Discipling Children for Life on Mission
Each year I am privileged to lead a group of about 40 people on an in-depth study tour of the land of Israel. We study the biblical text in context, but not in the usual way. Instead we hike the land from Dan to Beersheva and try to pattern our experience after the ways of…
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Children in His Story Part 3
If you asked Mary Jones to share her greatest wish, her response would be clear: “I want a Bible of my very own, in my own language.” What Mary did not know was how God would use her desire and determination to pave the way for people in many cultures to read God’s Word in…
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Off to a Good Start
About 15 years ago I wrote an article about Rachel and her participation on five mission trips. In trip photos, Rachel was always smiling and serving alongside the other team members. She helped her mother cook meals for the team and entertained a young child whose parents were leading a Bible study for the villagers.…
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Setting the Course
It was spring in Malawi. The skies were the bluest I had ever seen, and the trees just as green. We were en route to visit a family who had caught a glimpse of God’s heart for the nations, and I was blown away by our discovery. We walked into the home of the Kachala…
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Missions With Kids? No Way!
Before kids, I believed cross-cultural service was an essential, life-altering experience. But as soon as my first sweet baby came along, I decided my traveling days were over. I refused to expose my daughter to strange illnesses, dangerous environments, or take her far away from her doting grandparents. Life outside my comfort zone with children…
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Children in His Story Part 2
Throughout history, God used children to advance His mission to make Himself known and worshipped among all nations. In some cases, children were pivotal … The year was 1965. The place was Indonesia. Revival swept across the island of Timor, not only among the adults, but among children as well. Here is what happened one…
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When A Child Prevails in Prayer
Have you ever spent your whole life praying for something and not seen the answer you hoped for? (When you are a 16-year-old boy, ten years can seem like your whole life.) That is how long my son, Conor, has prayed for a man named David to be set free. Fifteen years ago, David felt…
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Children in His Story Part 1
Throughout history, God used children to advance His mission to make Himself known and worshipped among all nations. In some cases, children were pivotal … The year was 1727. The place was Germany. The Moravian community was fasting and praying. Just like at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit moved, bringing revival and focus among the adults…
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Children on Mission Every Day
I have long been a proponent of raising children to see themselves as agents of the gospel ministry in the world. However, at home, I often parent as if our younger children are simply objects of ministry. For some reason I see them changing into agents of ministry as teenagers. My self-assessment is that we…
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Ready … Aim
When my son was young, about 12 years old, we gave him the coveted compound bow he had been pressing us to get him. On his birthday, he ripped open the package, promptly ran outside to set up a target and began practicing. He had been outside for a couple of hours, learning the ins…