Question 1

What is Lunch Buddies?

Accepted Answer

Lunch Buddies is a six-month journey that invites students to encounter the stories, experiences, and perspectives of students participating in Nazarene Holistic Child Development centers around the world through weekly text messages, short videos, and guided reflection.

Question 2

Why is it called Lunch Buddies?

Accepted Answer

Lunch is one of the most universal experiences we share.

Around the world, students gather around tables, share meals, laugh with friends, and talk about life. Lunch Buddies invites students to pull up a chair and discover they may have more in common with others than they realize.

Question 3

What is the goal of the program?

Accepted Answer

Lunch Buddies was designed to help students grow in compassion through stories, reflection, and participation.

Throughout the six-month journey, we hope students feel:

• Invited
• Connected
• Empowered

We also hope students develop a deeper understanding of:

• The needs facing children and communities around the world
• How the Church is responding through Holistic Child Development
• The impact that the response is having on the lives of children, families, and communities

Ultimately, our hope is to help cultivate the next generation of compassionate advocates for children and communities around the world.

Question 4

Why did NCM create Lunch Buddies?

Accepted Answer

Lunch Buddies was created as a pilot designed specifically for today's students.

We wanted to create a simple, accessible way for students to encounter stories from Holistic Child Development centers, grow in compassion, and explore meaningful participation over time.

Rather than focusing on a single moment or event, Lunch Buddies invites students into a six-month journey of curiosity, connection, and action.

Question 5

How does Lunch Buddies connect to the Christmas Project?

Accepted Answer

Lunch Buddies is designed as a six-month journey.

Throughout the experience, students will encounter stories, experiences, and perspectives from Holistic Child Development centers around the world.

As the journey concludes, students will be invited to become Ambassadors for NCM's annual Christmas Project.

Rather than hearing about the Christmas Project for the first time, students will have already spent months listening to stories, learning about communities, and growing in understanding.

This year's Christmas Project will focus on displaced children. As Ambassadors, students will have the opportunity to help share the story, invite others to participate, and advocate for children and families experiencing displacement.

Our hope is that students move from curiosity to compassion.

Question 6

Is this child sponsorship?

Accepted Answer

No.

Lunch Buddies is not a one-to-one sponsorship program.

Students are not paired with a specific child.

Instead, students will encounter stories and experiences from multiple Holistic Child Development centers and communities throughout the six-month journey.

Question 7

Who is Lunch Buddies designed for?

Accepted Answer

Lunch Buddies was originally created for high school students attending NYC.

However, the experience is also appropriate for middle school students, and churches are welcome to invite additional students to participate after returning home.

The content is designed to be accessible, engaging, and meaningful for both middle and high school students.

Question 8

How long does the program last?

Accepted Answer

Lunch Buddies is a six-month experience that begins in July and concludes with participation opportunities connected to the Christmas Project.

Question 9

What will students receive?

Accepted Answer

Students will receive one text message from NCM each week.

Throughout the journey, students may receive:

• Short videos
• Student stories
• Reflection questions
• Encouragement
• Prayer opportunities
• Invitations to learn more

The experience is designed to be simple, meaningful, and manageable.

Question 10

How does the texting work?

Accepted Answer

Students receive text messages through Clearstream, a communication platform used by ministries and organizations.

Students are not added to a group chat.

Students will not receive messages from other participants.

All communication is sent through NCM's Clearstream account and monitored by NCM staff.

Students may opt out at any time.

Question 11

Will students communicate directly with students in HCD centers?

Accepted Answer

No.

Students will not communicate directly with children or teenagers participating in Holistic Child Development centers.

Lunch Buddies is a story-based experience, not a pen-pal program.

Students receive stories, videos, reflections, and updates curated by Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.

There is no direct messaging, texting, social media communication, or one-to-one contact between participants.

Question 12

What safeguards are in place for student participation?

Accepted Answer

Lunch Buddies was designed with student safety and appropriate communication in mind.

Students are not added to a group chat and do not communicate directly with other participants or with students featured in videos and stories.

All communication is delivered through NCM's Clearstream account, a ministry text messaging platform managed and monitored by NCM staff.

Content is curated by Nazarene Compassionate Ministries and delivered through scheduled text messages rather than direct peer-to-peer communication.

We intentionally collect minimal participant information and provide a low-pressure experience that students may leave at any time.

Question 13

What information is collected?

Accepted Answer

Initially, students provide only a mobile phone number to receive text messages.

Later in the experience, students may be asked for their first name to personalize communication.

We intentionally collect minimal information.

Question 14

Can students join after NYC?

Accepted Answer

Yes.

Students may sign up during NYC and throughout July.

Youth leaders and churches are welcome to invite additional students to participate after returning home.

Question 15

What is expected of youth leaders?

Accepted Answer

Nothing is required.

Lunch Buddies is designed to function independently through text messaging.

Leaders may choose to encourage participation, discuss stories with students, or use Lunch Buddies as a conversation starter within their ministry, but no ongoing commitment is required.

Question 16

Can leaders see which students are participating?

Accepted Answer

Not at this time.

Because we intentionally collect minimal participant information, we are not planning to provide participant lists to churches or leaders.

Question 17

What happens if a student stops responding?

Accepted Answer

Students do not need to respond in order to participate.

They can continue receiving stories, videos, and reflections even if they never reply to a message.

Participation is intentionally low-pressure and flexible.

Question 18

Is there a cost to participate?

Accepted Answer

No.

Lunch Buddies is completely free to join.

Question 19

Will students be asked to give money?

Accepted Answer

Lunch Buddies is not primarily a fundraising program.

The primary goals are connection, compassion, and participation.

Toward the end of the six-month journey, students may be invited to support unsponsored children through a voluntary recurring gift of approximately $5 per month.

Giving is completely optional and not required to participate in Lunch Buddies.

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IT STARTS WITH ONE

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FOLLOW ALONG

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HEY, CANADA!

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