Session 12: Persevere in Mission – Paul and Silas & Adoniram and Ann Judson

Scripture: Acts 16:16–34
Mission Focus: Adoniram and Ann Judson (America → Burma/Myanmar)
Key Verse: Galatians 6:9
Series: Missions: Big World, Bigger God

Lesson Overview

What can we do when following God becomes difficult?

In this session, children discover how Paul and Silas praised God while chained in prison. They then meet Adoniram and Ann Judson, who continued serving in Burma through years of slow progress, sickness, loss, and imprisonment.

Together, these stories teach children that difficult circumstances do not mean God has left us. He is with us and helps us keep praying, praising, and taking the next faithful step.

What Children Will Learn

• We can praise God even when life is difficult.
• God is working while we wait.
• Our trust in God can help others see Jesus.
• Perseverance means continuing faithfully when we feel like giving up.
• God’s promises remain true in difficult times.
• God can use patient, faithful service to help others.

📖 Bible Focus: Paul and Silas in Prison

This session begins with Paul and Silas being beaten, chained, and placed in prison for serving God.

At midnight, they prayed and sang hymns.

Children explore what their response teaches us about trusting God when life is painful or unfair.

They’ll see that:

• Paul and Silas praised God while they were still chained.
• Their hope was not controlled by their circumstances.
• God was working, even while they waited.
• The other prisoners listened as they prayed and sang.
• Their faithful response helped the jailer and his family hear about Jesus.

This story helps children understand that we do not have to pretend difficult situations are easy. We can remember that God is still good, still worthy, and still with us.

🌏 Mission Story: Adoniram and Ann Judson

Children are then introduced to Adoniram and Ann Judson, who left America in 1812 to share Jesus with the people of Burma.

Their mission required patience, courage, and years of faithful work.

They’ll discover how:

• they learned a difficult language and adapted to a new culture
• they prayed and taught for years before seeing much response
• Adoniram worked to translate the Bible into Burmese
• Ann taught others and helped explain the good news
• Ann bravely cared for Adoniram and protected his Bible translation while he was imprisoned
• they continued trusting God through sickness, loss, loneliness, and exhaustion

Their perseverance helped people read God’s Word in their own language and continued bearing fruit long after their most difficult days.

Adoniram’s words become the heart of the missionary story:

“As bright as the promises of God.”

This session helps children see that slow progress does not mean God has forgotten us. When the work is hard, we can continue praying, believing, and serving.

🎥 Watch the Story Videos

Paul and Silas in Prison – Bible Story

Adoniram and Ann Judson – Short Biography

Adoniram and Ann Judson – Full Story

Lesson Resources

Everything you need to teach this session in one printable pack:

• Step-by-step teaching guide
• Illustrated Bible and missionary stories
• Colour and black-and-white story pages
• Group games and discussion questions
• Galatians 6:9 memory verse activities
• Missionary focus cards
• Myanmar worksheet
• Bible translation code activity
• Find the Differences activity
• Paul and Silas true-or-false worksheet
• Hidden Message Pillow craft
• “Bright as the Promises” lantern craft
• Paul and Silas prison craft
• Colouring pages
• Praise Challenge for home
• Printable reward badges
• Answer page

Printable Story Booklets (Optional)

Includes fully illustrated story booklets about Adoniram and Ann Judson. Ideal for take-home use, lesson review, and helping children retell the missionary story.

FREE DOWNLOAD

Translations