Children

Junior Mission for All

one way for children to change the world!

The JMA promise:

I promise to learn, pray and serve with the worldwide Church of Jesus Christ

JMA is a programme which can help leaders give that global dimension to their children work.

To support this work with children are:

• Rainbow: a free colour magazine which is issued in September, January and April.
• JMA Active: free activity pack focusing on this year's overseas project in Sri Lanka and the Crossroads youth initiative, Belfast.
• An extensive range of educational resources and support materials.
• Ideas for services.
• Badges and certificates to encourage children to collect and raise money for the annual project

Sri Lankan - see our project for 2010

JMA Active 2010 and FREE Project Pack

Each year those using the JMA programme can support projects in both Ireland and overseas. It is MMS(Ireland) which coordinates the overseas project and provides accompanying materials for groups to use. The Methodist Home Mission Department look after the Irish element.

For 2010:

2010 Projects: Overseas – children's project in Sri Lanka

Ireland – Crossroads youth initiative, Belfast

The overseas project is accompanied by a full pack of ideas, activities etc called JMA Active 2010. You can contact the office to receive your free pack or download the majority of its contents.

Last year's JMA Active 2009 project

Overseas Project -supporting 3 children's projects in South Africa.

JMA helped support the work of the Central Methodist Mission in Johannesburg to help displaced young people who have fled from neighbouring Zimbabwe.

It also supported the runnning costs of Jabulani Khakibos Kids' Home where Mission Partner, Alan McIlhenny's Open Schools Programme works.

JMA helped to build a set of showers for children in Hammanskraal who are being looked after by volunteer Catherine Sepato and her friends who act as surrogate parents to orphans and and children affected by HIV.

Ireland Project - JMA supported the Funky Fish Youth Cafe in Bandon, Co Cork which provides a safe place for young people from the town. You'll find the 2009 Activity Pack here

JMA Active 2008 project

In 2008, JMA helped to fund the small Methodist Mission in Kibera, Kenya which is Africa's largest slum and is home to 1 million people. Education may be a way of improving life for many but children often drop out of the local state school because fees cannot be paid or they find it difficult to keep up with class mates. The Mission has a team of volunteers who teach primary and secondary aged children. Food, uniforms and books and pencils are also supplied. The Mission is in very bad condition and it is a struggle to maintain the programme. JMA's contribution through MMS(Ireland) enabled the school to continue. Education can bring better jobs but it also brings dignity and self-belief, as well as basic skills to run a small business, read a prescription or look after a tight budget for the family.  You can download last year's activity pack here .

Yours questions about JMA answered

Click here to have some of the basics of JMA explained.

Organising a JMA service

Many groups like to organise an annual service with the children with an overseas flavour. Click here for some ideas as to what you can do. These ideas attempt to link in with the South African theme for this year's overseas project.

Further resources

Visit www.methodistchildren.org.uk for the latest JMA downloads and resources.