Sponsoring a child gives you the opportunity to teach your own kids many lessons, such as generosity, sacrifice, love, and care for the world. They can also learn to appreciate what they have and practice gratitude.
Having a child across the globe whom you correspond with, send pictures to, and receive letters from can allow your children to understand that the world is bigger than themselves.
Sponsorship can also be an opportunity to teach your children about prayer. You may write letters, take pictures, and send crafts to your sponsored child as a family, but are your kids part of the activity of praying for your sponsored child?
Starting to pray for your sponsored child as a family is simple and fun. Here are a few tips to help:
1. Make it a habit
Set aside time every week as a family to pray for your sponsored child. You don’t have to carve out hours of your time. Simply find a time that fits your family’s schedule to sit down together for a few minutes and spend time praying for your sponsored child. This may be before pizza dinners on Fridays or after school every Tuesday. Whatever works for your schedule is a great time to pray.
2. Keep a notebook
Make a notebook filled with letters and pictures from your sponsored child for inspiration as your family prays. This is a great way to collect special keepsakes and also remind your family of specific things they can pray for. You can even include written prayers you prayed for your child in the past. Keep the notebook in an accessible place so your children can read it even when you’re not around.
3. Brainstorm topics to pray about
There are many things that your sponsored child needs prayer for. It might be helpful to make a list of topics and place it in your notebook or on a whiteboard where it can be seen by every member of the family.
This can also be an opportunity to teach your kids to be thankful for what God has blessed them with. You can practice praising God for His blessings while at the same time asking Him to help your sponsored child.
4. Keep your child’s picture where you can see it
It’s easiest to remember something when you see it all the time. The same goes for praying for your sponsored child. By hanging his or her picture in places around the house that you use most, like on a bathroom mirror or the refrigerator door, your family will be reminded to pray for your sponsored child whenever they see his or her picture.
You can even get your children involved in putting up and choosing the location for the picture in your home.
However you decide to pray for your sponsored child, he or she is sure to appreciate your love and support. As you pray with your family, you will feel God drawing you closer together and opening up your own kids’ hearts to loving intentionally.
Prayer is a valuable tool that can change lives. Thank you for praying for your sponsored child and for sharing Christ’s love with him or her.
Kayla Hoster is a summer intern at World Help. She has also been involved in Village Transformation through her church, and her family currently sponsors two children. If you are interested in volunteering or interning with World Help like Kayla, please click here.