Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny
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 . . . ”
Introducing:
THE MISSION-MINDED FAMILY
Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny
By Ann Dunagan (Published by Biblica)
Seeking First the Kingdom in a Self-Absorbed Culture
A Press Release by B & B Media Group, Dallas, TX:
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 (Biblica), 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 ChristianBook.com, YWAM Publishing, Amazon.com, CBN’s Parable.com, and STL – Authentic Books
Inspire your family, and others, for missions!
Discounts for BULK orders or MINISTRY/CHURCH orders
(For BOXES of 12 or CASES of 48!!!)
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…)
FREE Guide: MENTOR FAMILIES for MISSIONS!
We see a great need to motivate “normal” Christian families for local and international missions. Harvest Ministry has put together a simple 4-week study guide utilizing Ann’s two books The Mission-Minded Child and The Mission-Minded Minded Family.
If you are going to be leading this 4-week mentoring study, please CONTACT Harvest Ministry for a special book-set offer (at our cost + shipping).
The study, designed for small groups and mentoring (for church home groups, women’s studies, families, or personal use), is now available as a FREE PDF file.
Download a FREE sample (with several chapters) of The Mission-Minded Child — here,
And a FREE sample (with several chapters) of The Mission-Minded Family — here.
MISSION-MINDED FAMILIES Study Guide!
To download this FREE 4-week guide (30 pages – in PDF format) – click here.
“Missions is not just for missionaries;
God’s call is for all!”
– Ann Dunagan, The Mission-Minded Family
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
Money & Missions
How we spend our money is a direct reflection of where our heart is focused.
How your family views money and possessions is intrinsically connected with how you view God’s priorities in life. As Christians, we should have the perspective that everything belongs to God: all of our time, all of our talents, all of our life decisions, and yes, all of our money.I believe it’s important to teach our children about God’s principle of tithing (giving 10 percent of our income to Him), but even more importantly, we need to instill in our family that 100 percent of everything in our lives belongs to God. This principle is much easier caught—by our example—than taught by our words.
Even if your family never lives in a foreign country, you’re still called to be fulltime mission-minded followers, and to participate in expanding God’s kingdom—both locally, and throughout the world.
As Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary to China, often said,
“The Great Commission is not an option to consider,
but a command to obey.”
There are many ways your family could raise extra money to support international mission projects. Here is a list of activities commonly used by children’s churches, youth groups, and short-term mission teams.
The time will come, however, as your mission-commitment grows, when “occassional” fundraising efforts won’t be enough.
A true mission-minded family simply needs to earn and save money, step out in faith and trust, and manage (or “steward”) those resources according to what’s most important . . . for God’s kingdom-purposes, and for eternity.
Easy Ideas to Rai$e Money for Missions
- Have your children decorate a special container, perhaps with a photo, and begin saving coins for a specific mission project.
- Make a “thermometer” to chart a specific family mission goal, and put it on your refrigerator.
- Have a yard sale with all proceeds going for a specific mission project.
- Have each family member offer to do work for relatives or friends (such as housecleaning, laundry, child care, or yard work) in exchange for people donating toward a special mission project.
- Collect newspapers for recycling.
- Recycle aluminum (and go around neighborhoods to get even more).
- Organize a car wash; rather than charging a set amount, receive donations.
- Make and sell something, like a craft project or a baked item.
- Receive mission donations for after-church lattes and espressos.
- Have a “multiply your talents” project. Give each family member a certain amount of money with the mission-minded purpose of using this money, along with his or her talents, abilities, and creativity, for a specified length of time (perhaps two weeks, or one month) to raise money for a specific mission project. A child could use the money to buy gas for a lawn mower, to buy lemonade to sell on the corner, or to buy ingredients for a neighborhood bake sale. At the end of the designated time have each family member return the original money, along with the surplus he or she raised, and give it toward the mission project.
Remember, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
A great way to “earn money” for missions is simply to SAVE MONEY for MISSIONS. Instead of window-shopping through the malls, or overspending on too many Christmas gifts, stay away from the stores and be on-the-lookout for international mission needs and local benevolence projects.
Mission-Minded Families on “Revive Our Hearts”
Ann Dunagan encouraged MISSION-MINDED FAMILIES on Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss, a nationwide women’s radio broadcast. Here’s a glimpse of these programs:
Monday’s broadcast: DAY 1 – UNLEASHING YOUR CHILDREN’S TALENTS
What talents has God given your children? The world is waiting for those talents to be unleashed for God’s glory. Learn how to develop your children’s gifts while giving them a vision for God’s kingdom.
Tuesday’s broadcast: DAY 2 – I WAS NAKED, AND YOU CLOTHED ME
Ann Dunagan’s family was visiting Africa and was struck with the number of children without adequate clothing. The words of Jesus came to mind, “What you’ve done for the least of these, you’ve done for me.” Hear how this family responded to this huge need.
Wednesday’s broadcast: DAY 3 – RELEASING ARROWS INTO THE WORLD
There are so many urgent needs in the world. How might God be preparing your children for making an impact in the needy world? Learn how to release them to build God’s Kingdom.
Introducing Nancy Leigh DeMoss . . .
Nancy Leigh DeMoss grew up in a family deeply committed to Christ and to the mission of world evangelization. At an early age, she surrendered her life to Christ and to His call to fulltime service. Today, Nancy mentors millions of women through Revive Our Hearts (an outreach of Life Action Ministries) and the True Woman Movement, calling them to heart revival and biblical womanhood. Her love for the Word and the Lord Jesus are infectious, and permeate her online outreaches, conference messages, books, and two daily nationally syndicated radio programs—Revive Our Hearts and Seeking Him. Her books have sold more than 1,000,000 copies, and include Lies Women Believe, Choosing Forgiveness, A Place of Quiet Rest, A Thirty Day Walk with God in the Psalms, Brokenness, Surrender, and Holiness. She also co-authored Seeking Him and Lies Young Women Believe.
“It was a tremendous honor to meet with Nancy Leigh DeMoss in her studio, to talk about encouraging families for God’s kingdom and missions, and to pray together. I’m so grateful for Nancy’s spiritual leadership, godly integrity, and her heart for women. — Ann
Raising Missionaries – by Laurel Diacogiannis
“We didn’t make a plan to raise up missionaries; we made a plan to raise up children who joyfully love and serve our Lord. Whether He calls them to the military, to missions, to teaching, to the pastorate … it doesn’t matter. Really … ALL we have wanted for our children (career wise) is for them to love and serve the Lord in whatever they might do. And, that’s exactly what they are doing.” – Laurel Diacogiannis
Raising Missionaries
We are honored to feature this guest article, written by speaker and writer (and good friend) Laurel Diacogiannis of A Journey of Faith. Jim & Laurel Diacogiannis are mission-minded homeschooling parents of a dozen children, including two adopted children from Ghana, West Africa.
Recently, someone asked me how I have raised up 3 children who have chosen to live overseas in service to the Lord. (I have one child serving the Lord in Argentina for the next 2 years; one in Jordan for the next 2 years; and one currently in India as part of a 6 month missions outreach.) This woman went on to say that it is exciting when even one child from a family chooses such a personal journey … but for 3 to choose a similar journey was quite unbelievable for her.
No, we did not tell our children, “When you grow up, you should be a missionary.” We did not focus all of our homeschool curriculum on missions (which would not at all have been a bad thing, it just wasn’t something that we thought of). So, what did we do?
- We demonstrated an active, everyday, personal walk with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The heart of a true missionary must come from such a daily, vibrant relationship with the Lord, that they absolutely know, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are called into missions work.
- We trusted God for financial provision, when having 13 children and a teacher’s salary don’t match up on the budget spreadsheet. Our kids know that the Lord will provide for their needs. They grew up learning how to pray, and how to trust God for the outcome.
- We talked about and read about missionaries … ordinary people doing extraordinary things for God. One year, each of the children that knew how to read (7 kids that year, I think), read the Trailblazer Books or Christian Heroes Then and Now series (both from YWAM Publishing) for their homeschool history course.
- We watched videos of missionaries. The Gladys Aylward story (The Inn of the Sixth Happiness) was our first, I think.
- We went to hear missionary speakers. Cassie told us at age 10 or 11 that she wanted to go to India, after hearing (and meeting) K.P. Yohannan. (And, that dream came true when she was 21, after previous trips to Haiti, Senegal, and The Gambia.)
- We supported missionaries. (We have supported Gospel for Asia, K.P. Yohannan’s ministry for over 15 years.)
- We took our family on Mission Trips. In 2001, we took all 9 children to work in inner-city Los Angeles for 10 days. We weren’t afraid to take them to the ghetto, to work at a church there. In 2006, we took all 10 children to New Orleans for 2 weeks. Just the other day, Elijah (who was only 4 at the time) asked me, “Mom, do you remember when we went to New Orleans and gave all the presents to the kids there?” We didn’t buy our children any Christmas Presents that year, but not one ever complained … they were filled with joy to be giving presents to the children in New Orleans.
Seriously, we didn’t make a plan to “raise up missionaries.” We made a plan to raise up children who joyfully love and serve Our Lord. Whether He calls them to the military, to missions, to teaching, to the pastorate … it doesn’t matter. Really … ALL we have wanted for our children (career wise) is for them to love and serve the Lord in whatever they might do. And, that’s exactly what they are doing.
While we have 3 young adults serving the Lord overseas, we also have 3 young adults serving the Lord here on the homefront. And, we have 7 younger children, still at home, that we are raising up to follow the Lord, follow their dreams, follow their passions, and to be excited wherever it may be that the Lord leads them.
This article is an excerpt from “What Does the Future Look Like for Our Children?” — originally published on Laurel’s blog – “I’m Ghana Adopt.”
For more about raising mission-minded children, and having a mission-minded family:
The Mission-Minded Child – Raising a New Generation to Fulfill God’s Purpose
The Mission-Minded Family – Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny
Combating today’s “Me-First” Culture
Interview on “He’s Alive” Radio
Our kids need to know that there’s a world beyond ourselves; there’s a world beyond our house; there’s even a world beyond our local city. The whole world desperately needs to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, and our children need to hear about this need and God’s bigger perspective.
In this audio file, you can listen to Ann as she talks about having a The Mission Minded Family, and some practical ideas to combat today’s “Me-First” culture. As Christian parents, we need to focus our families on God’s Great Commission . . . and live for eternity.
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.
What is a Mission-Minded Family?
In a mission-minded family, there’s a God-infused energy. There’s a focus on God’s worldwide purpose, and there’s a passion for the lost. There’s a spiritual depth and hunger that reaches beyond the maintenance mode of cultural Christianity.
A mission-minded family emphasizes leadership, calling, and destiny. There’s a prevailing attitude of self-sacrifice and an emphasis on total submission to God’s will. And there’s an unmistakable and contagious joy.
A mission-minded family . . .
- loves to make God smile!
- learns to be diligent, because there’s work to be done and many needs in this world
- brings a stack of well-worn Bibles to church!
- enjoys presents at Christmastime, but never forgets all the poor little children in Cambodia who have nothing.
- is focused on eternity.
- knows how to look up Afghanistan, Bolivia, Singapore, and Tibet, and imagines more than what they see on a map.
- eats rice!
- learns how to share the “gospel colors” and is excited about the miniature EvangeCube that can hook to a kid’s backpack.
- dreams of traveling around the world and makes sure each person has an updated passport–just in case!
- thinks about the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day–and all the people wearing green who don’t have a clue that Patrick was a missionary.
- lives in SUB-mission!
- shakes missionaries’ hands after church and invites their family over for dinner.
- knows that when the Lord guides, He also provides.
- keeps the lawn mowed, as a good Christian witness to the neighbors.
- is strategically aimed for God’s purpose.
- anticipates the excitement of the teenage years and looks forward to youth group mission trips.
- keeps active and healthy in order to be physically able to do whatever God requires.
- gives generously–even when it hurts!
- enjoys carryon luggage with wheels, final boarding calls, and airline peanuts.
- thinks beyond the box of what’s merely expected and hope to do something big (or something little) for God.
- lives for Jesus!
Chapter 1 – The Mission-Minded Family
Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny
(Here’s a sample chapter for you to enjoy from Ann’s book, The Mission-Minded Family)
This verse recently “hit” me in a new way as I was attending a graduation party. During the evening, a group of church leaders, led by the graduate’s father, gathered to pray for this young man. He had been raised to have a fervent heart for God and for world missions, and we prayed for God’s purposes to be fulfilled. As I laid my hands on the graduate’s mom (my dear friend Karen), I could sympathize with her mixed feelings: happiness and pride combined with a sad realization that this season in their family’s life was coming to an end. As we prayed, I “saw” (in my mind’s eye) her eighteen-year-old son as a straight arrow in a bow. Afterward, I leaned over and whispered in my friend’s ear, “You know, Karen, it’s not enough just to aim our arrows; to hit the target we’ve got to release the string!”
As our children grow, there will be repeated times of releasing each one to God: letting go of a little hand as a baby takes that first wobbly step . . . letting go of total educational control as a child steps onto that school bus or enrolls in that first college course. Or what about that moment when we let go of the car keys and an eager teenager plops into the driver’s seat of our car and takes control of the steering wheel?
Sometimes it’s very scary.
As I write this chapter, my husband and I have a nearly twenty-year old son climbing a dangerous mountain and then the following week heading to Oxford, England for a summer-long study-abroad program. Our eighteen-year-old son just graduated from high school and will soon be moving to a university two thousand miles from home. Our nearly sixteen-year-old daughter is just about to get her driver’s license.
No matter how many times I have released my children, I continually need to rely on God’s fresh grace for today’s particular moment. Whether it’s dropping off a little one into the arms of a church nursery worker or dropping off a young adult at an international airport, I need to trust God.
Just like Hannah released her little Samuel, I have surrendered each child to the Lord; yet I still have times when God convicts me that I need to rely on Him even more. At a deeper level, I need to continue to trust Him. With faith, I need to trust that God will direct each of my kids to fulfill His purposes (without me pushing them to do what I want). I need to trust that God will bring just the right spouse for each of my sons and daughters (without me trying to make something happen). And I need to trust God that He will protect my children as they begin to step out to fulfill His destiny (without me worrying or trying to figure it out).
As I have thought about this need to totally release each of my children to God’s purposes, I have tried to imagine—in my own finite way—what our heavenly Father must have experienced when He released His Child. God never struggles, but I believe He can relate to my feelings (and yours). He too had to release His Son—His only Son—in order to fulfill His plans for this earth.
Imagine with me:
What if someday God called one of my children . . . let’s just say, for an example, to go on a summer mission trip to Calcutta, India?
Would I be able to send him or her with confidence and joy?
If my husband and I prayed about the particular outreach and God gave us His peace about it, I know I would. My husband and I would uphold our child in prayer, and we would trust God’s direction. And as a mom, I would rely on Him for grace.
But the sacrifice God made was far greater . . .
What if someday a child of ours decided to move to Calcutta, India, for perhaps ten months . . . or ten years . . . or even longer? Could I handle that?
That would be much harder.
Although it would be difficult to live so far apart, I would do my best to support him or her through regular prayer and communication (and I would definitely hope for e-mail access!). If my grown child had a family, I would really miss getting to know my child’s spouse and his or her family; and I can hardly imagine how much I would yearn for time with those future grandchildren. Yet, if God was calling my child, I would let my child go . . . and rely on Him for extra grace.
But God’s sacrifice was still far greater . . .
So, to take the analogy one step further, what if my husband and I, back in time about twenty years ago, were expecting our first child, and God told us that He wanted us to surrender this precious newborn—right from birth? What if God said He had chosen a poor couple in Calcutta, India, to raise our baby? What if He said our little one would grow up in some obscure squatter village . . . would live among filth and poverty . . . would spend his life helping people . . . and, in the end, would be rejected, hated, and brutally killed by the very people he was sent to help?
Would I send my son to do that? How could I?
But (perhaps) that is a glimpse of what God did for us.
If we are going to raise a generation of world changers, it is likely that we will need to surrender our children into areas that may make us uncomfortable. He could call our child to pioneer a megachurch in a crowded inner city or to raise a large, God-fearing family in a quiet rural town. He may want our child to impact a corrupt political system or to redirect a greed-motivated business. He could call our precious son to enlist in the military or our pure daughter to have an effect on the media. He could call our child to Cairo, Egypt . . . or to New York City . . . or maybe even to Calcutta, India.
As mission-minded parents, will we “let go” of those arrows and encourage each child to fulfill the Lord’s plans? Or will we be God’s greatest hindrance?
It’s a heart issue, and it’s big.
Just as God released His Son for us, we need to totally release each of our children—again and again, every day—for His eternal purposes.
Pursuing God’s Purposes
An excerpt from The Missions Addiction, by David Shibley.
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.” It would be amusing if it were not so appalling. 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? How will we ever know our destiny when we have so little identification with God’s destiny for the nations? It certainly is good to pray, “Lord, what is Your will for my life?” But even this can be a self-absorbed prayer. It is far better to pray, “Lord, what is Your will for my generation? How do You want my life to fit into Your plan for my times?”
Pursuing God’s purposes, not our own, is the path to personal fulfillment.
We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations
A missions hymn, by H. Ernest Nichol (1862–1928)
We’ve a story to tell to the nations,
That shall turn their hearts to the right,
A story of truth and mercy,
A story of peace and light
A story of peace and light.
Chorus:
For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
And the dawning to noonday bright,
And Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth,
The kingdom of love and light.
We’ve a song to be sung to the nations,
That shall lift their hearts to the Lord,
A song that shall conquer evil,
And shatter the spear and sword,
And shatter the spear and sword.
We’ve a message to give to the nations,
That the Lord who reigneth above
Hath sent us His Son to save us,
And show us that God is love,
And show us that God is love.
We’ve a Savior to show to the nations,
Who the path of sorrow hath trod,
That all of the world’s great peoples
May come to the truth of God,
May come to the truth of God!
Chorus:
For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
And the dawning to noonday bright,
And Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth,
The kingdom of love and light.
“I have seen the Vision and for self I cannot live;
Life is less than worthless till my all I give.”
Oswald J. Smith
If you enjoyed the chapter (or if you’ve read the book), let me know what you think. And how can we encourage others to be more mission-minded?
Blessings to you and your family!
Ann
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