Tennessee River hosts missions jamboree for children

More than 150 youngsters in the Tennessee River Baptist Association were able to see missions up close during the Children’s Missions Jamboree.
   
The association office in Scottsboro hosted 151 children and 56 adults from churches across the association at the jamboree May 21.
   
“We wanted to do something to highlight the Association Missions Week,” said Patricia Chandler, association director of both Vacation Bible School and Girls in Action (GA).
   
Done as a Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) event, the jamboree highlighted ministries of the association, so that those attending would better understand what missions work goes on locally, Patricia Chandler said.
   
They also received a taste of state, national and international missions.
   
Participants met Ben Chandler, director of missions for Tennessee River and husband of Patricia Chandler, and heard him tell about his work.
   
In addition, the children visited different stations where they learned about literacy missions (which includes tutoring for young students), parish nursing and health care ministries and clowning.
   
To help the children understand about the association’s disaster relief ministry that assists with cleanup and recovery, the children “got to view the trailer we have that is stocked and ready,” Patricia Chandler said.
   
They sampled foods from Mexico and Thailand, met a Christian Thai woman and heard about a woman who is a journeyman in China.
   
Patricia Chandler said this was a “brand new concept for our association,” one that was brought to its fruition at “very little cost.” She said the desire to have the jamboree had been on her mind for several years. With the help of the WMU council and the presenters at the various jamboree stations, the event was organized in about six months.
   
The intent was to show children how they can be involved in missions through prayer, special emphases, offerings through Royal Ambassadors, GA and Acteens, as well as other activities such as collecting clothes, food and blankets for people in the area.
   
It is her hope to have a day camp next year to help children learn how to be even more involved in local missions.