Short-term missions do have an impact on children, survey finds

Fun missions activities for children can have a significant spiritual impact on those who attend, a survey by the Barna group has shown.

The US group surveyed thousands of children who attended 'SuperKids', one and two week outreach missions run by Scripture Union USA during the summer of 2010.

It found that as a result of the programme, 85% of the children who took part felt more loved by God and that over 80% said they learned new things about God and Jesus.

More than 30,000 largely at-risk children took part each day in some 90 Superkids outreach missions held in major urban centres and beach resorts across the States.

The programme, 'Good News for You', was based on the Gospel of Luke and featured Bible stories, skits, small group Bible studies, games, contests and prizes.

The Barna group said the findings pointed to a keenness among at-risk children to follow Jesus.

While 77% of the children attending said they had learned more about the Bible, nearly 80% say they had discovered that they want to follow Jesus.

Three-quarters reported that they learned right from wrong and how to stay out of trouble.

The Barna report stated: "Without exception, every single belief about Jesus that was tested among the programme participants experienced an increase from pre-test to post-test results."

When asked why they wanted to come to SuperKids, seven out of 10 said they had "heard that it was a lot of fun".

Even after the programme had finished, impressions were positive, with two-thirds describing SuperKids as a "fun place to hang out" and "a good place to make new friends".