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!

This article by Ann Dunagan, is an excerpt from her book, The Mission-Minded Family – Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny (InterVarsity Press).