quarter to give them one meal!
Well, it looks like our time is almost up! Who wants to see how many meals we raised this week? Wait for participation.
The grand total for the number of meals we provided this week at It’s About Time is _____meals! Remember, every dollar provides 4 meals. To calculate your VBS meal progress, multiply the dollars raised by 4.
Wow! God has used you in such an amazing way to help children in need. But, you can keep making a difference in the lives of children by helping Children’s Hunger Fund. Ask your parents about more ways you can share a meal and the love of Jesus with children in poverty. 
Send each child home with a “Jeremy” profile sheet.