James 1:22 says, “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.” To partner with families to live this out on a regular basis, we have divided GoKids in two distinct components — on-campus and off- campus.

While on campus, boys and girls participate in a mashup of music and missions. It is our desire to teach and train the children of our church to serve the body of Christ in both song and service. Over the course of these evenings, kids are able to interact with current SBC missionaries, learn about areas of the world where the gospel is going forward, and praise God through song for all He has done.

Times spent away from campus are designed for both parents and children to have opportunities to “be doers of the word.” Part of the discipleship strategy of FBC Sevierville is to “go in your world.” Kids need to be challenged to take the Great Commission seriously and put their faith into practice. That is why we have implemented GO WEEK. While off campus, families are given tools and prompts on how they can be on mission for God in their everyday lives. The prompts are designed to be in your home and built into your family’s regular routine. On the following pages, you will find ideas for your family to do during GO WEEK.

SAVE THE DATES:
2.21 Midwinter Reward Party
3.15 Spring Break
4.8 Easter Event 4.19 GO WEEK 6.26-30 VBSMC 2023 7.27-30 FBCS Kids Camp
invite only for those who have completed their Scripture memorization thus far
no on-campus activities
all ages | time & location TBD no on-campus activities registration details coming soon completed 3rd-6th grade

DINNER WITH DAN
Did you know that having a personal connection to the Senior Pastor is important for a child’s spiritual formation? In the book Why They Stay, the authors’ research found that young adults who disliked their pastors were almost twice as likely to stop attending church compared to those who had a favorable view of their pastors when they were young. An easy way to build a connection between your children and the church is to invite Pastor Dan over for dinner. I’m sure he’d love to spend time with you!
“And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” - Hebrews 13:16

FAMILY TREE OF FAITH
Do your children know how God rescued you from sin and death? Have they heard the stories of faith from their grandparents? Reach out to your extended family in order to hear the glorious things God has done in their lives. Make a visit, plan a phone call, or have them record their testimonies and send them to you. If you don’t have a lineage of faith in your family, ask a believing friend to share his/her story with your kids.
“...But we will tell the generations to come the praises of the LORD, and His power and His wondrous works that He has done.” - Psalm 78:4

THE QUESTION BOX
Children are full of questions, aren’t they? The average Kindergartener asks about 400 questions each day! As kids grow in their exposure and understanding of the Scriptures, they are bound to have many, many questions. Create a question box where they can deposit their biblical inquiries. Have a night where you pull out their questions, open the Bible, and seek to provide them with Christ -honoring answers.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...”- II Peter 3:18

SPONSOR A CHILD
For many years, FBC Sevierville has been partnering with The Orbit Village Project in Nairobi, Kenya, which was started by one of our very own church members—Cyndy Waters. Orbit is home to an orphanage, a school, and a church. If your family would like to sponsor a child at Orbit, you can visit orbitvillage.org to learn more about how to support the work taking place in Nairobi. You will be connected to the front lines of gospel ministry taking place thousands of miles away!
“And the King will answer and say to them, ’Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’” - Matthew 25:40

“THANK YOU” THANK YOU’S
AW Tozer, the famed pastor of the early 20th century, once said, “Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer having made it.” There are many people in our children’s lives who invest in them week after week. Have your kids make “thank you” cards and pictures for their school teachers, Life Group teachers, coaches, principals, etc. Deliver them with a smile and an attitude of gratitude.
“...I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people.”
- I Timothy 2:1

FAMILY PRAYER LIST
Have you ever asked children who or what they would like to pray for? Though you occasionally get some off-the-wall answers, you quite often will find that the hearts of kids are soft for the needs and burdens around them. Why not create a family prayer list where you can keep track of their requests? Pray over each need as you write them down. Over time you can also record how God answered each request. It will help your children see not only how to take our concerns to the Lord but also how to watch Him work in our lives.
“...let your requests be made known to God.”- Philippians 4:6

STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT
Sometimes on a clear evening, the night sky seems to light up with the handiwork of God. Take your family outside to spend time stargazing. Find a book or an app that helps you locate various stars, planets, and constellations. As you take in the vastness and beauty of God’s creation, praise Him for all He has made. After all, He not only made the stars of the heavens, but He also made each of us!
“Raise your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the One who brings out their multitude by number, He calls them all by name...’” - Isaiah 40:26

DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION
Rightfully so, many Christian parents wish to mix great music with great lyrics for their kids to enjoy. If you aren’t familiar with them, Seeds Family Worship is a ministry dedicated to combining Scripture with music. Their songs are available on most streaming platforms; you can also find them at seedsfamilyworship.com. Gather the kids together, crank up the tunes, and let’s have a party!
“Come, let’s sing for joy to the LORD, let’s shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let’s come be- fore His presence with a song of thanksgiving, let’s shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments.” - Psalm 95:1-2

SPECIAL DELIVERY
There are many people who serve each Sunday on our campus who get lost in the shuffle. Our Production Team, Facilities Team, Safety Team, and Guest Services Team make every weekend run smoothly without being noticed. Have your children put together small bags of candies and notes that can be handed out on Sundays to these men and women. They won’t expect these tokens of generosity, but they will certainly appreciate them!
“contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”- Romans 12:13

SPRING INTO SERVICE
Once spring arrives, our friends and family will head outdoors to begin mowing the lawn, spreading some mulch, and planting flowers. As you see people getting out to work in their yards, you can serve your neighbors by lending a hand. Perhaps you can pick up sticks or help water their garden. As you bless others in this way, remind your neighbors that you are simply being obedient to God by serving others.
“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” - I Peter 4:10

HOT MEALS FOR HUNGRY HEARTS
Though we may not always see it, our community is full of men, women, boys, and girls who do not have the means to regularly have a warm dinner. That’s where Hot Meals For Hungry Hearts comes in—it’s a ministry that serves the neighbors in our community by providing a hot meal each Monday evening beginning at 4:00 p.m. Your family could join our team of volunteers one night to share a meal and make new friends with our guests.
“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty.’” - John 6:35

TRAIL MAGIC
As the seasons continue to change and warmer weather moves into our mountains, people young and old will set out on trails to enjoy a day in the national park. You and your family could go on a hike and bless the folks you encounter with trail magic. Trail magic are gifts that people share along the trail that include snacks, drinks, candy, or acts of generosity. In giving a hiker some trail magic, you can also have a conversation about the best gift of all—the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“...I do not have silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.” - Acts 3:6

AT YOUR SERVICE
We all love to enjoy nice meals at our favorite restaurants. The chances are pretty high that your server will bring you your food and ask, “Is there anything else I can get for you?” Take the oppor- tunity to inform your server that your family is about to pray and ask God’s blessing over the meal. Ask, “Is there anything we can pray about for you?” At the very least you can pray that God would bless your server with kind customers and good tips for the evening. And speaking of tips, make sure to leave a good one!
“...pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” - Galatians 6:2

SROs - SHARING REAL OPPORTUNITIES
Most schools have SROs (School Resource Officers). The men and women who serve as SROs choose to be in schools because they want to keep kids safe, to invest in the boys and girls of their schools, and to be of assistance to parents. Look for a way to share a kind, meaningful gift or card with your school’s SRO. If you do not have an SRO at your school, you can always do something thoughtful for a police officer that you know.
“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” - II Thessalonians 3:3

FACETIME FUN
When is the last time you hopped on Facetime to talk with your grandparents? The Scriptures speak to the important relationship that exists between grandparents and their grandkids. Paul even reminded Timothy, his church-planting apprentice, about the spiritual investment that his mother and grandmother had made into his life (II Timothy 1:5). Make a video call to the grandparents in your family and share how much you love them. If you do not have any living grandparents, you can always connect with a senior adult in our church.
“Grandchildren are the crown of the old, and the glory of sons is their fathers.” - Proverbs 17:6

1 DOWN & 2 UP
Unfortunately, not everyone we come in contact with each day is a kind person. In fact, sometimes our closest friends say hurtful things to us (and we might even say hurtful things in return). Commit to the principle of “1 down, 2 up.” That means that every time someone puts you down, you will respond with two uplifting things about that person. Or every time you say a put-down to someone, you will ask for forgiveness and share two put-ups about them. Though our natural, sinful desires are not always to be kind, we can build one another up with the words we say.
“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” - Ephesians 4:32

NEIGHBORHOOD EGG HUNT
Many families will be gathering together for the Easter holidays. Some of those folks are Christians and understand why we celebrate Easter. Some might be familiar with parts of Jesus’ story, but they have not followed Him in repentance and faith. Still others have never heard the good news that God offers through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son. To make sure everyone is on the same page, why not host an egg hunt in order to share what Paul considered to be of “first importance?” Even if everyone present knows the story of Easter, why not share it again?
“He is not here, but He has risen.” - Luke 24:6

POPSICLE PRAYER TIME
If your children are deserving of a cold treat—or if you happen to have some craft sticks on hand— this activity is just for you. Have your children write down the names of people they would like to be praying for over the course of the next several weeks. Encourage them to consider a variety of people (missionaries they learned about in GoKids, neighbors, teammates, school teachers, etc.). After placing all of the popsicle sticks in a jar or container, set a particular time during the day to stop and pray for two or three of the names. You could also encourage those your family is praying for via text messages, cards, emails, or phone calls.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” - Colossians 4:2

THE MASTER’S PIECES
Children are fountains of creativity. From modeling clay to pipe cleaners—paintings to collages— kids are equipped to express themselves through art from an early age. Supply your children with the materials needed to create biblical scenes, word art from Scripture, or illustrations from God’s creation. Read the Bible with your kids to determine what they want to depict in their art. Once the projects are complete, decorate your house with these new reminders of God’s creativity. You can also gift some artwork to friends and family.
“LORD, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your possessions.” - Psalm 104:24

HOT CHOCOLATE DELIVERY
Do you know your neighbors? If you do or do not, take the time to deliver them a warm drink. Your family can demonstrate God’s generosity by making and delivering hot chocolate for those who live nearby. Have your children write Bible verses or draw pictures on the cups. Upon delivery, ask your neighbors how you can be praying for them. Perhaps you might even stop and pray on their front porches! Not only can you “sweeten” someone’s day, but you can also get to know the needs of your neighbors.
“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” - Galatians 6:2

DONATION STATION
Is your house in need or some organization? Do you have an excess of clothes that don’t fit or toys that don’t get used? As a family, have a day to clean out areas that need attention and sort out items that could be donated. Explain to your children that there are boys and girls in our community who are in need of the items that could be given away from your home. Take your items to a local organization (e.g. SMARM) that could minister to families through your donations.
“A generous person will be prosperous...” - Proverbs 11:25

MISSIONARY MOTIVATION
Did you know that the Southern Baptist Convention supports over 5,800 missionaries in the USA and around the world? Without the good news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, families around the globe will die in their sins and spend eternity separated from their Creator. We send missionaries to take the gospel to those people. As these missionaries are on the ground in their various locations, they could use some encouragement from our families at FBCS. If you would like to encourage some of our missions partners, please contact Pastor Craig Mintz ([email protected]) to learn how your family can provide a boost to our friends around the globe.
“Just as it is written: ’How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good tidings!’” - Romans 10:15

CREATION SCAVENGER HUNT
Take a trip to the zoo or aquarium. Before you head inside, read Genesis 1 together as a family and talk about each day of Creation. Keep track of the variety of flora and fauna you encounter. What day of Creation might they represent? For example, a nocturnal animal might represent the night and darkness. On which day did God create night? Locate an animal that lives underwater and one that lives above ground. On what days were they created? Take a break from your scavenger hunt to rest—I wonder what day that represents?
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” - Genesis 1:1

INTERNATIONAL TASTE TEST
It is easy to forget that we live in a very big world with a vast array of cultures. Find a new recipe or go out for a family dinner to a place that serves ethnic food. Before you eat, visit operationworld.org to research the country and culture your family is about to experience. What are some things that are similar to our country? What are some differences? How can we pray for the people of that nation? After dinner, take time to pray for the Christians in that country to be strengthened; also pray for the unbelievers to hear the good news of Christ Jesus.
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations...” - Matthew 28:19

ONCE UPON A TIME
Write a story together with your children. Perhaps it’s based on a true situation that happened to your family, or maybe it is a magical tale that your children craft from their own imaginations. Regardless of the story you choose to write, get creative! Let your kids illustrate the pages with artwork that matches the story. Ask your children what they know about God’s story and assist them in seeing their role in it. Share with them the grand story that runs through the entire Scriptures— Creation (Where did we come from?), Fall (What went wrong?), Redemption (Where do we find hope?), Restoration (Where is history going?).
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” - II Timothy 3:16

CLEAN UP, CLEAN UP
Not everyone values God’s creation; however, Christians are called to be caretakers and stewards of the world (Genesis 1:27-28). Take your family to one of our local parks, or the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, to do some volunteer cleanup. While enjoying being outside, walk around and look for trash that can be thrown away. Not only will park officials be grateful, but the Lord will be honored in your service. Talk to your children about valuing the good gifts God has given us— including our community’s parks.
“The earth is the LORD’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who live in it.” - Psalm 24:1

WELCOME TO NARNIA
Everyone loves a good book! Sit down with your children and read CS Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Perhaps you can read one chapter per night before bed (there are 17 chapters, so this could take you a couple of weeks). Lead your kids into the world of Narnia and ask them lots of questions about the biblical connections they hear. As you come across biblical themes (this book is an allegory of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ), help your children to see Jesus in the story.