STICKER IN ASHLYN THOMPSON'S BIBLEThe Lord gave me an idea when we were on deputation (nearly 10 years ago!) that we have used ever since, and, when I was ordering more stickers online today for our upcoming furlough, I thought I would share the idea here on my blog.
One of the fun things that kids (and adults alike!) can find at our missions display table when we are traveling in America are stickers to put in their Bibles. I grew up in a church where my pastor encouraged the children to go by the missionary display tables to get their Bibles signed by the missionaries. I realize now how wise my pastor was in making missionaries heroes to children (not because we are heroes... it just gets their eyes off of the world's "heroes").
We have been in many churches where children have asked for our signatures on the inside covers of their Bibles as well. It is sincerely humbling when this happens. Somewhere along the way, I came up with the idea of giving out stickers to encourage them to pray for us, and we have seen these stickers "return" to us in later years as kids proudly show us stickers that have been in their Bibles for several years already. I do not take for granted the prayers of children. In fact, I believe their prayers have been crucial to what we do here on the mission field.
I was reminded just recently of our "prayer stickers" when the Thompsons were visiting us from America, and their daughter showed us the inside flap of her Bible. And, yep, there we were! It was very touching to me to see how proud she was of her "Sloan sticker." And, I am SURE that she has prayed for us even more because of it.
One of the fun things that kids (and adults alike!) can find at our missions display table when we are traveling in America are stickers to put in their Bibles. I grew up in a church where my pastor encouraged the children to go by the missionary display tables to get their Bibles signed by the missionaries. I realize now how wise my pastor was in making missionaries heroes to children (not because we are heroes... it just gets their eyes off of the world's "heroes").
We have been in many churches where children have asked for our signatures on the inside covers of their Bibles as well. It is sincerely humbling when this happens. Somewhere along the way, I came up with the idea of giving out stickers to encourage them to pray for us, and we have seen these stickers "return" to us in later years as kids proudly show us stickers that have been in their Bibles for several years already. I do not take for granted the prayers of children. In fact, I believe their prayers have been crucial to what we do here on the mission field.
I was reminded just recently of our "prayer stickers" when the Thompsons were visiting us from America, and their daughter showed us the inside flap of her Bible. And, yep, there we were! It was very touching to me to see how proud she was of her "Sloan sticker." And, I am SURE that she has prayed for us even more because of it.
UPDATED PRAYER STICKER I ORDERED TODAY
So, if any of you other missionaries want to use the idea as well, go for it! Our stickers are feeling awfully lonely in those Bibles out there. Wouldn't it be wonderful to one day see columns of stickers in children's Bibles of missionary families for whom they are praying? I love it how they know each of us by name and always remember what country we are serving in because of their sticker reminder.
And, by the way, those stickers are just address labels! Such an inexpensive way to encourage extra prayers!