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“Mommy we should give this to someone who can use it,” my daughter said as she packed up toys she didn’t use anymore.

Since she was old enough to walk and talk we made regular trips to Salvation Army or “Salmy Army” as she would say. Because younger teens may not be ready to go overseas on mission trips, hosting a yard sale can help support other missionaries and teach kids life lessons too.

As a personal benefit, collecting things for the yard sale is a great way to de-clutter a home with a room-by-room purge. At first it may be difficult to work with kids and teens on their room or toy areas. To get buy-in from everyone, a family discussion about the idea to host a yard sale and who it will benefit is a must. Then as you go through the house, ask questions like, “When was the last time you used this?” or “What five things can we get rid of to make your closet easier to use?” This is my husband’s expertise. He knows when to catch our kids (and me) in the right mood. Before we know it we have clear counters, organized cabinets and a sense of triumph.

To build character, giving things away on a regular basis releases families from the trap of greed and selfishness. When it’s established as a pattern in youth it can set them up to be generous adults. It also serves as a reminder for each family member to focus on God rather than possessions. In our kids program at church one Wednesday night I taught about the different kinds of love. In addition I shared the commandments to not have any other Gods, to not make idols, and to “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV). One boy exclaimed, “Well, I love my X-Box the same way I love God.”

Developing the heart of a missionary happens as you talk about why you’re doing this and whose life it can change. Armed with God’s call to go in to all the world and preach, books from the library, and stories from a missionary in your church, the youth group or online source you can paint a touching perspective for your child. The leader of our youth group’s mission trip brought home a bright-colored oil painting of a boy and girl from the Dominican Republic. When I explained to my then three-year-old daughter they don’t have a mom or dad because they are orphans, it inspired her to empty every piggy bank in the house. She emptied hers first, then mine and said, “Mommy, can I have Daddy’s monies too?” My most precious photo that summer is her taking her first offering up to the alter the next day.

Finally, you can promote the mission or missionary you support at the yard sale with colorful photos, hand outs, tracts, and posters the kids can make. That doubles the impact of your hometown mission. You can share the gospel in your front yard and send the money to share the gospel around the world too.

May your yard sale mission help raise up your children the way they should go and bless the missionaries.