AMF missionaries spend a lot of time getting to know the people in their communities.  By building relationships, they not only lead others to Christ, but they find opportunities to start new ministries in places previously “closed” to the Gospel – nursing homes, prisons,  even public schools. Yes, some AMF missionaries (336 at last count) have found a way to teach unchurched children about Jesus during school hours!

These hard-working missionaries are those who hold released-time classes in homes and churches near (but never on) public school properties across the nation.  Released-time classes are perfectly legal, so long as the children’s parents give permission and the schools do not encourage or discourage students’ attendance at them.  Some schools see released-time classes as highly beneficial because their students receive moral instruction at no expense to the public. The classes take place during school hours so that all students have access to them, regardless of their access to transportation or commitment to extra-curricular activities.

From a missionary’s perspective, released-time classes are an ideal opportunity to reach children who have never been to church.  Most missionaries find the released-time students eager to learn and describe this type of ministry as extremely fruitful.  Some released-time students meet for the first time people outside their families who love them unconditionally, and they respond to that love by turning to the source of it, Jesus Christ.  Occasionally, released-time classes lead to such a change in a child that the child’s parents also come to Christ and become active in their local churches.  We are thankful for all the AMF missionaries who seize this opportunity to reach the next generation of public school children for Christ’s kingdom!

Written on behalf of Gordon Anderson