Nickels for New Tribes

July 2, 2007

Kodiak in flight

A group of boys from Trinity Baptist Church in Apopka, Florida, wanted to raise money for missionaries -- but how?

The first through fourth graders, varying week to week from 8 to 18 boys, asked the leaders of their "Royal Ambassadors" club about it and soon an idea was reached.

"We started by placing a five gallon plastic water bottle in the Royal Ambassadors room and the boys started collecting 'Nickels for New Tribes' on a weekly basis," wrote Royal Ambassador leaders Chip and Lisa Dutton.

But the bottle wasn't getting full quick enough to suit the boys. What else could they do?

The leaders advised the group on how they could raise even more money and earn their "Mission Walk" patch for their vest at the same time.

"We told them that they would have to participate in a 'walk' for missions," wrote Chip and Lisa, "and collect pledges from their friends, neighbors and relatives which would raise money to help spread the Word of God."

But wanting them to learn responsibility and the fulfillment of reaching their own goals, the leaders stipulated that the boys must do all the work of eliciting and collecting the pledges themselves.

"The boys decided that they wanted to participate and they wanted to give the money to 'the missionaries that come to see us every month' -- New Tribes Mission," Chip and Lisa wrote.

So "Nickels for New Tribes" became a "walk for New Tribes" and was scheduled for March in the church parking lot. The boys excitedly set a goal of $250 and began collecting pledges.

But God had much more in mind.

After a three-mile Saturday walk in spring, boys with an average age of 8 collected $1,692.50. A giant check was fashioned out of thin foam board and excitedly presented to New Tribes Mission.

"We had our final meeting for this year's Royal Ambassadors chapter the following Wednesday," wrote the Duttons, "and the boys are already bringing in their change to get a head start for next year!"

Thank the Lord with us for such an amazing group of boys and their willingness to become a part of planting tribal churches all around the world.