How can I view my own home as a mission field for my children?
- Boundless Team
- Apr 2
- 6 min read
If you’re a parent, your home is your first mission field, and your kids are your first disciples—because they learn what Jesus is like by watching how you love, forgive, speak, and serve in everyday moments.
A Message from FA Memphis
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." : Mark 16:15
The Big World and the Little Table
When we think about the "mission field," our minds often drift to dusty roads in far-off lands, colorful maps with pins in them, or giant cargo planes filled with supplies. We think of big speakers, crowded stadiums, and grand adventures. And while those things are wonderful and part of God’s big plan, there is another mission field that is just as important: and it happens to be right under your roof.
At Boundless Online Church, we love talking about AG Fundamental Truth #10: The Church and Its Mission. Simply put, the Church’s job is to share God’s love with everyone. And that’s exactly in line with First Assembly Memphis’s vision for local missions: reaching people right where we live, one life and one neighborhood at a time. But here’s the secret: the very first "world" you are called to reach isn’t across the ocean. It’s across the hallway. It’s sitting at your breakfast table, asking for more syrup. It’s in the living room, building a fort out of every pillow in the house.
Your home is your primary mission field, and your children are your first disciples.
Think about it! You have the incredible privilege of showing them what Jesus looks like every single day. Before they ever hear a sermon in a sanctuary, they hear the way you speak. Before they read a Bible story, they watch how you handle a burnt dinner or a broken vase. It’s a big job, but it’s the most beautiful adventure you’ll ever go on.
The Story: Mia’s Jungle Adventure
Mia sat on the living room floor, surrounded by her stuffed animals. She had a cardboard tube in one hand (her "spyglass") and a backpack full of granola bars.
"Where are you going, Mia?" her dad asked, stepping over a stuffed giraffe.
"I’m going to the jungle, Daddy!" Mia said, her eyes wide. "I want to be a missionary. I’m going to tell the monkeys and the tigers about Jesus. And maybe the people who live in the trees, too."
Dad smiled and sat down on the floor next to her. "That’s a big mission, Mia. But did you know you’re already a missionary right here?"
Mia looked around the living room. "Here? But there aren't any tigers here. Just Fluffy the cat, and she mostly just sleeps."
"Being a missionary just means showing people who Jesus is," Dad explained. "And you have a little mission field right in this house. Like when your little brother, Sam, was crying because he couldn't find his blue truck this morning. You helped him find it, remember? That was showing him Jesus’ kindness."
Mia chewed on her lip, thinking hard. "So... I don't need a backpack?"
"You can keep the backpack," Dad laughed. "But your mission field is your family. When we love each other, help each other, and forgive each other, we are doing exactly what Jesus told us to do. We are preaching the gospel without even saying a word."
Mia looked at Fluffy the cat. Then she looked at her dad. She took a granola bar out of her backpack and handed it to him. "Here, Daddy. Missionaries share their snacks."
Dad took a bite and winked. "Mission accomplished."
The Way of the Wandering Star: Chapter 4 : The Broken Lantern
This is a chapter from our ongoing serial story for kids.
Leo gripped his wooden staff as he climbed the mossy hill. Behind him, his younger sister, Pip, was struggling. The "Wandering Star": the light they were following toward the Great City: was high in the sky, but the shadows in the forest were getting long.
Pip tripped over a root, and her small glass lantern hit a rock with a sharp clink. The light inside flickered and went out.
"Leo! My light is gone!" Pip cried. Her lower lip trembled.
Leo stopped. He was tired. He wanted to get to the clearing before dark. If he stopped now, they’d be late. He almost told her to just keep walking in his light, but then he remembered what the Elder had told him back at the village: The road is long, but the person next to you is the most important part of the journey.
Leo turned around and walked back down the hill. He knelt beside Pip and looked at her broken lantern. "It’s okay, Pip. We can fix the frame, but we’ll have to share my light for a while."
He took a piece of twine from his pocket and tied her lantern to his staff so it wouldn't dangle. Then, he reached out his hand. "Hold onto my sleeve. We’ll walk together."
Pip wiped her eyes and smiled. "Thanks, Leo. You’re a good leader."
Leo realized then that leading wasn't about being the fastest or the strongest. It was about making sure the person next to him didn't feel alone in the dark. As they walked, the Wandering Star seemed to shine just a little bit brighter, reflecting in the puddles along the path. They weren't just moving toward the light; they were carrying it together.
Parent Tips: Being a Spiritual Leader at Home
Being the "pastor" of your home doesn't require a degree or a fancy suit. It just requires presence. Here are a few ways to cultivate your little mission field:
The "Highs and Lows" Ritual: Every night at dinner, ask everyone for their "high" (the best part of the day) and their "low" (the hardest part). This opens the door for prayer and heart-to-heart connection.
Model Forgiveness: When you lose your cool (it happens!), apologize to your kids. Showing them that adults need Jesus’ grace, too, is one of the most powerful lessons you can teach.
Ordinary Prayer: You don't have to wait for bedtime. Pray when you see an ambulance, pray when you're thankful for a sunny day, or pray when a friend is sick. Let them see that talking to God is as natural as breathing.
Resource Your Heart: If you're feeling stuck on how to lead, check out our Ultimate Guide to Family Devotionals for more practical steps.
Hands-On Faith: The Secret Kindness Note
Goal: To show Jesus’ love through a small, unexpected act of service. Materials: Paper, markers or crayons, and maybe a small treat (like a piece of candy or a cool sticker).
The Activity: Have each family member pick another person in the house. In secret, write a small note or draw a picture that says something kind about them. (For example: "I love the way you tell funny jokes" or "Thank you for helping me with my chores.")
The Spiritual Connection (Script): "Jesus said that when we serve others, we are serving Him. Today, we’re going to be 'Secret Missionaries' in our own house. We’re going to leave these notes where the other person will find them: maybe under a pillow or in a shoe! It’s a small way to show them they are loved, just like Jesus loves us."
Reflection and Action
Reflection: The first "world" we are called to is our own living room. Your home is a mission field, and your children are your first disciples. Think about the atmosphere of your home today. Does it feel like a place where the Gospel is lived out in the "small things"?
Action: Find a small way to "serve" your family today: maybe a surprise treat or an extra story at bedtime: to show them Jesus' love.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the gift of my family. Help my home to be a light in this world, starting with the way we love each other. Give me eyes to see my children as my first disciples and my home as a sacred mission field. May Your peace and joy fill our hallway and our hearts today. Amen.
Family Question: "Who is one person outside our family we can pray for or help this week?"
Parent Discussion Guide
Heart of the Story: Sharing the Gospel isn't just a "somewhere else" activity; it begins with the people we see every day. By serving our family, we model the heart of the Church’s mission.
Theological Roots (AG Truth #10): The Church is called to be an agency of God for evangelizing the world. This mission starts in the home (Deuteronomy 6:7) and extends to the ends of the earth.
Questions for Kids:
Ages 3–6: How can you be a "helper" like Mia was? What is one kind thing you can do for your brother or sister today?
Ages 7–9: Why do you think Leo went back to help Pip even though he was tired? How does helping our family show them what Jesus is like?
Ages 10–12: Is it harder to be kind to your family or to people at school? Why? How can we make our home a "safe place" where everyone feels God’s love?
Scripture Memory Cards
Mark 16:15 | The Key Truth |
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." | My home is my first mission field. |
Signature: ________________ | Signature: ________________ |
Acts 1:8 | The Key Truth |
"...and you will be my witnesses... to the ends of the earth." | Witnessing starts with my family. |
Signature: ________________ | Signature: ________________ |
Boundless Online Church An outreach ministry of First Assembly Memphis www.boundlessonlinechurch.org www.famemphis.org
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