"Did you know it looks like a peacock?" My nine-year-old son was telling about a conversation with his friend from India. "Rishi told me one of his main gods has feathers!"

At least one quarter of my children's classmates are from immigrant families. Demographic like these in public schools are giving my children rich opportunities for multicultural experiences. Not only do their friends bring interesting cultural and lifestyle differences into the classroom, but many of the children are from families of other faiths, as my nine-year-old experienced.

What can help my kids and yours translate what they learn in these multi-ethnic settings, and the truth they are learning about Jesus in Sunday School into active participation in God's plan to bring all people into relationship with Him? Is understanding of another person's faith or culture enough? Can our kids learn to share Jesus with their world?

Start preparing your kids for Great Commission involvement by teaching them what it is. Read Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15 and discuss the meaning together. Realize that these verses challenge Christians to do more than nice service projects. They involve sharing the gospel and growing disciples. The whole Body of Christ, including kids, can be involved. And their involvement can go way beyond the typical giving projects. Here are 18 ideas to get you started.

INVOLVE THEM BY SHARING THE GOOD NEWS

1) Know Scripture - One of the first keys to involvement in the Great Commission is knowing the Gospel well. Teach kids to define key words in John 3:16, then share it with classmates, as if they are non-believers.

2) Practice Sharing Testimonials - Invite your students to share their testimonies. What do they love about life with Jesus? How would life be different without Him?

INVOLVE THEM BY PRAYING FOR PEOPLE OF THE WORLD

3) Keep a Prayer Journal in Class - Write student requests, especially for people who do not know Christ, then check back to see how God answers. You might be surprised what God does when kids pray!

4) Use the Newspaper - Think beyond your classroom or community. Use the front section of the paper to pray about problems and people in the world, one article at a time. Always pray for the people in the news to come to know Christ.

5) Pray Globally - Spin the globe. Invite one person to use their pointer finger to stop the globe. Pray for the country the student is pointing at. Share information you know about the people there and their spiritual needs. (Operation World by Patrick Johnstone is a good resource for information by country.)

INVOLVE THEM BY LISTENING & LEARNING ABOUT PEOPLE

6) Interview a friend from another culture - As homework, challenge your students to interview a friend from another culture or another faith. Instruct them to mostly listen. Report back to each other next time you meet.

7) Learn about people of other religions - Find a great curriculum resource (with video) on religions of the 10/40 window. Caleb Project (www.calebproject.org) is a great resource for this.

8) Learn about Past Missionaries - YWAM Publishing (www.ywampublishing.org) has a missionary biography series that is great for 8-12 year olds.

9) Hear stories from Real Missionaries - Personal contact with vibrant missionaries is one of the top influences on kids who later show an interest in missions.

INVOLVE THEM BY SERVING

Recognize that not all service projects are alike. Many people help others in need. How will your projects be different? Choose activities that emphasize obedience, the Gospel, discipleship, God's love and that also support those involved in spreading the Good News.

10) Challenge kids to do their chores (Great Commission obedience starts at home!)

11) Send encouraging letters and e-mails to missionaries

12) Send notes and holiday packages to missionary kids (it's fun to send a birthday party in a box)

13) Wash cars for the community (Free. Really free!)

14) Feed hungry people (food drive or soup kitchen)

15) Present music, puppet, or drama ministry (to younger kids or in a community outreach)

16) Classroom assistants (offer simple ministries like ushering, setting up, or an object lesson).

17) Teach your kids to be willing to do WHATEVER!

INVOLVE THEM BY GOING

18) Take a missions trip. An international cross-cultural experience can impact a child for his entire lifetime. The trip can be local (VBS in a backyard or migrant worker camp) or international. Missions trips with kids are most effective when families are involved. Prepare your students well. (Some take up to two years to prepare for an international ministry trip with kids.) Help them grow strong relationships with Christ. Prepare them for culture shock and lifestyle differences. Give them ministry skills to share while there. Plan for lots of dialogue before, during, and after, as kids learn to sacrifice their own wants and needs to serve others. Today's kids have a unique opportunity to impact their world for Christ, like no other generation before them.

"Does Rishi believe in Jesus?" I asked my son after his report on his Hindu friend. Kevin paused. "I don't know. I'll ask him tomorrow at recess." My son has a unique opportunity to impact friends in his little world for Christ. So do millions of Christian kids like him. Let's equip our kids to reach even more of our world for Christ.