Pointing Kids to the Cross

Some said we were crazy, but some applauded. Last year our son Ben, who is now 16, approached us and said that he felt like the Lord was leading him to go on a mission trip to the Panama Jungle to live with the Kuna tribe for a month.

He said he would need to sleep in a hammock and take lots of bug spray. My first response was, “I don’t think so, but we will pray about it!” The Lord soon confirmed that this was His will for Ben and we said yes! It turned out to be an incredible, Jesus-filled, awesome mission trip for our son.

I praise Jesus that both of my boys love Christ and are daily seeking Him. Ben and Brady have both been to Guatemala with the Children’s Homes several times to work in the Children’s Malnutrition Center with babies and toddlers. They have been on mission trips to the Dominican Republic, Mexico, China, and Guatemala.

“No Fear Parenting” is a very liberating place to be. When we are trying to figure out a parenting question, Jesus has shown us that the only thing we need to ask is, “Lord, is this Your Will or not?” If it is, then our answer is “yes.” If it is not, then our answer is “no.” God always works out the details.

Here are some tips to raising mission-minded kids:

• Talk to your kids about missions and the love that God has for all people of the world.
  
• Let your children see you having a daily quiet time spending time in the Word and in prayer.
  
• Before our children can become mission-minded, we have to become mission-minded as parents. If you go on a mission trip, your children will naturally become interested in where you are going and what you are doing.

Our desire is to raise strong, Godly, mission-minded kids that love Jesus and want to serve Him, no matter the cost or location. Let me encourage you to take your children on a mission trip. Visit www.OrphansHeart.org to find a mission trip that’s right for you!