Do you have someone in your church heading off to the mission field? Missionaries need our prayers — and kids can be powerful prayer warriors when you give them the right tools! This hands-on Bible object lesson called The Missionary Toolbox makes praying for missionaries tangible, meaningful, and fun.

Bible object lessons for kids bring God’s Word to life, and for this one you will need the following:

Find a simple toolbox — I got mine at a dollar store — and fill it with everyday objects that represent different

missionary prayer needs. Each item becomes a conversation starter and a prayer prompt for your class.

Here’s what I include in my Missionary Toolbox and what each item represents:

• 🤙 Toy cell phone — Pray that missionaries can communicate by phone whenever they need to
• 🦎 Plastic lizard — Pray for safety around unfamiliar creatures in foreign lands
• 🪙 Foreign coins — Pray for financial support and provision
• 🧲 Large toy magnet — Pray that the missionary’s message of the Gospel will “attract” many non-believers to Jesus
• 🍎 Plastic food — Pray that missionaries will be flexible and grateful for whatever food is served to them
• 💊 Empty medicine bottle — Pray for good health while far from home
• 🚗 Toy truck or car — Pray for safe transportation in another country

During prayer time, invite a child to reach into the toolbox and pull out one item — without peeking! Then have the class focus their prayer on the need that item represents. You’ll be amazed at how thoughtfully kids pray when they have something to hold in their hands.

If possible, let the missionary know your class prayed for them when they return. I’m sure they’ll be deeply encouraged!

Suggestions for Success:

1. Rotate which child picks from the toolbox each week if you use this as an ongoing prayer activity.
2. Let kids suggest additional items to add — it gets them thinking creatively about missionary life.
3. Consider making a small version kids can take home to pray with their families.