Mission Moment
The VBS mission emphasis provides a unique and practical opportunity for children to learn about and participate in the work of gospel-centered ministries that serve the poor. 
This year, we’ve partnered with Children’s Hunger Fund to provide food and the hope of the gospel to hungry children in the US and across the globe.is a fun and meaningful addition to your VBS program, teaching kids about poverty around the world, and empowering them to make a difference.
We have also partnered with the Wild Brothers to produce daily videos that show practical applications of the VBS teaching points on the mission field. This section is not a fundraiser for the Wild family but is an opportunity for your kids to connect with children who are missionaries overseas.
Each day's segment will take 15–20 minutes.
Note that the Children's Hunger Fund scripts are also provided in the Assembly Guide for those who would like to offer a mission time then. Coordinate with your director and assembly leader on who is doing what concerning the mission time. 
It's About Time
Throughout the years, decades, and centuries, God has remained faithful. This week, as we explore the subject of time, we will visit different regions and years to see how God has always been in control. 
Each day, your class will meet a new boy or girl in a different part of the world who is hungry, hurting, and without Jesus.
From Haiti, Uganda, Thailand, Ukraine, and the United States, you will hear the stories of children whose lives have been uniquely affected by poverty. These children have no guarantee of meals, shelter, or an education. And worst of all, they are living apart from the hope that comes only from their Creator, Jesus Christ.
The good news is you and your kids have the power to make a difference!
The Bible says that giving generously to the poor is really giving generously to God himself (Proverbs 19:17). Teach your VBS class the great joy that comes from sacrificing for the sake of Jesus and his gospel.
Setting Off! 
During the Mission Moment, you and your kids will join Dr. Wen II in her time lab. Together you will learn about the faithfulness of Christ through the ages, and how coins can be used to fill Food Paks to support local churches in delivering hope and food to children in need all over the world. Your mission is to collect coins for meals that will be delivered in Children’s Hunger Fund Food Paks.
A Food Pak is a 20-pound box of nutritious food that is hand-delivered to the home of a needy family by a trained volunteer from a local church in their community. 
Rally your kids to raise funds for the meals that go in every Food Pak. Each meal costs only 25 cents! So, every dollar that’s raised provides four meals for hungry kids—and each meal represents an opportunity to proclaim the gospel!
EVANGELISM OPPORTUNITY: Answers in Genesis, Slavic Gospel Association, and Children’s Hunger Fund have joined forces to create gospel tracts—available in English, Thai, Russian, Spanish, and French—which are included with each Food Pak! Samples of these colorful, kid-friendly tracts are in your Starter Kit. Purchasing the English versions of these tracts in bulk helps to fund the distribution of these tracts. See the VBS Resource Catalog for ordering information.
The following items are available on the Resource DVD-ROM or for download from AnswersVBS.com/CHF2018. 
Printable Child Profiles—Five days of true stories about hungry kids in the US and other countries. These exciting and educational prayer briefings will help your kids connect with the real needs of suffering children. 
Printable "Map of the World" activity sheet, featuring locations of the children from the daily stories
Printable  banner artwork
Printable  artwork to help your kids track their fundraising progress
Printable  fold-up Coin Pak bank for collecting coins
Daily  videos
Purchasing Items
Included in your starter kit is a sample of the sturdy pop-up Coin Pak bank made for your kids to use as they collect quarters for meals. Check with your director for this sample. After VBS, these will be fun souvenirs that can be kept as reminders to always care for the needs of others. Coin Paks are available for purchase from Children’s Hunger Fund. (See below.)
Also available for purchase are beautiful handmade bracelets from Uganda. The beads on these bracelets are rolled by hand out of magazine paper by Ugandan men and women who have been trained and given fair-wage employment through one of our trusted ministry partners in Africa. A limited number of these bracelets are available for purchase to give as prizes and souvenirs for your kids or thank-you gifts for your volunteers. 
To order Coin Paks or bracelets, please visit Childrens HungerFund.org/AnswersVBS. To place an order over the phone, call Children’s Hunger Fund at 800-708-7589. 
For questions regarding your Mission Moment resources, please call 800-708-7589 or email VBS@ChildrensHunger Fund.org.
Orders must be received 14 days prior to your VBS date. Available while supplies last. 
Collecting Donations
Give children their own Coin Pak bank for collecting donations. Work with your director to set up a fun area (e.g., treasure boxes) for kids to deposit their money each day as they begin VBS. Encourage your kids in the weeks leading up to VBS to save their money and then begin collecting the first day. Or, plan on passing out the Coin Paks on Day 1 and begin collecting on Day 2. 
Once you’ve totaled your donations, please make out a check to Children’s Hunger Fund and indicate “It's About Time” in the memo area to ensure proper recognition, and fill out the Return Form. Send your check with the Return Form (on the Resource DVD-ROM or online) to:
Children’s Hunger Fund
Attn: It's About Time
DEPT LA 24373
Pasadena, CA 91185-4373
Learn more about the gospel-centered mercy ministry of Children’s Hunger Fund at ChildrensHungerFund.org. 
Tracking Your Progress
To help your kids maintain their excitement, announce how many meals they provided each day. Check with your director to find out when to do this: either during this time or during the opening or closing assembly time.
Here are two fun ways to help your kids see their progress as they fundraise. 
Make your own goal tracker and update it throughout the week. Create or print an empty analog clock and put equally spaced marks around the edge with designated dollar amounts that progress toward your goal. Each day, fill in the clock up to the next dollar amount using a marker and write the total number of meals raised so far next to it.
Show progress with the  PowerPoint slides. Update the slides with the total number of meals raised so far.
Consider having a contest between boys and girls, or between teams, to see which group can bring in the most money. Printable artwork and PowerPoint slides for your own goal tracker are on the Resource DVD-ROM.
The Wild Brothers
Mike and Libby Wild, along with their four sons (Morgan, Hudson, Kian, and Asher), are a missionary family with New Tribes Mission, ministering to an unreached people group in Asia Pacific. Their four sons have produced high-quality videos about their adventures living in a remote area and exploring the jungle around them. Find out more about the Wild Brothers at TheWildBrothers.com. 
In partnership with Answers VBS, they have also produced five short videos for you to share with your kids during this time. These videos are available on the Resource DVD-ROM and on AnswersVBS.com. 
Materials Needed
Every Day
Glue 
Child safety scissors
From Resource DVD-ROM
Wild Brothers video for each day
Slides for Children's Hunger Fund for each day
Video for Children's Hunger Fund for each day
"Map of the World" activity sheet, 1 per child
Prayer journal for each day, 1 per child
Day 1
Coin bank, 1 per child
Images of household items: a lightbulb, a faucet with running water, clothing, food, a house, etc.
Day 2
Paper
Coloring supplies: pencils, crayons, markers, etc.
Backpack or duffel bag
Day 4
Small squares of construction paper in 2 different colors, 1 per child
Hat or container
Day 5
Images of items used every day: water, electricity, food, clothing, etc.
Daily Scripts
Day 1: Esther (Haiti)
SHOW: “It’s About Time” slide
This week at , 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 the seasons, and man and animals to live on the earth. In his loving care, he gave plants to feed the people that he created. Since 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.  
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. 
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 providing not only 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 , 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 providing 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! 
DO Missions Activity: Blackout
Place the images of the household items in the front of the room. Turn off the lights to represent what it would be like to experience a disaster. Remove some of the images of the household items while the lights are off. This is to represent the items being destroyed in a disaster. Turn the lights back on. Have the students identify which items were destroyed.
Discuss the following with the children after the activity:
An earthquake struck Haiti in 2010. This left Esther and her family, along with many other families, without a home.
When a disaster strikes, many homes and items in people’s homes are destroyed. This can cause people to become impoverished as the disaster may cause them to lose their home, electricity, water, clothing, and food.
How would a disaster affect your life if you lost ________ (fill in the blank with household items that were taken away)?
Send each child home with an “Esther” prayer journal and a pop-up Coin Pak. Sturdy pop-up Coin Paks are available for purchase from Children’s Hunger Fund. See previous page for ordering instructions. Printable sheets and Paks are included on the Resource DVD-ROM.
Do the "Map of the World" activity sheets. Pass out the maps and have kids cut and paste the item for today on the map. Then collect the maps when you're finished with the activity.
Now we're going to watch a video about some young boys whose parents are missionaries to a group of people who had never read the Bible before. The Wild family is working on translating the Bible into this people group's language so they can share the truth of God's Word with them and tell them about Jesus. Mike and Libby are the parents, and the boys are Morgan, Hudson, Kian, and Asher. Let's see what the Wild brothers can share with us about Jesus. 
Play the Day 1 Wild Brothers video.  
Day 2: Dmitry (Ukraine) 
SHOW: “It’s About Time” slide
Hey kids, as we learned yesterday, our mission project for the week is called. We’re working together to raise meals that cost 25¢ 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 to them 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?  
Fantastic! We’re already off to an amazing start. 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 out of 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 provided for kids like Dmitry so far? Well, we counted the coins you brought in, and so far, we’ve raised ____ Food Pak meals
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!
DO Missions Activity: Drawing 
Students draw pictures of what they would take with them if they had to leave home. Challenge them to take only what is important to them. The items they choose must be able to fit inside a backpack or a duffel bag. Afterwards, collect the pictures and place them into the bag. Take out a few drawings and talk through them, asking students why they chose these items and why the items are important to them.
Talking Points:
Refugees are people who must leave their homes because of war, persecution, or natural disasters.
When they leave their homes, refugees can only take a few of their most important possessions.
What possessions are most important to the students? Why are they important?
If you were forced to leave your home and could only bring one of the possessions that were important to you, what would you bring?
DO the "Map of the World" activity sheets. Pass out the maps from yesterday and have them cut and paste the item for today on the map. Then collect the maps when you're finished with the activity.
Send each child home with a “Dmitry” prayer journal. 
Now let's check in with the Wild brothers. 
Play the Day 2 Wild Brothers video.  
Day 3: Tombe (Uganda)
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!
Okay, 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? Okay! 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!  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.
DO Missions Activity: Play Acting
Have students play act a scenario that is similar to Tombe’s. Tombe loves going to school. After his dad left, his mom had to work two jobs, which meant that Tombe needed to stay home to take care of his younger brothers and sisters. Tombe is very sad that he can’t go to school because he loves to learn and spend time with his friends.
Characters: Tombe, Tombe’s mom, Tombe’s siblings
Scenario: Tombe has to get food for his brothers and sisters, but there is no food in the house. What would he do? Discuss as a group, then play out the scene. 
Talking Points: 
When families are living in extreme poverty, they often don’t know when their next meal will come. Many parents need to work multiple jobs even to put just a small meal on their table. Because of this, many children have to make sacrifices in order to help their families. Tombe had to sacrifice his education so that he could take care of his younger brothers and sisters.
Do you think it would be hard for your parents to ask you to sacrifice something so that you could help them?
How would you feel if you couldn't go to school to learn and play with your friends because you had to stay home to help your parents do chores and take care of your siblings while they were working?
What is something that would be hard for you to give up in order to help your family?Send each child home with a “Tombe” prayer journal.
DO the "Map of the World" activity sheets. Pass out the maps from yesterday and have them cut and paste the item for today on the map. Then collect the maps when you're finished with the activity.
Now let's check in with the Wild brothers! 
Play the Day 3 Wild Brothers video. 
Day 4: Isra (Thailand)
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?  Great! I am, too! 
Hasn’t it be 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; they 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 a 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! 
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!
DO Missions Activity: Follow the Leader
Have students line up and pick a piece of construction paper out of the container. If a student picks color A, they have been “born into generational poverty." If a student picks color B, they are not impoverished. As each student pulls a color, have them walk around the room. Those that have picked color A need to link together as they walk around the room, with one person being the leader. This is to represent the cycle of poverty and how the poor get stuck in it generationally. Those that have chosen color B should walk around freely. Have students who have chosen color B continue to draw a color. If they draw color A, they will link up with the line of students who have also chosen color A.
Talking Points:
Generational poverty happens when a family has lived in poverty for at least two generations. Many children can be born into poverty, continuing the cycle of poverty for that family. 
Many children who are born into poverty have a hard time escaping poverty. They often cannot receive education or find a job that will allow them to escape the cycle of poverty.
The students who chose color A were linked to one another and had to walk wherever the leader pulled them. This represents generational poverty because many children are stuck in poverty and end up having children of their own that are born into poverty. They don’t have as many choices and options available to them as those who aren’t living in poverty. 
For the students who chose color A, how did it feel to have to follow the person in front of you while the other students were able to walk around freely?
Send each child home with an “Isra” prayer journal.
DO the "Map of the World" activity sheets. Pass out the maps from yesterday and have them cut and paste the item for today on the map. Then collect the maps when you're finished with the activity.
Now let's check in with the Wild brothers!
Play the Day 4 Wild Brothers video. 
Day 5: Jeremy (United States)
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 have 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 your 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? 
The grand total for the number of meals we provided this week at  is __ meals! 
Wow! God has used you in such an amazing way to help children in need.
You have done such a great job helping feed children all over the world this week. I can’t believe that our time together is over! 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. 
DO Missions Activity: Making Choices
Show students images of items they use every day (water, electricity, food, clothing, etc.). Select two of the items. Tell them that they only have enough money to afford one of the two items, and ask them to choose which one they would use their money on.
Talking Points:
Many people in the United States live in poverty. Even though they may have a house, clothing, and food, they may not have enough money to afford their bills or new items. Some families who are poor in the United States have to choose to buy food rather than buying clothes that fit them or paying for their water or heating bills.
If you chose to buy item A, how would your life change without item B?
If you chose to buy item B, how would your life change without item A? 
Send each child home with a “Jeremy” prayer journal.
DO the "Map of the World" activity sheets. Pass out the maps from yesterday and have them cut and paste the item for today on the map. Kids can take the maps home today.
Now let's check in with the Wild brothers! 
Play the Day 5 Wild Brothers video.