What is a children’s meal center?
Through our children’s meal center ministry, we empower local churches to serve nutritious meals, sing fun songs, share exciting Bible lessons and provide vital first aid and medical care to needy children. The goal is to serve supplemental meals to children in poverty while also guiding them into a relationship with Jesus Christ and caring for their immediate physical needs.
​
When and where?
The main meal center ministry is done once per week with the Bible lesson and songs. It’s much like Sunday School but it’s conducted in communities. (Although some are done at the local church itself). Weekends are best in most places because the kids are out of school. Other meals can be served throughout the week if possible.
​
A meal center may or may not have a building. In fact, in some of the communities, we simply serve the meal under the shade of trees or at a basketball court. We seek out communities where poverty is at its highest and children are in dire situations. Sometimes we construct buildings to hold the meal center ministry in if it is possible.
​
How are they conducted?
The process can vary depending on the country/province, but the basic concept is the same. The workers go to the area where they have the weekly meal center and gather up all the children. First, they will sing lots of fun children’s songs. Next, the teacher will present an age appropriate Bible lesson that usually last 8-15 minutes. After the Bible lesson, we pray with the children and serve the meal.
The workers have a first aid kit and while they are interacting with the children, they are looking for children who have wounds that need care. Basic first aid can be applied as needed. The workers should also look for children with more serious medical problems and address those as needed.
First-aid and medical treatment
A first-aid kit should be kept at the site of the meal center or kept personally by a leader of the meal center who can attend every time there is a mealtime, so that basic medical help can be available for any child who might need it.
A portion of the sponsorship money should be saved each month so that any children who require further medical treatment from doctors or hospitals can be assisted.
Church planting
Beginning a meal center is an excellent way to plant a new church. The meal center can be used to gain trust and build relationships in a new community. After a while, an adult Bible study can be formed, and then, the new church can be established.
Sponsorships
A meal center can have one sponsor that sponsors the entire monthly amount of $200 or many sponsors who help make up the monthly amount. Monthly sponsors can give $25, $50, $100, or a special amount. Sponsors will receive regular updates via email.