The Seventh-day Adventist Church is introducing two new mission-focused versions of its Alive in Jesus Sabbath School curriculum, designed to help church members share the love of Jesus with children and families who may have little or no knowledge of the Bible.

Nina Atcheson, senior editor and project manager of the Alive in Jesus curriculum, presented the new resources during the General Conference(GC) Annual Council Sabbath School program on October 10. The GC Sabbath School Personal Ministries team adjusted existing Beginner and Kindergarten lessons to make them more accessible to families outside the Church. The initiative gives Adventists a practical way to introduce children to Jesus while building connections between families and local congregations.

Making Bible Stories Accessible

The two adapted lessons, including a book titled My Friend Jesus, maintain the Bible-based stories of the original curriculum while making several changes to better serve audiences unfamiliar with Christianity.

The team removed references to specific age groups, allowing the materials to be shared more broadly. The team also adjusted certain activities and simplified terminology unfamiliar to those without a Christian background.

“We’ve edited some of the activities and the terminology, so that they are more seeker-friendly for children and parents who don’t know anything about Jesus,” Atcheson shared in her presentation. “This is an opportunity for every church member to easily share Jesus with others who don't know Him."

Each book also includes an invitation on the back cover encouraging families to continue exploring Bible stories and connect with an Alive in Jesus children’s group, a local Sabbath School class, in their community.

A QR code directs families to a landing page where they can access additional stories, including audio versions adapted for non-Christian audiences. The page provides a pathway to the broader Alive in Jesus resources and opportunities to connect with a local Adventist church and other resources for parents or grandparents.

“This is a link, a bridge to Alive in Jesus, but also we are connecting the parents with our churches,” Atcheson explained.

The materials are intended to support evangelistic outreach, including activities connected with the Church’s OneVoice27 initiative.

An Unexpected Mission Opportunity

Atcheson shared how an encounter during a flight reinforced the potential for Alive in Jesus to reach people beyond the Church.

While traveling, she met a fellow passenger who, during their conversation, asked if she had spiritual resources for him and his children. She shared the adult Sabbath School lesson "Growing in a Relationship with God" and the Alive in Jesus curriculum with him.

The man spent approximately half an hour reading the lessons mid-flight. After arriving at her destination, Atcheson mailed him additional printed copies.

The experience encouraged her to consider how she could use the curriculum more intentionally with people who might not otherwise encounter Adventist children’s resources.

Any church member can use these Mission Edition books, anywhere. Children can give these books to their non-Christian friends. Adults can give copies away to other parents or grandparents in the playground, at the marketplace, or as they travel. "These special books can be used to start a conversation about Jesus," Atcheson said. "Many parents are looking for good resources for their children, something off-screen. These Mission Edition books are beautiful and colorful, and the Bible stories are written to teach and draw children to Jesus. They also speak to parents."

Reaching Children Around the World

The new mission-focused resources build on the ongoing global rollout of Alive in Jesus, the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s updated Sabbath School curriculum for children, teenagers, and youth.

The curriculum helps young people develop a personal relationship with Jesus, understand biblical truth, and discover how they can participate in God’s mission.

With the Bible as its foundation, Alive in Jesus emphasizes age-appropriate learning experiences and meets the needs of children from different cultural backgrounds, including neurodiverse learners.

The rollout began with the Baby Steps and Beginner materials, followed by the introduction of the Kindergarten and Primary curriculum in 2026. Development continues, while work is also underway on the Junior, Teen and Youth lessons.

Atcheson concluded her presentation with a prayerful appeal that the curriculum would do more than simply teach children Bible stories.

“Let’s pray that children open the pages and learn from these lessons, that the Holy Spirit will stir something deep in their hearts and minds so that they'll know they are loved by Jesus, want to stay connected to Jesus, and will want to be part of His mission,” she said.

The new outreach mission editions give Adventist families and congregations another opportunity to share that message beyond the walls of the church, using Bible stories to introduce children and their parents to Jesus.