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 The Mission-Minded Family: Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny (InterVarsity), parents are encouraged to combat the influence of the “Me Generation” with tools to revolutionize their families into ones dedicated to fulfilling God’s will and potential, instead of their own. In the first chapter, international minister and author David Shibley is quoted, 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?”
The vision of The Mission-Minded Family 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. 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. The book 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. 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.
Article written by Harvest Ministry. They want to equip you for God’s purposes. As followers of Jesus, we’re ALL called to expand God’s kingdom. As their gift, here are 7 FREE family mission resources. They also invite you to visit their Family Resources page, and our other websites: Family Leadership Online and Daring Daughters.
Harvest Ministry would like one of you to win a copy, The Mission Minded Family to share with your family. Winner will be picked on June 29 at 12a. Winner will be contacted via email and must responed within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.
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I would rent some of the Apologia science curriculum books! Thanks 🙂
I’d love to win a copy of this! Looks like a wonderful resource!
Life of Fred.
I have actually never heard of renting a homeschool curriculum. But I would likely “rent” the Sonlight kindergarten curriculum.
I would like rent the Art, Music or Elective books.
I would rent America The Beautiful package.
Never rented curriculum though it sounds like a fabulous idea!! I would rent Abeka 7th grade or Mystery of History vol 2 and Apologia Zoology. 🙂
No but I would love to
No I haven’t but having a daughter that has been called into the mission field. I’m sure I will one day.
Not yet!
this would be a great addition to our library! 🙂
The Mission-Minded Family looks like a great resource. I’ve always wanted to teach my kids how to serve as part of their daily lives, but I don’t always know the best ways to teach that.
I have been on a few as a young adult. I feel my 2 daughters and I will on the mission field together in the future. 🙂
I’ve never been on a mission, but I would love to!! I would love to go with my family- lessons taught there I’m certain would truly be lessons to last a lifetime! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I’ve been on a couple of mission trips – Colombia and Mexico. All of my kids have been on at least one mission trip. Currently I have one son in England and my daughter is headed for Madagascar – both on short-term mission trips. My husband and I were both privileged to grow up in families that emphasized missions – both going and giving. It’s been a huge blessing for all of us!
My son feels called to the missionary life.
No, but we would love to go on one…one day!
No, I’ve never been on a mission trip
No I have not been on a mission trip.
I haven’t been on a mission yet.
I have not yet been on a mission trip but looking forward to our ‘local’ missions coming up this summer.
Yes, I have been on many missions trips. My husband grew up on the mission field too.
No I have never been on a missions trip but one son and wife are missionaries to Mexico. Two of my other children have been on many mission trips.
I haven’t been on any mission trips, but I’d like to someday.
My husband has been on 2 mission trips and we would love to get our whole family involved. This book looks to be a great resource to help us along!
My husband told me today that we needed to pray for a resource to read together as a family. Something that will help us as a family to do the Lord’s Will. This looks like what he’s praying for.
I have not been able to go on a mission trip. I’ve always wanted to. I would love to read this book!
I took my daughter to Peru!
Looks like a wonderful resource!
I haven’t been on a missions trip yet. My husband just went to South Africa a couple months ago. The book looks great!
I have not been on a missions trip but I have done missions work in my area and within the U.S.
My husband and I worked as missionaries in Argentina for 10 years, and our 4 kids were born there. We went on lots of mission trips while there.
I’ve been on several short term trips and hopefully one day our family will be on the field full-time. 🙂
No, not yet.
Yes, I’ve been on a couple mission trips. I went on a couple in high school (just to other states) and then after college I went to Ireland for a month. I’m currently getting ready to go to Guatemala with my dad and I’ll be taking my two daughters while my husband stays behind to care for our son. We want to get our children involved in missions at a young age.
Yes! I went as a summer missionary right after I graduated from high school 10 years ago. It was an amazing 3 months! Loved it. Want to do more….
We were missionaries for 10 years. Doing construction work for other missions in the states. Our whole family, with 6 children, moved from project to project.
I have never been on a mission trip myself but our kids go to a US missions camp each summer.
No my daughter feels god has called her to the mission fields. My Husband and I teach a Reformers Unanimous discipleship program at our church.
I have been to West Virginia to help rebuild houses whose owners cant afford upkeep. I have been to Haiti 4 times to help with many different projects! My parents raised me to be mission minded, and now that I have a family of my own I want to do the same. I have The Mission- Minded Child. But I would love to get my hands on this book!
I did semester missions after college before getting married.
My family and I have been on two mission trips to Costa Rica and, consequently, have felt called to full-time missions in Malawi, SE Africa. We have lived there for four years and are preparing to return for another 4 after a one year home assignment.
I am actually a missionary~ would love this book!