Here’s a simple way to introduce children to five major non-Christian groups who still need to hear the good news about Jesus and respond to him in worship and obedience. Use the THUMB acrostic:
T = Tribal peoples
H = Hindus
U = Unreligious peoples (atheists)
M = Muslims, the followers of Islam
B = Buddhists
The following resources use THUMB to help kids understand and pray for people who have other belief systems.
CD/DVD
Give your kids the background they need to understand God’s heart for kids in cultures that follow THUMB religions by showing the 10/40 Window Kids DVD. The companion CD has several group prayer activities as well as songs, games, and crafts. $19.99US from Caleb Resources.
For a more in-depth study of THUMB beliefs, use the THUMB Teacher's Resource Kit, a six-week study for kids grades K-5. $119.99US from Caleb Resources.
Prayer Cards
Kids' Prayer Cards are perfect for children in grades 2-5. Built on the THUMB acrostic, this set of 25 cards is small enough for kids to carry around and comes with a carabiner clip. The fronts of 22 cards feature colorful photos of kids in different cultures. The back of each card has a greeting from the people group, a fun fact about their culture, and a small map. There’s also a kid-friendly belief statement with a matching prayer request. Three activity cards have instructions for creating a tribal painting, making an Indian snack, and meeting and befriending international kids in your own neighborhood. $6US from Caleb Resources.
The T.H.U.M.B. Prayer Cards pack contains six cards—one for each of the THUMB groups plus an instruction card for parents and teachers. The front of each prayer card tells who the people with a specific belief system are, where they live, and what they believe. Flip the card over to find five prayer points based on Scripture. $3.99US from NavPress.
Coloring Book
The THUMB Coloring Book features black line drawings of five children from each of the THUMB belief systems—25 in all. The book includes a world map that shows where featured children live, prayer requests, and suggested activities. Great for children grades K-3. $3.19US from Caleb Resources.
Finger Puppets
Woman’s Missionary Union carries several finger puppet sets of international children, five in each set. Made of felt, hand-sewn finger puppets are four inches tall. Set A includes finger puppets that could represent a tribal group in Africa (T), India (H), Indonesia (M), and Japan (B). The western-dressed finger puppet could represent an unreligious (U) person from Europe or the former Soviet Union. These are great for introducing young children to groups of people who don't know about Jesus. Each set is $14.99US.
