Mentor Families for MISSIONS!
It’s easy to mentor FAMILIES with The Mission-Minded Child & The Mission-Minded Family. Get a set for yourself and a few friends, and go through the books together. Take the FREE 40-Day Family Challenge, or start a mentoring group in your home or church (be sure to see our new FREE online Mission-Minded Families study guide for small groups…)
Introducing:
The Mission-Minded Family
Often, parents and teachers ask their children, “What do YOU want to be when you grow up?” Even within the church, this present generation is fixated on obtaining fame, wealth, and pleasure. But shouldn’t we be encouraging our children’s willingness to surrender to God’s plans for their futures?
In The Mission-Minded Family, Ann Dunagan presents a plan to transform the “Me Generation” into passionate warriors
consumed with God’s glory.
THE MISSION-MINDED FAMILY:
Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny
By Ann Dunagan (Published by BIBLICA)
PRESS RELEASE by B & B Media Group
BUY NOW!!! Discounts for BULK orders or MINISTRY/CHURCH orders
(For BOXES of 12 or CASES of 48!!!)
READ a portion on AMAZON & VIEW BACK COVER!!!
The Mission-Minded Family is a great resource to promote an increased passion for WORLD MISSIONS in your local church. Buy a box or a case, and distribute to FAMILIES & FRIENDS!!!
Send them to your MISSIONARIES, to encourage their FAMILY LIFE!!!
what others are saying:
Featured on . . .
THE MISSION-MINDED FAMILY – Featured on THE FAMILY CHANNEL/CBN.com
THE MISSION-MINDED FAMILY – Featured review on CHRISTIAN BOOK PREVIEWS
THE MISSION-MINDED FAMILY – Parenting articles on THE CHRISTIAN POST
THE MISSION-MINDED FAMILY – Homeschool articles on HEART OF THE MATTER
THE MISSION-MINDED FAMILY – Featured book summary on CROSSWALK.COM
THE MISSION-MINDED FAMILY – Featured on RICK WARREN’S MINISTER’S TOOLBOX
THE MISSION-MINDED FAMILY – Featured radio broadcasts on FAMILY LIFE TODAYRecommendations . . .
GIVE YOUR FAMILY A DANGEROUS DESTINY!
“I loved this book! In a time in our country where the tendency is to keep our money and time and children very safe, this book encourages – even pushes – us to get out in the world and make a real difference with the resources we’ve been given. Ann Dunagan is no arm-chair missionary…the pages of the book are filled with actual experiences that she and her husband and kids have done for many years. It totally inspired me to take some big risks and help my kids learn to love the world beyond our doorstep.”
- Bo Stern – Bend, Oregon
EXCELLENT THOUGHT-PROVOKING RESOURCE!
The Mission Minded Family is an excellent thought-provoking resource to assist Christian families in moving in this more sane and biblical drection. By establishing this balance between our personal lives and our outreach to others we can enjoy a productive mission while launching a new generation into the same missionary lifestyle. By honoring God’s wisdom, our families can effectively raise our own children for the Lord, and simultaneously reach our world with the good news of Jesus Christ . . .
As you read The Mission-Minded Family, you will be “walking with the wise.” Ann Dunagan will walk with you through a very important topic, one that could spare you and our children the heartache that many well-meaning missionaries families have had to endure because of shortsighted missionary traditions…”
- Gregg & Sono Harris (from the book’s forward)
EDUCATIONAL . . . AND THE COOLEST BOOK!
“The Mission Minded Family” by Ann Dunagan is the coolest book! It has everything: hymns, stories of missions, mini biographies of missionaries, skits, a calendar of international holidays and suggestions for how to pray on those days, tools for teaching mission-mindedness, and even practical tips for missionary travel. This is an educational and informative book whether you’re planning to be a foreign missionary, a local missionary, or just to learn more about the field.”
- Stacey, Las Vegas, NV
ABSOLUTELY INSPIRING!
“In our busy lives, very seldom, do we stop to ask God if we’re truly fulfilling His purposes in our lives. “The Mission Minded Family” opens that line of communication between you and God to have a discussion about His will for your life…Don’t be surprised if you hear God speaking to you in greater ways than you ever imagined. If you are a church leader, I can’t imagine a better resource to promote to your congregation and a better gift to give to your missionary families. Ann Dunagan walks you through her and her husband’s lives as a missionaries and sprinkles it with wisdom coming from her young children who have experienced the power of God in and through their lives. The book is not only a resource that provides you with countless “how-to’s,” but it is filled with the Dunagan family’s missionary experiences that will inspire you and draw you nearer to God.”
- Cheri Hill
Balancing Missions & Family
How can we balance our passion for missions with our hearts for our homes? Do we have to choose between “raising our kids” and “reaching the lost”—or is it possible to do both?
As parents, we’re called to raise our kids; and as Christians, we’re called to reach the lost. We really can’t fulfill one of these callings, if we choose to neglect the other.
As I was writing The Mission-Minded Family, I felt especially led to evaluate the homes and family-lives of well-known missionaries. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long to realize that many missionary heroes with families were not heroes of the family. Some of the most prominent names in mission history had horrible problems at home; while other leaders (such as William and Catherine Booth of the Salvation Army or Hudson and Maria Taylor) found a powerful ministry-family balance.
As I began to delve deeper into these examples, I searched for clues and common-denominators for those godly world-changing leaders who had God-glorifying homes. And I believe I found the key. It’s PRAYER. The men and women of God who focused primarily on seeking the Lord and their personal devotion to Him (rather than focusing on a merely a successful ministry) seemed to find God’s divine balance for each day. As a result, not only did their ministries glorify God, but their families did as well.
Author and international minister Dr. David Shibley says, “The normal Christian life is anything but balanced, as popularly defined . . . The normal Christian life is high risk and high joy. The normal Christian life releases the temporal to embrace the eternal . . . God is not calling us to win the world and, in the process, lose our families. But I have known those who so enshrined family life and were so protective of “quality time” that the children never saw the kind of consuming love that made their parents’ faith attractive to them. Some have lost their children, not because they weren’t at their soccer games or didn’t take family vacations, but because they never transmitted a loyalty to Jesus that went deep enough to interrupt personal preferences.”
I want my family to have that kind of consuming love, with high risk and high joy. I want to live out my faith in a way that is not only attractive, but also compelling and irresistible! I want to be moved by the passions of God’s heart—and for my kids to take these godly passions to a deeper level. I want to hand off the baton to my descendants, and have them run faster and farther than I ever did.
Let’s raise our kids; let’s reach the lost; and let’s challenge the next generation to live for God with even greater boldness, wisdom, and effectiveness. Through Christ, all things are possible.
Praying Together as a Mission-Minded Family
We all know, at least in our heads, that prayer is important. Yet how many of us honestly believe that our prayers, and the simple prayers of our far-from-perfect family, can really make a difference? If we could comprehend, deep down in our spirits, the true power of prayer, we would all pray more-and the difference would radically impact our lives and the lives of everyone around us.
James 5:16 tells us, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” We want our prayers to be effective, but what does it mean to stand “righteous” before God
As a family, we’re very aware of our differences and our faults. We’ve all sinned, and we need to acknowledge that no one of earth can stand blameless before our perfect, holy, and awesome God. No matter how good we try to be, our own works are nothing but filthy rags in His sight (see Isaiah 64:6). To pray effectively as a family, we need to grasp the importance of the “fear of the Lord.” We don’t need to be “afraid” of God in a fearful sense of the word, but we need to realize how powerful and mighty He is.
Four Mission-Minded Family Prayer Projects
- Take a Prayer-Walk: As you walk around your neighborhood, take time to quietly praying for each neighbor, and seek God for ideas on how your family can be a light for Jesus.
- Make a Poster: Have your children make a “Ten Most Wanted” list or poster. Have them think of ten people who need Jesus. These can be relatives, neighbors, famous people, or the man who works at the convenience store. Use this list or poster to remind you to pray for these people to come to know the Lord.
- Use a Map: Put a small world map on your refrigerator, and use this area to display newsletters from missionaries you support, along with current international news updates. Pray regularly as a family, perhaps around the dinner table, for specific world needs and for people you know who need the Lord.
- Teach Your Kids about Prayer with Filthy Rags: The next time you come across an extremely dirty rag in your house, use it an opportunity to share an important lesson with your kids. We may think our own self-efforts help us earn “Brownie points” with God. But, to Him, our human works are as worthless as stinky rags. If we try to earn favor with God-instead of trusting in Jesus-it’s like collecting yucky rags. The more they pile up, the more they stink and mildew.
In prayer, each of us must come to God in an attitude of total surrender and humility, keeping our hearts clean and open before Him. Through the cleansing sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, every mom and dad, and boy and girl, can pray as a “righteous man” before God. Because of Christ’s forgiveness and righteousness, even your family can come before God with boldness and authority to effectively intercede on behalf of others.
Click here for more Mission-Minded Family articles about PRAYER.
This article by Ann Dunagan, is an excerpt from her newest book, The Mission-Minded Family – Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny (Authentic Media, 2008). It is also a featured article on The Christian Post’s “Better Parenting – Better Families” blog.
Mission Giving: “Can’t you do just a little bit more?”
As Christian families, we need God’s perspective on finances, and a vision for how our resources can help to expand His kingdom – especially in tough times.
In our family’s living room, a small handcrafted treasure chest displays simple coins from around the world. Most of the pieces are dull and worn, while some a new and shiny. Our children often enjoy fingering the various francs from France, pulas from Botswana, and euros from Europe, to mention just a few. My favorite is an intricate gold-and-silver-colored piece from Italy, although, as with most of these coins, I have no idea of its worth. Some of the coins are no longer in circulation; some of the countries they’re from no longer exist. All are simply extra pocket change left over from years of past mission trips, each saved as little souvenirs and little reminders that money is only a temporary “little thing.” Each coin is (or was) valuable only because some government somewhere determined it would have value.
But money is also a “big thing” – and we can’t underestimate the importance of training our children to have a godly perspective toward money and financial stewardship.
Our money represents our life; our time, our talents, our education and experiences, and our priorities. In fact, if we really want to find out what is important to us, we can simply look back through our checkbooks and credit card statements over the past few months. Our true priorities are right there in black and white (or red!); and the numbers don’t lie.
It’s really very simple. If we have a heart for the Lord and for the lost, we will give our resources to glorify Him and to help spread His Gospel message; and if our children are raised with this perspective, it will affect their bottom-line attitude toward the purpose of money. Both parents and children need to acknowledge regularly that everything we have ultimately belongs to God: our life is God’s, our home (or bedroom) is God’s, our car (or bicycle, or special toy) is God’s, our money is God’s.
We’re all simply stewards of God’s “stuff.”During the Great Depression of the 1930s, J.G. Morrison urged Nazarenes to increase missionary support, as he earnestly pleaded:
“Can’t you do just a little bit more?”When times are tough, our families need to “sow in famine” (like Isaac in Genesis 26:12) and “lay up treasures in heaven” (like Jesus commanded in Matthew 6:20). Physical needs worldwide are greater than ever; orphan children desperately need help; sacrificing missionaries need continual support and prayers; and billions of people need to hear the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
During today’s economic downturn, let’s do more for the needs of world missions. Let’s be faithful stewards of the many resources God has given us, and let’s encourage our children to participate.
As mission-minded families, let’s do just a little bit more.
This article by Ann Dunagan, is an excerpt from her newest book, The Mission-Minded Family – Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny (Authentic Media). It is also published on The Christian Post’s “Better Parenting – Better Families” blog.
Raise a New Generation to Fulfill God’s Purpose!
It’s easy to mentor FAMILIES with The Mission-Minded Child & The Mission-Minded Family. Get a set for yourself and a few friends, and go through the books together. Take the FREE 40-Day Family Challenge, or start a mentoring group in your home or church (be sure to see our new FREE online Mission-Minded Families study guide for small groups…)
Introducing THE Mission-Minded Child
David Livingstone once said, “This generation can only reach this generation.” But will we raise our children to effectively impact their generation for Jesus Christ?
The Mission-Minded Child
By Ann Dunagan (Authentic, 2007)
BUY NOW (including discounts for BOXES of 12 or CASES of 44!!!)
Also, be sure to see:
The Mission-Minded Family:
Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny
In The Mission-Minded Child, Ann Dunagan equips and motivates parents and teachers to raise a new generation for God’s mission, whatever that may be!
Raising a New Generation to Fulfill God’s Purpose
The Mission-Minded Child is a practical book to encourage Christian parents and teachers placed in the strategic position of impacting the next generation. As a guide to world missions, The Mission-Minded Child is filled with facts, information, and tools for teaching. It focuses on the “why” of missions—including our Biblical basis, historical heritage and the world’s need—and contains over 25 mini-missionary biographies, motivational mission stories, classic poems, hymns, and hundreds of easy-to-use ideas.
The Mission-Minded Child will inspire teachers and parents to look for God’s potential in their child, “release” their little one to God for His purposes, and “raise” their child to fulill God’s specific mission. As a resource tool, this book will be referred to again and again.
Endorsements
Ann, you have done a fantastic job [in writing The Mission-Minded Child] . . .Just think, the mature (31-year-old) missionary of 2025 is 10 years-old-today! May this generation rise up and fulfill the Great Commission, hastening the coming of our LORD!”
– Dorothea Lander, Children’s Mobilization Coordinator for Wycliffe USAMay the Lord bless you in your publishing of this needed book. We are truly hoping the Lord will open our children’s eyes and hearts to the tremendous harvest field that they may be called to work in someday. I know that living in a Third-World country broadens our perspectives and helps us to see the bigger picture of God’s redemptive plan, so that’s what we’re praying for our children. May the Lord bless The Mission-Minded Child and your efforts for Him. – Mrs. Valerie Shepard, Pastor’s wife, missionary, homeschooling mother, and daughter of Jim & Elisabeth Elliot
We pray that The Mission-Minded Child will be a continued encouragement to your readers, to God’s glory. – Helen Davidson, assistant to the director, THE JESUS FILM
You can find The Mission-Minded Child at e316.com, ChristianBook.com, WorldChristian.com, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, STL – Authentic Books
Audio #3 – MISSION
God has a specific “mission” – a plan and a “bulls-eye” destiny for your family. He has a purpose for each member individually and for your family as a unit. You’re called to be a part of God’s bigger eternal picture. Your family is called to expand God’s kingdom!
Audio #3 – MISSION
The third audio in Ann’s 3-part-series, “Living Joyfully as a Mission-Minded Family.”
The Challenge: DAY 13 – Prayer #3
Parents who PRAY!
Welcome to DAY 13 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE! Today’s challenge focuses on parents being an example to your kids, by PRAYING consistently.
Feel free to leave comments and feedback. Let’s encourage one another to become more mission-minded.
C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!
- Recommended Mission Resource: C.T. Studd – No Retreat – from YWAM’s Christian Heroes Then & Now Series and also The Mission-Minded Family.
- Missionary Quote by C.T. Studd
- Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: Africa
- Memory Verses: Psalm 127:1,Matthew 4:19, I Cor. 11:1
Recommended Family Mission Books
Operation World
Probably the best mission resource to help you pray for every country in the world.
It includes current information and statistics from a Christian viewpoint.Window on the World
Also check out the new children’s version of Operation World. It’s an incredible full-color book with photographs and information on over 100 people groups and countries around the world!!!Money, Possessions and Eternity
By Randy Alcorn: “Who wants to settle for fleeting treasures on earth . . . when God offers everlasting treasures in heaven?”Evangelism by Fire
Ignite your fire for world evangelism with this dynamic book by Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke.Bruchko
Exciting true missionary story about a young man’s perseverance to reach and impact a primitive tribe in South America for Jesus. This is a great book to challenge a young person who is beginning to sense the Lord’s call to missions.Christian Heroes Then & Now – My favorite family missionary biography series, by YWAM Publishers.
Passport to the World – an A to Z language adventure – with full-color pages, an included passport, and “visa” stickers. Highly recommended for mission-minded families.
Is That Really You, God?
The inspirational story of Loren Cunningham, founder of YWAM. An excellent book, sharing not only the testimony of how YWAM got started, but also how to recognize the Lord’s direction in your life.Daring to Live on the Edge
An encouraging book about the adventure of faith and finances. This is a great book for those just “stepping out” into full-time ministry, or for those the Lord is challenging to “step out” into a new level of giving to the Lord’s work.Friend Raising
A very practical book about building a missionary support team that lasts.Hero Tales
These are our favorite missionary biographies to read aloud to children. The stories are well written, and a perfect length for a family devotion time. (They’re also classy hard cover books that would look beautiful on your coffee table!)Also recommended:
Evangelism by Fire
Ignite your fire for world evangelism with this dynamic book by Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke.Jesus Freaks
This book is incredible. It shares story after story of Christians (both long ago, and in recent history) who were willing to surrender everything (even their lives) to follow Jesus. Inspirational and challenging for any age level, but especially appropriate for teens and young adults.And (of course), Ann’s books: The Mission-Minded Child: Raising a New Generation to Fulfill God’s Purpose, and The Mission-Minded Family: Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny.
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