4 Family-Friendly Resources to Join in the International Day for the Unreached

Between sports practices, grocery runs, and the chaotic descent of the school year, adding the International Day for the Unreached to already overflowing schedules may feel like too much—never mind ascertaining why it matters or how to participate.

May 24th is International Day for the Unreached, a day set aside to spark awareness and prayer about unreached people groups around the world. Our families can participate in a simple, but powerful way: prayer.

WHY THE UNREACHED MATTER

"For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 1:11 ESV).

God’s plan has always involved the nations knowing and worshiping him. 

In the Old Testament, the Israelites worshiped God through two ways—incense and offerings. When incense is burned it makes a good smell. Offerings are animals or grain given to God. Before Jesus came, these acts of worship could only be done in one place—the temple in Jerusalem (Deut. 12). 

But God designed a plan even before Jesus came to earth. God planned for a day when people from across the world could worship Him in every place. God didn’t want worship to be available to only one people in one city. He wanted everyone in every town, village, and city around the globe to know and praise Him. Since the coming of Jesus, worship is no longer in one place (John 4:21-24). Jesus opened the door for worship to happen all across the globe and ended the Old Testament system of sacrifices by becoming our eternal sacrifice (Heb. 10:11-14). Faith in Jesus unlocks the door to a right relationship with God, but this Good News isn't fully known in every corner of the world.

Another issue existed during the time the book of Malachi was penned. God's people weren't rightly worshiping Him. They were going through the motions. Not following the rules outlined to properly offer sacrifices to God. They failed to see His greatness and it was reflected in their lackluster worship.

The purpose of missions is for the Lord to be fully worshiped by every nation. For God to be glorified in every corner of the world. John Piper states this clearly, "Missions exists because worship doesn't." 

Malachi 1:11 grants us a glimpse into God's heart: He wants people from every nation aware of His greatness and responding to Him in genuine worship. 

In the grind of daily life, we can forget how holy, merciful, and powerful our God truly is. We can offer up half-hearted worship. We may not join in seeing God's name made great in our family, neighborhood, state, country, or across the globe because our hearts are focused on lesser things. Perhaps busyness has crowded out space for this.

If we believe God is truly the greatest, then our actions should match this belief. One way we can do this is through praying for the gospel to reach parts of the world still in darkness. We can realign our hearts to what matters to the Lord through finding pockets of time in our day or week to pray for the lost.

Throughout the world there are places where God isn't receiving the glory and praise He deserves. God desires to make His people a "light to the nations" so His "salvation may reach to the end of the earth" (Isa. 49:6). God is great and no one or nothing is better than Him.

Unreached people groups (UPGs) don't have access to hearing the gospel and aren't giving God the glory He rightly deserves. Unreached means from the time someone is born until the day one dies, this person doesn't have a chance to hear who Jesus truly is or even know a Christian.

If God cares about His name worshiped among every nation, then so should we. The International Day for the Unreached can be more than just one day, but an invitation to rightly worship our great God and join in His global plan through prayer.

4 FAMILY-FRIENDLY UPG RESOURCES

We can find ways to weave awareness and prayer into our family's day. We can find pockets of time in the rhythm of our days and week and transform them into times of prayer. Whether we're driving to school or church, taxing kids to a sports practice or lesson, talking over dinner, or walking the dog, we can redeem our minutes for eternal impact. Figure out where you have a window of time you're already together as a family and use that time to pray for the unreached together—even three to five minutes of prayer matters!

Here are four family-friendly resources to raise awareness about and foster prayer for UPGs:

1) The Great Gathering Prayer Cards for the Unreached World

Via Families created family-friendly unreached people group prayer cards, The Great Gathering Prayer Cards for the Unreached World, to guide families in praying for the unreached in five minutes or less. Each of these colorful 25 cards shares a bit about an unreached people group and how your family can pray. My kids and I use these cards on our way to school in the mornings. One of my kids reads the card, then we all take turns praying for the unreached people group of the day. If you have kids who still enjoy coloring, Via Families created a coloring book, The Great Gathering Coloring Book, that pairs with the prayer cards.

2) Wonder Letters

Each month, your family receives a letter in the mail from a fictional child from an unreached people group. Each letter includes a story, activities, and prayer prompts. The subscription rate is $10 a month. This resource is ideal for those who may want to a dive a bit deeper into learning about different UPGs, but don't have time to research themselves. Additionally, your family spends an entire month learning about and praying for a specific UPG before moving onto a new UPG.

3) Kid's UPG Cards

Author, artist, and former missionary Sarah Nunnally created these 26 beautiful digital UPG cards for younger kids. You can download the PDF for FREE to guide your family in praying for the unreached. (Plus, she provides other lovely FREE resources to foster prayer for the world.) Sarah Nunnally wrote three mission-minded picture books for young readers (ages 4-8) that would pair well with learning about and praying for the unreached with little ones.

4) The Dreamer (To the Ends) by Jenny Marcelene (🠜that's me!)

Magic Tree House meets God's heart for the nations in this delightful book for young readers. In The Dreamer, Jason and Fred must fulfill a strange mission to deliver a holy book to a dreamer in Afghanistan. If only the brothers knew who. Can they lose the mysterious person following them and figure out who needs the book before time runs out? 

I'm the author of this series (published by Calla Press) and was inspired to write it after spending six years in conservative Muslim cultures. To the Ends is a missions chapter book series for children ages 6-10 and crafted to introduce young readers to people they may never meet in person, but can pray for the gospel to reach. Spark prayer for the nations in your family through this faith-based adventure. (The Menders based in Sri Lanka will be released October 1, 2026.)

The Dreamer includes discussion questions, a family-friendly prayer guide, and a glossary of terms. Additionally, if you swing by my blog, I offer a FREE digital 4-Day Family Guide, Ticket to Afghanistan, to dive deeper into Afghan culture along with other FREE resources to extend the learning and prayer beyond the story. 

Our God isn't just for the United States, but for every country and people group across the earth. Let's show our kids how great God is through praying for UPGs around the world to know and worship Him. 

Step into God's global plan and weave prayer for UPGs into the fabric of family life starting today. 

7 Practical Ways to Cultivate Faith in Children from a Young Age

Standing in the toy and picture book-strewn dining room, I stared out our third-floor apartment window. The sun cast a shadow across the rocky, empty lot across the alley. Unsettledness crept across my heart.

How do I teach my preschooler and toddler to follow Jesus?

Discipleship felt like such a daunting task—even though I was the children’s ministry coordinator for my city church.

I wasn’t more qualified than anyone else, but my job description involved encouraging parents in our church to teach their kids how to follow Jesus.

I couldn’t come alongside other parents if I wasn’t doing it myself.

God gave me two kids, and it was my role as a parent to point them to Jesus.

So I embarked on a journey to figure out what intentionally training my kids to follow God looks like for my family.

Almost a decade later, it’s still a learning curve to coach my kids in following Jesus through the different ages. But I’m convinced that teaching the next generation about God’s faithfulness means laying a biblical foundation before the teenage years arrive.

Read full article on Living By Design Ministries.

Six Ways For Families To Join God's Global Plan

“Your kids have asked me better questions than most adults.” The visiting missionary shook her head in surprise, then smiled at me across the dining room table.

My family was hosting a missionary our church supported. Over dinner, my children had a chance to hear about her ministry and ask questions. Joy sprang up in my heart like a bouncy ball. Their interest in another culture wasn’t an accident. I cast a simple vision for how we—my kids included—have a part in God’s global plan and now it was spilling out during a dinnertime conversation.

Over the years, I’d found pockets of time in our family rhythms—like the drive to school, mealtime, or bedtime routines—to foster a heart for the nations and teach my kids how God is a God for all people groups (Isa. 49:6). Somehow God multiplied these small investments to develop a global perspective in my children.

Read full story on Gospel-Centered Family.

Discipling Our Children Through Books

Selecting good books for our kids can be tough because we can't read every book with our kids, especially as they get older and their reading races beyond our time capacities.

I had a great conversation with Raef Chenery on how Christian parents can use reading books as a training ground for discipleship, the importance of faithfully cultivating a biblical worldview in our kids, and creating bridges to connect with non-believers through literature.

Catch the full podcast interview.

When GPS Takes You Past Cambodian New Year

 My eyes flicker from the road toward the gray stone entrance with elaborate designs. I return my focus to the task at hand: following the directions back home.

But my husband's interest is also piqued. "We should turn in to see what's going on there."

I'm tempted, but I also know we still have an hour and 15 minute drive back home. Stopping now would guarantee my youngest got to bed late. 

Plus we'd already grabbed Indian cuisine from a food truck. A splash of something different than our usual.

But after passing a second entrance, I cave. 

I pull into the gravel road and we quickly realize we'd stumbled upon a special celebration in this Buddhist temple complex. One that was winding down, but worth hopping out to explore.

We meander through a long row of vendor tents selling Southeast Asian food and drinks. Many closing shop after a long day.

We learn a special all-day celebration had wrapped up for the Cambodian new year. 

Trash cans overflow with drink and food containers. Long rows of tables contain mounds of leftover rice. Piles of fruit and incense set before altars out of thanksgiving to Buddha.

We weave our way through the Buddhist complex. We stroll past dozens of gold and colorful Buddhist statues. We admire the architecture of the Buddhist temple. We watch the rainbow-colored prayer flags above our heads flap in the gentle breeze.

My husband and I explain a bit about Buddhist beliefs with our boys. They stroll quietly through the complex, taking in all that was different.

I miss living cross-culturally. Stepping outside of American culture for 30 minutes alongside my boys feels like a mini adventure. A sampling of the incredible world beyond our country.

And while there's a real heaviness to a religion that doesn't honor Jesus, it's an opportunity to pray for those who walk in darkness. 

To stand on the front lines of intercession on their behalf. An invitation to pray for God to receive the glory He deserves from all people, even those who don't yet worship Jesus.

When it was time to head back home, GPS took us back to that same Indian food truck we'd stopped by earlier for dinner. And I couldn't help but wonder if the Lord directed us that way so we could be reminded of His heart for the world. And that it isn't as far away as it sometimes feels to me.

On the car ride home, our boys asked questions about our faith. I love these types of organic conversations sparked by learning about other cultures.

My second children's chapter book is based in a Buddhist country. And I'm grateful my boys got a small sample of this worldview in-person today. I'm glad I stopped to explore even if it meant my youngest getting to bed late.

May our hearts be spurred to pray for our Buddhist friends in our neighborhoods, a nearby city, or half-way around the globe. 

May we continue to marvel at how we serve a God so great that everyone—including Buddhists—should know and worship Him.

And may we yearn for the day when our Buddhist friends bring God glory in a special way only they can contribute.

Connecting Families & Missionaries

I partnered with The Upstream Collective to create a new resource for churches and families! 🎉

This FREE resource helps churches, families, and missionaries go deeper in their partnership for the gospel over the course of one-year. Every month families read a devotional, work on the activity of the month, and pray together for the people group and missionary family.

Whether you lead a children's ministry at church or are on the lookout for simple and creative ways to connect your kids to God's global plan for everyone to know and worship Him, this resource is for you!

Swing by The Upstream Collective to get a FREE digital copy.

Meet the Acehnese

Help your family embrace God’s love for the world by developing a habit of learning about other cultures. Read this story together to learn about and pray for the Acehnese (ah-chuh-NEEZ), an unreached people group in Indonesia.

Welcome to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia! Waves lick the feet of children playing with gray pebbles on the sandy beach. Pineapple trees with thick, crooked trunks line the shore. A red and blue fishing boat sways on the turquoise water. Men gather on the beach to sort large fish into big, plastic containers. Smoke from the grills of vendors roasting corn drifts into the nearby road.

The Acehnese live in the northwest part of Sumatra. As proud Muslims. they worship Allah and follow the teachings in their holy book, the Quran. Some Acehnese families mix Islamic beliefs with animism. They believe powerful spirits live in the forests, mouths of rivers, and banyan trees—spirits that could hurt them. Most Acehnese families have never met a Christian. The good news of Jesus hasn’t reached the Acehnese who live in the countryside along the coast. Do you see that girl playing in the creek while her mom does laundry?

Read the full article at Via Families.

Two Truths and a Lie About Disappointment

A small gasp escaped my lips as I clicked on the new email in my inbox. Hope mingled with fear; What would the outcome be this time?

After years of hard work, would the dream I labored toward materialize into reality? Many times, I’d been tempted to give up, but each time, God provided what I needed to take the next step forward. Surely now this story would have a happy ending.

But the words on my computer screen didn’t take the narrative I had hoped. Instead, they formed a deeper rut in my path of disappointment.

A tear trickled down my freckled cheek as I struggled to swallow the lump in my throat. Would I ever become a traditionally published children’s author? Or would this dream dance beyond my fingertips, taunting me that my best wasn’t enough—again?

Read my full article at Risen Motherhood.

Summer Reads

Summer is around the corner and those extra long days of sunlight call for finding adventures inside the pages of a book to escape the heat or beat travel boredom.

Here are some Christian books (many a part of series) to consider:

PICTURE BOOKS (Ages 3 to 8)

Go Tell Everyone: 9 Missionaries Who Shared the Good News (B&H Kids)
Kids learn about missionaries who used their talents to tell people around the globe about Jesus.

Kailani's Gift (WaterBrook)
Hop-hop-half spun alongside Kailani in this darling mulitcultural picture book.

Harriet Hare (Calla Press)
This beautiful board book teaches little ones about generosity.

Rivers Overseas (New Hope)
A dog named Rivers moves overseas with his family and learns about a new culture and God's faithfulness.

Penguin & Moose (Worthy Kids)
Penguin tries to help Moose fly.

Isaac’s Ice Cream Tree (White Spark)
Isaac gives a tree a gift and the tree starts producing ice cream.

CHAPTER BOOKS (Ages 6 to 10)

Goldtown Beginnings Series (Kregel)
Join Jem and his dog, Gold Nugget, on their adventures during the gold rush era in this sweet series.

The Great Lemonade Standoff (B&H Kids)
Three friends help a classmate raise money by starting a lemonade stand. But when someone tries to sabotage them, the kids learn about protecting their stand and being generous.

The Enchanted Garden: Gold Feather Gardeners Series (Erin Greneaux)
Two sisters discover an enchanted garden, but a mistake puts the sisters, the garden, and their friends in trouble. Can the sisters fix their mistake before it's too late?

Undercover Princess: Chestnut Academy (Glory Writers)
A young princess lands in Kentucky and tries to hide her identity and blend in with her classmates.

The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls Series (Worthy Kids)
Ancient scrolls transport a brother and sister back into biblical times.

The Dead Sea Squirrels Series (Tyndale)
In this funny and silly chapter book series, Michael finds two petrified squirrels in a Dead Sea cave, but is surprised when the squirrels are revived and talk about their lives during Bible times.

Caravan & Castles: The Syding Adventures (Day One)
Two boys are kidnapped by cattle rustlers and learn about God's love.

MIDDLE GRADE (Ages 8 to 12)

The Found Boys (Harvest Kids)
From author S.D. Smith, three friends try to snatch a treasure from the clutches of a bad guy.

The Minor Miracle: The Amazing Adventures of Noah Minor (WaterBrook)
A 7th grade boy discovers he has super powers and life becomes complicated.

This Seat's Saved (Moody)
Seventh grader Elita hides in the bathroom during lunch, is treated unkindly by the mean girl at school, and blamed for a crime she didn't do. Will Elita find a path forward and trust God?

Beneath the Swirling Sky (WaterBrook)
Vincent is done with art until he discovers he can travel through paintings.

The Green Ember Series (Story Warren)
A rabbit brother and sister battle for freedom from wolves.

The Wingfeather Saga Series (WaterBrook)
Janner and his family battle against the Fangs of Dang.

Benjy and the County Fair (White Spark)
Set in the 1930s, 12-year-old Benjy wants to earn money to buy a bike by working at the county fair, but between ornery goats and his rival Benjy's plans are derailed.

Best Family Ever (Simon & Schuster )
The Baxter kids find out they have to move and say goodbye to the only home they've ever known, but learn the importance of faith and family along the way.

The Inkwell Chronicles: The Ink of Elspet (Worthy Kids)
Dive into this fantasy about magic ink and a boy who wants to a make a difference in the world.

The Tree Street Kids Series (Moody)
Step back into the 90s as Jack and his neighborhood friends face challenges, go on adventures, and learn more about God's love.

The Songs of a Warrior (The Good Book Co.)
An engaging kid-friendly retelling of David's rise to becoming a king.

A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest: The Rwendigo Tales (New Growth Press)
Journey alongside an orphan boy named Mu and a chameleon in Africa on a special quest.

May this summer be full of fun and great literature!

EXPLORE: VAISAKHI

Exploring traditions from other cultures is one way to expand your family’s view of the world and cultivate a heart for the peoples that God loves. Learn about Vaisakhi (vu-SAH-kee), the most important holiday of the year for Sikhs (seeks).

Celebrated annually on April 13 or 14, Vaisakhi (vu-SAH-kee) is similar in significance to Christmas or Easter among Christians. There are 28 million Sikhs worldwide—making the Sikh religion the fifth largest in the world! The majority of Sikhs live in the Punjab region of northern India. Sikhs believe only one God exists and that all religions worship him. A core aspect of their faith is treating everyone equally. Sikhs also strive to work hard, be honest, help the poor, and serve others.

Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi for two reasons. One, it marks the beginning of the Sikh community of faith, started by Guru Nanak in 1699. 

Two, it signals the start of the spring harvest in northern India. People gather in their fields to harvest crops, particularly wheat and mustard. While some reap the crops, others sing and play the dhol (dole), a large wooden drum. The work of gathering is transformed into a community festival.

Once crops are collected, families use the harvested wheat and mustard to prepare traditional foods–roti (ROH-tee), a round flatbread, and green curry flavored with mustard. Families wear new, colorful clothes, and attend a service at the gurdwara (guhr-DWAH-ruh). In this place of worship, the guru reads from the Guru Granth Sahib, (GOO-roo grahnt SAH-heeb), the Sikh holy book.

Afterward, everyone in the community marches in a parade through the village. Vibrant yellow and orange decorations reflect the golden wheat fields at harvest time. People sing and play the drums and tumbi (TOOM-be), a small instrument that looks like a one-stringed guitar. Women perform a special harvest dance called the bhangra (BAHN-gruh).

Sometimes activities for children are set up and free food is provided for all at the gurdwara. More than a place of worship, the gurdwara serves as a community center where food, friendship and shelter are extended to all. Vaisakhi is a joy-filled celebration that reflects Sikh core values and is shared by family, friends, and the entire community.

Read my full article with kid-friendly ways to pray and an activity at Via Families.

Resources for Cultivating Missions Awareness in Kids

Between sports practices, school projects, yard work, and the ongoing rhythm of church, it can be a challenge to regularly intercede for the world with our kids. Let’s take the work out of the family world prayer equation and replace it with simple ways to meaningfully pray for people around the globe.

Read the full article where I share six family-friendly resources to pray for the world on the The Upstream Collective.

Unreached People Group: Miao

Welcome to the mountains of Southwest China! As the wind blows across the tall green grass, we will climb up the side of the mountain past towering pine trees toward that big maple tree. Do you see it? That’s the middle of the Miao (pronounced mee-OW) village hidden far beyond roads and cities. Miao families are animists. This means they believe in spirits and think the created things around them are alive and could either help or hurt them. Life is hard in this hilly land where crops can’t grow on the side of steep slopes and water must be carried from far away. And the gospel hasn’t reached this village yet where a six-year-old girl lives with her family.

Swing by Via Family to read the full story, uncover a family activity, and learn ways to pray for the Miao.

Finding Abundant Life in Our Shifting Circumstances

Fatima tugged her red head scarf back over her hair as she prepared a rice dish for lunch. She was the only Christian among a family of Muslims. Fatima hadn’t wanted to marry a nonbeliever, but as an orphan her extended family couldn’t afford to care for her beyond childhood. While her husband and his family were considered modern in their culture and knew she was a believer, they made it difficult for her to spend time with any Christians. And after a couple years of marriage without producing a child, there was talk of a second wife.

Across the globe while residing in Africa, I received the call bearing news no one wants. Cancer. The doctors said my mom only had five “quality” years to live. I was 22. I fumbled with the phone as tears slid down my freckled cheeks.

Around the world, Christian women face a myriad of obstacles–persecution, infertility, family illness–as they follow Christ. But one truth remains the same: all are offered abundant life in Jesus.

Read the full article on Christian Parenting.

When Safety Isn’t Our Top Priority

The moment I stepped inside our third-floor walk-up apartment, I knew something was wrong. My heart raced as I scanned our dining room and noticed my work laptop was missing. Someone had also stolen two personal laptops and a digital camera—all because we forgot to shut the only window granting access to our apartment.

We lived in a rougher Chicago neighborhood because we couldn’t afford the rent prices in the nicer area a few blocks north. One block made a big difference in safety.

My husband was leaving for a one-month work trip later that afternoon. The closest family was an eight-hour drive away. I would be solo with two little ones after a break-in the police refused to come investigate—even though the thief left his drawstring bag with a package of partially eaten chips on our doorstep.

Fear consumed my mind. Why did God plant us here?

The Safety Obsession

We returned to the United States in 2015 after living overseas for four years. One common theme I noticed among Americans upon our arrival was an intense focus on safety. It was easy to pinpoint after living cross-culturally.

Parents needed to buy the safest car seat. Homes needed security cameras to deter a robbery. Neighborhoods were deemed acceptable based upon their website “report card.” Children must be positioned for academic and athletic achievement to secure college scholarships. Money must be saved for retirement.

While many of these endeavors are good and sensible, we often cross a line from living wisely to seeking to control our lives. We can quickly slide from using wisdom to guide our steps to placing our hope in safeguards that will not guarantee the type of protection we seek.

Read the full article on Revive Our Hearts.

Read Around the World This Summer

INTERNATIONAL KID LIT PICKS 

Whether you're looking for a new book to explore together, a novel to fold into a library summer reading program, or a well-told story for a long road trip, here are some international kid lit books to add a splash of worldwide adventure:

Picture Books (ages 3–8)

Lailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story: Lailah is old enough to participate in the month of fasting for the first time, but living in America makes it different. When classmates are confused about why she doesn't join them during lunch, a school librarian provides a quiet space for Lailah in the library.

Binny's Diwali: Binny finds the courage to tell her classmates about her favorite holiday, Diwali. This is a great book to discuss some differences between Hindus and Christians regarding religious beliefs.

Boxes for Katje: A Dutch girl receives a package in the mail from an American girl that sparks the beginning of a friendship and impacts an entire community.

The Pet Dragon: A Story about Adventure, Friendship, and Chinese Characters: Lin looks for her missing pet dragon. This book overflows with creativity and adventure!

The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field: Desiring to have a place to play soccer, some Thai boys figure out a way to build a soccer field—one that floats! My eight-year-old really enjoyed this book and read it three times!

The Yeti & the Jolly Lama: An old Tibetan tale told in a modern way. With a touch more religious themes, some debriefing may be necessary, but these are good conversations to have with our kids!

King for a Day: Experience a kite flying contest with Malik as he protects another from a bully in this picture book.

For You Are a Kenyan Child: Experience a day in a Kenyan countryside village with a boy caring for his family's cows, but gets distracted with other things. A fun read with beautiful artwork.

Cora Cooks Pancit: A delightful picture book that weaves the excitement a child has stepping into a big kid job with Filipino culture. 

Finding My Dance: Tells the story of a Native American professional dancer, Ria Thundercloud. Ria started dancing at powwows and as her love for dance grew, she explored other types of dancing. While it was challenging to be one of the only Indigenous dancers around, she never gave up. I think slightly older kids would glean more from this book. The storyline deals with bigger issues than preschoolers and early elementary students can fully track with (but they can certainly read it and benefit from it!) I would suggest ages 7-11.

Chapter Books (ages 6–10)

In Fear of the Spear: This Imagination Station book gives kids a glimpse into a South American tribe touched by the gospel. This book touches on the deaths of missionaries to this tribe, but doesn't dwell on it. Debriefing how the tribal people are referred to at different points may be helpful to cultivate respect for those who are different from us.

Sunlight on the Snow Leopard: Jack and Annie visit Nepal on a mission to find a ghost (part of the Magic Treehouse series).

The Belgium Book Mystery: Two sisters travel with their parents to Belgium to solve a mystery. This book is a quick read, but gives a glimpse into life in Belgium.

Captain Coconut & the Case of the Missing Bananas: The perfect dose of silly while still folding in mystery, math, singing, and culture for young readers.

The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case (Precious Ramotswe Mysteries for Young Readers): From the author of the African-based No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series with Detective Precious Ramotswe, young readers can join Precious when she was a girl on her first case tracking down a cake thief.

Meet Yasmin: Pakistani-American Yasmin uses her imagination to solve everyday problems.

Middle Grade Books (8–12)

The Bridge Home: Four homeless children navigate life in India together. This beautifully written book allows readers to experience what life is like for kids who end up on the streets in age-appropriate ways. The storyline is engaging and based upon the stories of real street kids. I recommend reading together and discussing how the author defined Christian beliefs versus what the Bible teaches.

Soul Lanterns: A Japanese girl explores the lasting impacts of the bombing of Hiroshima in her community. This book was translated from Japanese into English and allows readers to better understand how drastically the lives of Japanese people were forever changed in an instant. I would recommend reading this together so you can guide discussions as needed.

Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream: Pakistani-American Zayd dreams of becoming a basketball player even though his family wants him to play the violin instead.

Amal Unbound: Amal mistakenly insults the village landlord after his car hits her. Amal ends up as a servant in the landlord's household as punishment. With engaging characters and an intriguing plot, this book is a page turner!

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition): Pakistani girl, Malala, stands up for what she believes and made a difference in the world. This makes a great audiobook for a road trip!

The Boy at the Back of the Class: Introduces readers to a 9-year-old determined to befriend the new kid and who teaches us all the beauty in seeking to understand and care for our friends no matter the obstacles.

A Long Walk to Water: Follows the stories of two Sudanese kids about 20 years apart. Salva is a Sudanese boy who is displaced by the war and walks across entire countries to refugee camps. Nya is a Sudanese girl who walks miles to collect unsafe drinking water and doesn't have time to attend school because of the long journey.

Inside Out & Back Again: Journey with Hà from Saigon to Alabama when war reaches her homeland and her family must start over in the U.S. The family isn't well-received by some in their community and this topic can be a starting point to discuss the importance of reaching out to those who aren't like us. 

This book is written in verse. 

At two points, the topic of Christianity comes up. The first one is when the mom lies on their refugee application about being Christian to increase their odds of getting selected. The second one is when Hà's entire family is baptized even though they aren't Christians by a church. I think these provide reasonable talking points with our kids about genuine faith and helping others without strings attached.

May your reading transport your family around the globe this summer!

May 19 is International Day for the Unreached, but let’s remember: Missions isn’t an add-on

Zarmina leaned forward, her white head covering slipping off her gray hair. She looked at the faces of her Western guests. Perhaps these women would know why she kept having the same dream for years. A man in shining, white clothing beckoned her to come.

She tugged the scarf back over her head. Her brown eyes darted between the two ladies seated on her floor cushions. No woman in the Central Asian community could make sense of her recurring dream. She took a deep breath and shared this odd dream with these first-time tea visitors from another country.

And to her surprise, these foreigners knew exactly what this vision meant.

Around the globe, 42.5 percent of the world is considered unreached with the gospel. This means from the time one is born until the day that person dies, one doesn’t have a chance to hear who Jesus truly is—or know a Christian to ask questions.

And to complicate the matter, the Church only gives 0.01 percent to ensure the good news reaches those who don’t have access.

Read the full article on the Denison Forum.

5 Simple Ways to Fold a Biblical Worldview Into Your Family This Year

Years ago I stood in my kitchen as I stirred a pot of spaghetti. Guilt consumed my thoughts as I pondered how I was teaching my little ones about God's greatness and our joyful responsibility to share His greatness with the world. I struggled to find kid-friendly ways to live this out and resources to guide focused time. How could I showcase how amazing God was and our role in seeing the gospel reach the ends of the earth?

That was the beginning of my journey to help families access resources to disciple our children with a global and biblical worldview without it feeling overwhelming.

We can teach our children about God’s greatness with daily—or even weekly—habits that can take less than 10 minutes! This new year can be the year your family begins their worldview adventure and takes simple steps toward cultivating a perspective grounded in Scripture, but also incorporates God's global plan for all nations to know and worship Him—without even leaving your couch.

FOLDING IN A GLOBAL AND BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW

Here are five ways you can fold a global biblical worldview into your family today:

1) Determine a consistent time you could pray for the nations for a couple minutes together. 

Perhaps this is during a mealtime prayer, in the car on the way to school, or before bedtime. Select a time that fits with your family’s rhythms and then make a plan to pray. If you need help guiding your prayer time, consider using a resource like Window on the World, Wycliffe Kids Around the World with Kate & Mack, or even one of the free global prayer guides I wrote in my free resource library.

2) Read international kid lit together.

Each night before bed or during Saturday morning breakfast, read a chapter together! There are great international kid lit books for all ages—from picture books to chapter books to middle grade! I regularly share international kid lit book reviews on my blog and make recommendations on my World Religions Family Prayer Guides. But consider grabbing a copy of Cora Cooks Pancit, Sayd Saleem: Chasing the Dream, or The Bridge Home to get rolling today!

3) Read missionary biographies together.

Each night before bed or during Sunday morning breakfast, read a chapter together! YWAM has ample missionary biographies to kickstart your reading. And if you prefer to listen as your family does chores or eats, they also have audiobooks.

4) Incorporate discussion about world religions into your family’s life. Using my World Religions Family Prayer Guides, walk through what other world religions believe and how your family can pray for them. These free guides include a short video, activities, book recommendations, and prayer prompts. This can easily be used for homeschool purposes or for families who need a quick, reliable resource to direct their time.

5) Sign up to get a missionary’s newsletter from your church. 

Tracking with a missionary from your church will give your family a real-life connection between understanding God’s greatness, the need for the gospel to be shared around the world, and how someone from your church is doing exactly that! When your missionary comes back to visit during break, invite her over to hear more stories and let your kids ask questions about the culture and ministry. Plus you’ll encourage the missionary along the way.

I invite you to join me as we disciple our children with a global mindset. One that makes much of Jesus and shows how our prayers (and maybe even going!) is important in God's global plan for all nations to know and worship Him. 

Join my quarterly newsletter so we can link arms together! Let me save you lots of time by providing the tools and resources to keep things simple and meaningful as you disciple your kids in this essential area: God's worldwide greatness.

Laboring Together for the Gospel

Fireflies at night

“People from your church seem different from other Americans,” an Afghan refugee said to my husband and me one evening over a decade ago. “Is it because of your faith?”

My husband and I exchanged surprised glances.

It was like someone lobbing a slow ball as you grip a bat at home plate—what better opportunity to talk about Jesus than to be directly asked?

But this observation was years in the making.

While we had met this Afghan family a few months ago, our church had been investing in their lives for a couple of years.

I was giving English lessons to the wife, and often my spouse would come along to chat with the head of the household.

This question would shape my understanding of the importance of witnessing to nonbelievers as a church.

It’s easier to write off someone as a “good person” than to determine an entire group of people are the same.

The power of laboring together for the gospel is for outsiders to see its transforming power displayed in the lives of church members.

How the Early Church Was Laboring Together for the Gospel

Throughout the book of Acts, we see a pattern in ministry: Christians aren’t going it alone—they work together.

Acts 2:1 HCSB says, “When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.” The Holy Spirit came when the disciples were together, not sitting in their separate homes.

The coming of the Spirit served as a springboard for testifying about Jesus powerfully to crowds in multiple languages.

Here are multiple examples of how the early church labored together for the gospel:

• The lame beggar was healed when Peter and John were together, and it led to sharing the gospel with a group gathered in the temple (Acts 3).
• Saul was welcomed into the family of Christ by Ananias, praying for his healing (Acts 9:17) and escaped a plot to end his life because believers lowered him down a basket at night (Acts 9:23–25).
• Peter didn’t visit Cornelius’s household solo but brought along others from church (Acts 10:23).
• Barnabas discipled Saul by bringing him along in his ministry (Acts 11:25).
• The church commissioned Paul and Barnabas to share the gospel with Gentiles (Acts 13:3).
• Paul consistently folded believers like Timothy and Silas into his work (Acts 15:40; Acts 16:3).
• Priscilla and Aquila pulled Apollo aside when they realized he wasn’t up to speed about Jesus, resulting in his outreach growing (Acts 18:26–28).

Again and again, the early church members partnered together to live out their faith, and as a result, the gospel flourished.

Read the rest of this article on Living By Design.

Bible Translation: Expanding Our View

3 Ways to Celebrate World Bible Translation Day With Our Kids

Eight Bibles grace my bookshelves, including six different English translations. I own five children’s Bibles. And this isn’t even counting the partial portions of the Bible I possess—such as a Greek New Testament, Psalter, or children’s biblical storybooks. But I’m not the only one with more than one Bible.

According to the Center for Bible Engagement, most American Christians have four Bibles in their home and have access to numerous English Bible translations. But possessing copious quantities of Bibles isn’t common. Many Christians around the world don’t even have their own copy of the Bible—much less several translations. Some believers must share a single Bible, while others read God’s Word in a second language because the Bible has yet to be translated into their heart language—the language one thinks, prays, dreams, and speaks in.

According to Wycliffe Bible Translators, 1.5 billion people don’t have a Bible translated into their heart language. While we can celebrate reading God’s Word in English—the heart language of many Americans—people around the world still lack access to the Bible in their heart language.

Given the excess of English Bibles and scarcity of access to the Bible for many Christians worldwide, this highlights the urgent need for Bible translation. But when we consider the need for Scripture in languages around the globe, we must not rely on our highly literate leanings to determine the best medium to translate the Bible into new languages.

FACTORING IN ORALITY

According to the International Orality Network, oral learners comprise 80% of the world’s population and navigate life best when information is delivered verbally. By contrast, Americans are vastly literate which means we navigate life better when we can read information.

In the days of Jesus, the culture was also oral learners. Jesus often spoke in parables to the crowds, the letters written by the apostles in the New Testament were intended to be read aloud, and even the book of Revelation was penned with the expectation to read “aloud the words” (Rev. 1:3).

While many literate endeavors have been made to reach oral cultures, ministry leaders have recognized the value of taking a verbal approach to sharing and teaching the Bible. With approximately two billion people without access to the Old Testament (some may have a New Testament), Oral Bible Storying (OBS) meets the needs of cultures who are oral learners—whose worldviews and principles are shaped by singing, chanting, or speaking—in ways written text cannot. The Word of God can be carried to the most remote locations or busiest street corners because the speaker knows it by heart and prefers to communicate in an easy-to-pass-along verbal form by cultural tradition.

Around the world, Christian ministries have implemented OBS to craft Bible story sets for specific cultures. Each Scripture story set in a people group’s native language will cover spiritual needs of that culture, what it means to follow Jesus, and the big picture of the Bible all told in sequential order. Around 70 stories are carefully selected to share the gospel in a meaningful way. Often these projects can take around three years to ensure faithfulness to Scripture. OBS is a powerful way to get the Bible into the heart languages of oral learners.

EXPANDING OUR VIEW

Since 1966, World Bible Translation Day has been held on September 30 to celebrate the translation work of St. Jerome, the man responsible for translating the Bible into Latin. The English Bibles we read today were first translated into English by John Wycliffe in the 14th century. Each year believers can rejoice in seeing the gospel advance around the globe as more Bibles are translated into new languages.

As we desire to see the gospel reach to the ends of the earth, we must realize what works for highly literate Americans, will not necessary be best for highly oral learners in other cultures. Translating the Bible into a written book for languages without it is immensely valuable. But translating the Bible into oral Bible storying sets is equally valuable.

As we pause to consider the Bible’s availability to people worldwide, we should expand our view of Bible translation beyond a written copy to also include OBS. Both mediums get Scripture into the hands of those who didn’t have access. But depending on the culture, one medium will benefit a larger segment of the population.

CELEBRATING WORLD BIBLE TRANSLATION DAY

World Bible Translation Day is a great opportunity to link arms for the sake of the gospel reaching the ends of the earth. We can participate in the work of translating the Bible into new languages across the world and bring our kids alongside us as we do so. Here are three ways to celebrate World Bible Translation Day as a family.

1) You can start praying for Bible translation work using Wycliffe’s Bible Translators children’s book, Around the World With Kate and Mack: A Look at Languages From A to Z. This book helps kids see the impact Bible translation has on communities around the world, and it fosters a heart to pray for the Bible to keep being translated into more languages.

2) Gather your family together and tell a Bible story verbally. For tips on how to easily do this, check out my article, “Use Your Words: How Oral Bible Storying Can Serve Your Family.” When you finish, have your family pray for more OBS sets to be crafted for oral people groups around the world.

3) Send your kids on a Bible scavenger hunt. Have kids find all the Bibles in your home. Then calculate how many Bibles, different Bible translations, and children’s Bibles your family owns. Share what you learned from this article with your kids. Take time to pray for both written and oral translations to reach people around the world without access to Scripture.

Both traditional Bible translation and OBS are vital to improving access to the Bible across the earth. And as we celebrate World Bible Translation Day, we can incorporate prayer for both avenues of faithfully translating Scripture in Bible deserts around the globe.