Raising Kids with a Heart for Mission

Raising Kids

by Daniel L. Akin

Last words are important. As the Lord Jesus prepared to ascend back to heaven, there were many issues he might have addressed. He chose, however, to give the Great Commission.
Daniel Akin argues that good theology and good missiology are more caught than taught; that there is a vital role for parents to play in conveying and modelling a missional life for their children who, with God's grace, might follow in their footsteps. In Raising Kids with a Heart for Mission, he suggests ten principles for building Great Commission families.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

Paperback

Published December 1, 2022

Reviews

[Renee M Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, this is the perfect follow up booklet to ‘Habits of the Household.’ Akin shares 10 principles to raise children who are mission-minded. It’s probably not a wild surprise to anyone that I really love this book. I actually cried (again with the crying!) reading this book because it reiterates the millions of people in UPGs and UUPGs who are dying each year who have never heard nor have access to the gospel. A sobering reality.

This booklet is super practical, challenging, thought-provoking, and wise—with habits to form your family into a mission-minded family A must-read for Christian parents. It is never too early to give your child God’s big and wonderful world.

A doctor’s office, layover, pick-up line, rain delay kinda book—42 page booklet in a series. Carry it with you once, it’ll be finished by dinner.

[Shane Goodyear · Rating 4 out of 5]

* Short book on raising kids for mission
* Emphasis on overseas mission but those say our kids can be missionaries in walks of life
* Being incarnational to our kids
* Loving my wife well
* Spending time with your kids
* Learning to listen to our children
* Reading missionary biographies
* Engage with missionaries
* Takes kids on mission
* Teach our children what the bible says about mission
* Pray for the nations and missionaries by name
* Model missionary living as a priority to children

[N · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a useful and super quick read for parents to engage their children with missions. It touches upon lots of great ideas to encourage and cultivate mission-minded children. It has definitely convicted me to know and engage more with missionaries (current and past). "Missionary heroes should be a staple of the spiritual diet of your children [and us as adults too!]" (p. 21). There's much for us to learn!

[Eric Ortscheid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but excellent book on raising children with a heart for mission. Can easily read it in a sitting, but I found myself taking longer because of all of the underlining that was done.
This book is highly practical in its content and informative for those looking to stir a child's heart for what stirs God's own heart: missions.

[Kiley Hanje · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent and motivating little book.

More than practical suggestions to use on my children I took away a reenergized vision for reaching the lost and a desire to include my kids in whatever that will look like.

[C.J. Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful. Short. Important topic. If you find a copy for free, grab it. Not sure it’s worth paying for. Reads like a published sermon. Also heavy with block quotes. One will find a lot more in Ann Dunagan’s “The Mission-Minded Child,” which Akin quotes a lot.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great small but accessible book on how to raise your children with a heart for missions and reaching the lost. It contains 10 very practical ways to engage your children in missions. I highly recommend parents read this book!

[Joshua Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very brief booklet with a clear and powerful call to parents to intentionally model and cultivate the great commission in their children.

[Hopson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short, but a helpful resource encouraging parents to raise their children with a heart for the unreached peoples throughout the world.

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super quick read, plenty of helpful practical ideas and a challenge to be more mission minded. Don't underestimate the impact of your own interest in missions on your children's lives.

[Rob Sumrall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will use this tool often in ministry! In only 55 pages, Dr. Akin lays out a solid plan for how parents can raise their children to have a heart for missions.

His arguments surround these 10 points:

1. Be incarnational in your parenting.
2. Love your mate well.
3. Spend time with your children.
4. Learn to listen to your children.
5. Read missionary biographies to your children.
6. Engage with missionaries.
7. Go on mission trips and take your children with you.
8. Teach your children what the Bible says about missions.
9. Pray for nations and missionaries by name.
10. Model missional living as a life priority before your children.

Of course, these may seem like simple ideas. But this is a simple book (55 pages!) and it is meant to strike at the heart of the issue of parenting children quickly and precisely. On that point, it is a home run!