Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny

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

(Authentic, 2008) - By Ann Dunagan

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What Others Are Saying:

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

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 learn 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

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Seeking First the Kingdom in a Self-Absorbed Culture

A Press Release - by The B & B Media Group

Often, parents and teachers ask their children, “What do YOU want to be when you grow up?” In a world that is increasingly self-seeking, self-centered, and self-absorbed, the answers are consistently more egocentric–”a movie star,” “a rock star,” “a dance star.” 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? Shouldn’t our question instead be, “Oh, I wonder what awesome plans God has for your life! When you grow up, will you do whatever GOD wants you to do?”

In her new book, The Mission-Minded Family: Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny (Authentic, July 2008), author, teacher, and missionary, Ann Dunagan shows parents how to combat the influence of the “Me Generation” by giving readers the tools to revolutionize their families into ones dedicated to fulfilling God’s will and potential, instead of their own. In the first chapter of her book, Dunagan quotes David Shibley as he clearly addresses the current crisis within the church.

“We whine, ‘I just want to know my purpose; I’ve got to reach my destiny.” We race all over the country to attend ‘destiny conferences,’ and we devour tapes and books on ‘reaching your full potential . . . ‘ Even cloaking our self-centeredness in Christian garb and jargon cannot cover the nakedness of this cult of self that has infested much of the church . . . How can we ever hope to discover our purpose in the earth with little or no interest in His purpose?”

Dunagan, who also wrote The Mission-Minded Child, brings the same perspective to what it means to be a mission-minded family. Her goal is to equip today’s godly parents to train our next generation to make a powerful impact for Jesus Christ by directing their focus outward. “Every day, approximately 150,000 people die; the majority of these people are not saved, and far too many have never even heard God’s Good News of salvation,” says Dunagan. “How can we sit back and hear the Gospel again and again, while many are still waiting to hear it for the first time? [adapted from a mission quote by Oswald J. Smith]. Today’s Christian families desperately need to remember that our purpose in this world involves so much more than what we can attain for ourselves. We’re here to reach the lost.”

The Mission-Minded Family includes suggested activities for families to participate in missions together, as well as resources to help families develop the desire to become more missions-focused. Dunagan discusses the need for families to balance and prioritize their everyday lives and delves into what a family’s finances would look like if they were focused on missions. Families who read and practice principles from this book will receive a rekindled closeness as they participate in ministry together.

“In a mission-minded family, there’s a God-infused energy,” Dunagan explains. “There’s a focus on God’s worldwide purpose and a passion for the lost.” There’s a spiritual depth and hunger that reaches beyond the maintenance mode of cultural Christianity.”

Packed with motivating missions stories, hymns, and quotes, The Mission-Minded Family is a quick resource tool with examples of missionary family heroes, ministry ideas, exciting prayer projects, and even practical tips for international travel. Filled with passionate inspiration, The Mission-Minded Family will be picked up again and again, read aloud, and used as a reference for years to come.

You can also find The Mission-Minded Family at e316.com, ChristianBook.com, YWAM’s WorldChristian.com, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, CBN’s Parable.com, and STL - Authentic Books

Hand Commands - Some Great Reviews!

A Great Homeschooling Review

We recently learned that Eclectic Homeschooling Online published a positive review about Hand Commands, Ann’s little book about teaching the Ten Commandments to children.

Hand Commands: The Ten Commandments for Little Ones

Publisher: Kregel Publications
Author: Ann Dunagan
Format: Board Book
Ages: Preschool/Kindergarten (and older!)

Review by Jean Hall of Eclectic Homeschooling:

Fingerplays are a wonderful way to teach little ones, and not-so-little ones! In fact, our whole homeschool science class (students from age eight to eighteen and their parents) recently used a fingerplay to memorize the five species of Pacific salmon!

Hand Commands is a charming board book that will help you teach your little ones something much more important: The Ten Commandments.

The book’s introduction is sweet, winsome, drawing the reader gently into the book, and the conclusion encourages storing up God’s Word in the heart. The Ten Commandments are quoted from Scripture on the last two pages. Both the New King James Version (for all but one of the commandments) and the New International Version (just for one of the commandments) are quoted.

The text is simple but not simplistic, illustrated with bright pictures that bring a smile. For each commandment, there’s a photograph (or two) of a child’s hands illustrating the meaning of the verse, an explanation of what the verse means, and the verse as quoted in Exodus 20. The hand motions are quick to learn and easy to remember. (When I think how I struggled to keep all the Commandments straight, myself—I always got the first four in the right order, but it was hard to keep the rest straight for the longest time—I wish I’d had this book a long time ago, for my own sake as well as our little ones’!)

I’ll never mix up the order again. (Can you say the same?)

More Reviews:

Customer Average Rating at ChristianBook.com:
5 out of 5 stars, (7 of 7 Reviews Showing):

5 out of 5 stars - Reviewed by Gretchen (Snoqualmie), October 25, 2008

We really enjoyed this book. Our whole family learned the 10 commandments in order this summer by reading this book at camp for 5 days. The kids from ages 4-12 can still tell you all the commandments and the older two can recite them out of order or while being questioned, “What’s the 5th commandment?” We have been able to witness to friends and family by sharing what the kids learned! What a blessing.

4.5 out of 5 stars - Reviewed by Stacy (Phoenix, AZ), January 20, 2008

Even though my kids are past board book age, we enjoyed using this book in our homeschool to learn the 10 commandments. We supplemented it with the CD, If You Love Me: Songs for the Ten Commandments, by Judy Rodgers.  We found the motion for the 8th commandment a little tricky — it requires motor and cognitive skills that kids of the recommended age (under 5) will find difficult. For the motion for the 10th commandment, we made a grabbing “give me” motion to accentuate the meaning of “You shall not covet.”

5 out of 5 stars - Reviewed by Elisabeth Dillon (Wichita, KS), October 19, 2007

We are using this book as a supplement to a curriculum for preschoolers and kindergartners on the Ten Commandments. All the children seem to really like the book, from ages 2 to 6. They are picking up the hand moves and having a fun time. One of the best unintended benefits is for the adults teaching and for the parents of the children. I have had numerous adults say that they have never memorized God’s commands and that this book is helping them! We have actually ordered numerous extras to sell to parents wishing to augment their learning and their children’s by having this book in their home. Highly recommended for ALL ages.

5 out of 5 stars - Reviewed by Ernest (Tulsa, Oklahoma), January 10, 2007

This tiny little book offers a whole lot more to “ALL” age groups. I am a 21 year old male, and learning the 10 commandments in order in a very simple way has been a joy to my heart. This book is easy to read, easy to follow, happy, and God-honoring, and its not just for kids, but adults as well!

5 out of 5 stars - Reviewed by Pam Hughes (White Salmon, WA), January 08, 2007

Sometimes wonderful, precious things come in small packages and this is exactly what you will find in “Hand Commands!.” Our church bought 75 books to put in “Operation Christmas Child” shoe boxes. We like having some for the children in our Nursery and Pre-school programs too! A great gift that children of all ages can treasure for eternity as they hide God’s Word in their heart!

5 out of 5 stars - Reviewed by Tiffany Westby (Aberdeen, SD), January 03, 2007

I love the book “Hand Commands”! We are a family of seven and each one of us who read the book ONCE was able to say the 10 commandments in order, using the hand motions! Did I mention that 4 of my 5 kids are teenagers and THEY think it’s neat? My pastor loves the book and we are going to use it for baby dedication gifts. You will be amazed at this little book.

5 out of 5 stars - Reviewed by Lorraine (The Dalles, OR), December 22, 2006

The bold colors and pictures of little children quickly caught the attention of my 21 month grandson Josiah. The ‘Hand Commands’ were very easy to follow and fun to learn. Josiah was able to imitate most of the commands, I know it won’t be long before he has them all down. These scriptures are so important to learn for our everyday lives they lay a foundation for our children to walk upon, and you have presented them in a way that children will not only learn from but enjoy reading over and over again. I’ve bought four copies for each of my grand children and my nephew.

To order Hand Commands, at Christianbook.com

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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.

Be an Example to Your Kids - and PRAY!

Recently, I have been thinking about the importance of personal prayer within families . . . behind the public front door of each home and behind the public “image” each family displays.

How can we follow Jesus, and know His will for our lives and for our families, without taking time to be with Him? How can we minister God’s life-changing presence to our own children . . . and to our extended families and our local communities . . . and to our world, unless we take time to know Him?

As Christians, we have been given a tremendous honor and an amazing invitation to spend time with God every day. At the beginning, a new lifestyle of daily prayer will require consistent personal desire and discipline; but eventually (by God’s grace, not merely self-effort) your time with the Lord can become the delight of your day and the greatest strength of your family life and your ministry to others.

Eternally effective families consist of people who consistently pray.

In a spiritually-healthy God-loving family, a lifestyle of prayer includes praying with others at church, praying together as a family, and praying (or “interceding”) for the needs of others and for the needs of the world; yet, nothing is more spiritually beneficial for families than a lifestyle of personal private prayer. Eternally effective families consist of people who consistently pray.

As God-loving and Bible-believing families, we all know that prayer is important.

As Christians, we tell our kids that it’s good to pray (or our pastor mentions the fact often enough for our kids to get the message . . . and for us as parents to feel a bit guilty). Perhaps we pray before mealtime (during those special yet unfortunately dwindling occasions when our far-too-busy family can actually gather our hands around a sit-down dinner). Perhaps we pray for our kids at night (during those special times when we remember to tuck our little ones in bed before they fall asleep).

Yet how many of us, as moms and dads, are a bit lacking (or majorly deficient) in our own daily personal prayer lives? As each dad, and mom, and child and/or teenager develops his or her own personal relationship with God through a regular quiet time with the Lord, the effect is powerful.

Be a spiritual example to your kids . . . by having a regular time and place for prayer

As parents, one of the greatest ways to instill in your kids the foundation of life-impacting faith is for your kids to actually “see” you reading your Bible, (on a regular everyday basis, not just at church), and for your kids to “see” you taking time to pray by yourself.

Establish a PLACE for PRAYER

I believe it’s helpful to establish a regular “place” to meet with the Lord each day:

• perhaps a comfy chair in a spare bedroom
• perhaps in your home office
• perhaps on the couch in your living room
• perhaps on a trail outside your house or a quiet walk around your neighborhood

Establish a Regular PLACE for PRAYER

If you haven’t been praying, it’s also a good idea to begin by setting aside a particular new “meeting time” with God:

• perhaps set your morning alarm a bit earlier
• perhaps establish a new habit of reading God’s Good News, the Bible - instead of the morning newspaper - as you’re sipping your morning coffee
• perhaps take time for the Lord during your noontime lunch hour
• perhaps before bed in the evening
  

“Round-up” a few items to help establish a consistent time with God

If you decided to establish a new habit of physical exercise, such beginning to start jogging a bit each day, you would probably take a few minutes to “round up” some running shoes and perhaps dig through the back of your closets to find some sweats or shorts. If you wanted to add some meals to your cooking, you would need to “round up” some new menu ingredients, or search for some new recipe idea. The same idea holds true for establishing a new habit of spiritual discipline and daily prayer. If you haven’t been taking the time to consistently pray on a regular basis, it’s helpful to “round up” a few quiet-time accessories or “spiritual” items and to have them set aside and waiting for you in your designated new quiet-time place.

Here are a few suggestions for helpful “QUIET TIME” items:

• your own Bible (with a marker to remember where you are reading)
• a daily Bible-reading chart
• a journal or notebook, with a pen and a highlighter
• a devotional or “meaty” spiritual book (to challenge your walk with Christ)
• a world map, and missionary newsletters
• a CD with quiet worship music
• possibly even items for holy communion (with wafers, a cup, and grape juice) for a personal communion time (see I Corinthians 11) perhaps on a daily, weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis, to remember the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice

Remember to be flexible . . . and walk with God throughout each day!

Along with consistency in prayer, it’s important to be flexible. In the life of every family, there will be different seasons and changing schedules. What works today may not work tomorrow; yet even so, we need to faithfully guard our time with God. If what you’re doing right now, concerning your personal daily prayer life, is working, by all means keep it up; but if it’s not working, please ask for God’s help and His grace (along with His unlimited creative ideas) to make a change!

Living a life of prayer is simply walking and talking with God. It’s vital to acknowledge God’s presence right beside you and with you all throughout each day.

As individuals, and as families, we can welcome the presence of God’s Spirit into every dimension of our lives. God cares about everything (whether little or big, silly or significant, everyday or eternal), and we can welcome His presence into every decision and every activity. In our families and in our daily communication with God, there should not be a barrier between what is “holy” and what is “common”; instead, God desires for every dimension of our lives (at home, at school, at church, at work, and even at play) to be lived in constant fellowship with Him.

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

FREE Book - The Mission-Minded Child - Giveaway!!!

For fun at the end of this week (and to encourage more comments and interactions!!!) we are going to give away a FREE copy - with FREE shipping too! - of The Mission-Minded Child - Raising a New Generation to Fulfill God’s Purpose. To enter the drawing, simply make a comment on one of this week’s (Day 11 to Day 15) 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE posts. For each comment you make (up to one per day), you will receive one entry — and if you also post a link to this 40-Day CHALLENGE on your blog or website, you’ll get an extra entry. This Friday afternoon, June 26th, we will announce the winner!

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.

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, 2008). It is also published on The Christian Post’s “Better Parenting - Better Families” blog.

Do Your Kids Know God’s Ten Commandments?

With Hand Commands, kids can learn God’s Ten Commandments using simple hand motions. It’s a fun way for all ages to discover how to LOVE GOD and LOVE OTHERS!

Ann Interviews with Kregel about Hand Commands

Kregel Publications: Where did you get the idea for putting together a children’s book that teaches the Ten Commandments through hand motions?

Ann: Actually, my husband, Jon, was out on a prayer walk one day, and strongly felt impressed that I should put these Ten Commandment hand motions into a little board book for preschool children. That very day, I took some spontaneous photos of our own little kids—just out in our front yard—added the simple verse, and originally titled it Oh, How I Love God’s Law! It took a long time to find a publisher—and I almost gave up—but during this waiting time, the concept was refined and retitled as Hand Commands. Surprisingly, the final book includes most of the original photographs taken that first day, along with a few other new favorites—including a photo of a little Ugandan boy from Harvest Ministry’s Osanidde Village orphanage.

You are a home-schooling mom and have experience with children’s ministry. How has that contributed to the concept of Hand Commands?

Years ago, I was asked to teach a ten-week series about the Ten Commandments to the children at our home church. However, as I began to prepare, I realized that I actually didn’t know them all—especially in order. Eventually, I wracked my brain and finally came up with all ten in some random, hodge podge order, but I was very frustrated at myself—especially because I grew up in a wonderful godly family and rarely missed a day of church throughout my entire life. I couldn’t believe that I didn’t really know something as vitally important as the Ten Commandments; and over the years, I’ve found that many other God-fearing people are in this same situation. We discuss the importance of keeping God’s Ten Commandments visible in public places, yet we haven’t always kept them in our hearts. . . .

In my frustration, I earnestly asked God to help me create a visual method to remember the Ten Commandments in a way that I could easily teach kids—and I believe He helped me. As a long-time homeschooling mom, I’ve used these Hand Commands to teach my own seven children, and as a kids’ minister and international missionary, I’ve used them to help share about “sin” and our need for the Gospel. As a mother and a teacher . . . I enjoy children’s books that convey a sweet tenderness (especially those that share the love between a parent and a child), and I appreciate books that convey the spiritual capability in children to deeply love God. In writing Hand Commands, I attempted to convey both.

Will your book help children with different learning styles learn the Ten Commandments?

Yes! The book’s hand motions work well for visual learners, and also for those who benefit from kinesthetic activities. It’s geared for very young children, yet I’ve actually used these same hand motions to teach older children, teens, and even adults. The photos in the book are engaging, colorful, and vivid; the wording is simple, yet thought-provoking; and the hand motions are easy to remember. It’s just a little board book, but this concept for teaching the Ten Commandments really works!

Are you hoping that kids will also gain knowledge of the “spirit of the law” as well as knowledge of what they are?

Absolutely! It’s not enough to just know God’s laws in our head. Instead, God wants us to personally know HIM as our loving Heavenly Father and our closest Friend, and He wants us to want to follow His purposes for our lives. Through this little book, I hope both children and adults will sense my deep love for God and His Word, and that they will be encouraged to obey His commands.

Why did you design Hand Commands to have parental involvement?

As teachers and ministers, we can impact the lives of children in a profound way; however, we need to remember that God has actually given the primary child-training responsibility to the parents. When I share in church or school settings, I do my best to make a lasting difference; yet, I realize that my influence as a teacher is more temporary and limited than that of the children’s parents. One of my greatest passions is to inspire and encourage parents, because as moms and dads, they have the greatest potential (for good or for bad) to influence their children. If a parent commits to godly child training, that influence can continue day-after-day and year-after-year. It isn’t limited to school hours on Monday-through-Friday or to service times at church. A parent’s influence continues all throughout a child’s life and even—as future grandparents—into the next generation.

There’s something special that happens when a mommy snuggles up on the couch with her little one to read a godly children’s book, or when a daddy lifts his kids onto his lap to share from his heart about why he loves God.

Can Hand Commands be utilized in a school, Sunday school, or VBS setting? How?

I’ve shared these Hand Commands in many settings—in elementary schools, family camps, Vacation Bible schools, and in churches. They’re very quick and fun to learn, and easy for all ages to remember. Each hand motion is mentally connected to the “concept” of the commandment (not to our English words), so these motions can even be used in cross-cultural settings. They’ve worked in remote African villages and with hundreds of inner-city kids in Brooklyn, New York. I’ve used them to teach adult Bible college students and pastors (you’d be amazed at how rare it is to find people—even among faithful church goers—who can recite all Ten Commandments in order). These Hand Commands “connect” each commandment with its particular number so children and teachers can always remember them—both in and out of order. Quick! Do you know the sixth commandment? What about the third? As a Sunday school teacher, VBS leader, or elementary school teacher, the Ten Commandments are always appropriate, and with these easy-to-remember finger motions, a teacher will always have a quick “stash” of instant lessons (with ready-to-use “visuals” and hands-on student interaction) if a class time goes unexpectedly long. These Hand Commands can be reviewed quickly—at a moment’s notice—or a teacher can take time to expand upon each commandment.

How can parents help the Ten Commandments take root in their children’s hearts—not just their heads?

When I began to write this little book, the words, “Oh, how I love God’s law!” from Psalms 119:97 were ringing in my mind. I wanted to convey something much deeper than religious legalism with its “do’s” and “don’ts” and endless regulations. Instead, I wanted to convey—to both children and adults—an attitude of deep love for God and a heart desire to want to follow God’s word and His ways. Living for God is not just following rules or trying to not get caught when we do something sneaky. As parents and teachers, we should encourage children to live their whole lives (even when no one is looking) to bring God pleasure and glory. Jesus summed up all the law with just two commandments: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself”; but even these two simple rules could never be continually kept without God’s help. God gave His law to show us His will and how we’ve all missed it—and to reveal our desperate need for His salvation. In fact, that’s why Jesus came to die on the cross. Jesus died to pay the penalty for our disobedience to His laws. We’re all saved by God’s grace—not by merely “knowing” the rules in our heads and trying to keep them.

In Hand Commands, you use Proverbs 7:1, 3, which says, “My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands…bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” Why did you choose that verse?

I got so excited when I found this verse—and it actually served as a motivating Scripture that kept compelling me to share these Ten Commandment hand motions in a book form! This verse conveys the central theme of Hand Commands—of instilling in the hearts of our children a heart attitude that sees God’s Word and His commandments as incredibly precious. We all need to “treasure” God’s commands, and as parents and teachers, God wants us to convey this heart attitude with our children. I think it’s wonderful how God wrote His law—with His own great hand—on tablets of stone, and now He wants us to keep His law written on the “tablet” of our hearts. I also love how this verse says to “bind” God’s commands “on your fingers” because Hand Commands teaches finger motions to remember the Ten Commandments.

What is the one thing you hope Hand Commands accomplishes?

As with every area of my life, I hope Hand Commands will bring glory to God. I’d love to see the idea of these simple hand motions spreading like wildfire to help parents and ministers to teach the Ten Commandments—and to help share why we all need God’s salvation—because we’ve all fallen short of God’s laws. I also hope parents and teachers will catch my passionate love for God and His Word, and the importance of instilling this passion into the next generation.

Hand Commands

The Ten Commandments for Little Ones

By Ann Dunagan - Kregel Publications

Board book

“Oh, how I love God’s Law!”

“God’s mighty words He wrote on stone,
Carved with His own GREAT HANDS,
And with ten little fingers, you can learn
God’s mighty TEN COMMANDS!”

Original location of Ann’s interview with Kregel
A Review of Hand Commands by Eclectic Homeschooling

You can find Hand Commands at:
Christianbook.com, Kregel Publications, and Amazon.com

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?

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!

The Mission-Minded Child
Raising a New Generation to Fulfill God’s Purpose

By Ann Dunagan (Authentic, 2007)

Download a FREE SAMPLE!
BUY NOW (including discounts for BOXES of 12 or CASES of 44!!!)

Also, see Ann’s newest book:
The Mission-Minded Family: Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny

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 USA

May 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,

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