In Get Messy! Vol. 3 we’ve teamed up with Street Child to produce a Messy Church harvest session on compassion.
Using the Old Testament story of Ruth and God’s command:
You harvest your crops on your land. But do not harvest all the way to the corners of your fields…You must leave those things for poor people. You must also leave them for people travelling through your country, Leviticus 19:9-10 (ICB)
we can understand God’s heart and intention for us to be generous and kind, to share the excess of our ‘harvest’ with those who are in need, and to look out for the foreigner and stranger.
The compassion shown to Ruth gives her hope and safety during a very difficult time in her life. She is a foreigner in a strange land, a long way from her home. She is a widow, having lost her husband unexpectedly, and she is in need financially.
I wonder..? What resources do we have plenty of and how can we share them?
The work of the charity Street Child is a modern example of people working together to help the world’s most vulnerable children. Street Child works in over 25 countries to help those who have been affected by war, natural disasters and poverty. It provides safe spaces for children to play and be given the care they need. Like Boas, Street Child helps people in the toughest of circumstances, providing shelter, kindness, vital resources and education.
Aike caught up with Ximena Wilson from Street Child, who co-wrote the session with Anna Lloyd, to ask them about their work:
What’s your role at Street Child and which aspect do you find the most rewarding?
Ximena: I’m the Fundraising Manager for Schools, Churches, and Community at Street Child. I’ve recently returned from a trip to Sierra Leone, where I had the incredible opportunity to witness firsthand the impact of our work. Seeing how deeply grateful the children and their families are, and how far the support we raise goes, was truly humbling.
What I find most rewarding is visiting schools across the UK and sharing stories of children around the world. It’s powerful to see how children here engage with these stories and become inspired to make a difference. I love watching that transformation happen—on one side, children in need gaining access to education and hope: on the other, young people here developing a deeper sense of compassion and a desire to help others. It’s a beautiful exchange that brings real change to both sides.
When we see a disaster unfold on our news feeds, how does Street Child spring into action to support vulnerable children?
In an emergency, we don’t adopt a ‘one size fits all’ model. We work as quickly as possible with local organisations to understand how each £1 can be used to have the greatest impact. This can vary from food packages to temporary shelters or cash grants to families so they can make decisions about what their children need most.
We love your Street Child Messy Church session. What’s your favourite activity and why?
Ximena: I absolutely love the ‘Building a den/shelter’ activity! It brings back so many fond memories from my own childhood—gathering friends and family to build little hideouts and then crawling inside to play. It’s such a simple joy that sparks creativity and teamwork.
What makes this activity even more powerful is adding a moment of reflection. I like to encourage children to pause inside their shelters and say a prayer for those around the world who don’t have safe homes—children who live in shelters made of sticks and palm leaves. It turns a fun game into a meaningful experience, helping children connect their play with compassion and awareness for others. That combination of joy and empathy is what makes it my favourite.
Thank you to Ximena for sharing a bit about their work. We hope this session will help your Messy Church explore the topic of compassion this harvest.
You can find out more about the work of Street Child here: https://www.street-child.org/
If you’re headed for Big Church Festival 22-24 August, do go and meet the team in the Expo and look out for Sarah Smart (Messy Church Network Development lead) who will be joining the stand on the Friday 22nd August.
The Messy Church Street Child session is available in Get Messy! vol. 3 in print or as digital eBook. Alternatively, you can purchase the individual session.
You may also like
Hand in Hand 2026
10th Feb 2026What a fabulous weekend we had at the Hand in Hand ‘Kingdom Builders’ conference!
40 days 40 acts 40 opportunities to walk in generosity
22nd Jan 2026Created by Stewardship, 40acts is a Lent generosity challenge that invites people to do something different for the 40 days of Lent. Each day offers a simple opportunity to live out generosity in everyday life.
World Day of Prayer 2026
20th Jan 2026We have created a World Day of Prayer Messy Church session resource, English and Welsh versions available!
Advent around the World
9th Dec 2025On Thursday 4/5th December, 17 of our international Messy Church leaders from 9 countries, gathered online for some Advent fellowship, encouragement and prayer.
