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Encouraging Heroes. You can be one too.

Do you have a vision for your children to change the world? What do you want your children to be doing with their lives when they’re adults? I don’t mean career-wise. I mean in life.

This is a serious question; one that both Hubby and I have considered off and on over the years.

A month or two ago, I was contacted by Julie Ferwerda, the author of the book One Million Arrows: Raising Your Children to Change the World. Julie was kind enough to send me a copy of the book so I could read it and share with you.

Oh. My. Goodness. This book is exactly what I needed to read. It crystallizes for parents several concepts: what an arrow is for Christ, what we as parents can do to shape our own children into arrows, and what we as Christians can do to help ministries around the world with their own arrow-shaping projects.

If there’s one thing I want my boys to be in life, it’s men that love God with all their hearts and serve others in His name. This is similar to the mission described in the book. Julie teaches parents how to do three things: gather, sharpen, and launch.

Gather up the children—your own, others in your circle of influence and, if possible, broken children who need a family. Sharpen them in the Word, raising them as disciples of Jesus. Launch them into the world, ready to use their God-given gifts, talents, and resources in order to make a difference for the Kingdom.

The book is a comfortable read, with roughly 160 pages in the paperback version. There were several “OH!!” moments for me, the most memorable being page 98, where Julie tells the story of Todd Agnew, a Christian musician who after a trip to India pondered the question so many people ask: “Why does God allow suffering?”

After prayer and study, Todd came up with a better question. “Why do I allow suffering?”

Julie says “People get all bent out of shape at God, wondering why He isn’t solving world hunger, or giving destitute people homes to live in, or giving people clean water to drink, or keeping people free of curable diseases. The fact is, God’s children-you and I-are His ambassadors on this earth. We are His hands, His feet, His heart, His food, and His money. You and I are possible the only chance this world will ever get to actually see Jesus.

That really pierced my heart. I’m excited about this book, about the impact it’s going to have on parents, and the impact it’s going to have on all those arrows that get launched into the world. A really fantastic benefit is that all funds raised by the sale of the book go to help with orphans in Haiti.

If you want to look into it further, you can read an excerpt at the One Million Arrows site. On that same page is a link to download the first two chapters for free. So go! Be inspired!

Launch some arrows.

Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of this book (which Hubby and friends are going to be required to read, heh). I do not benefit financially from any sales of the book. All proceeds go to support orphans in Haiti. Please buy the book.

Earnest Parenting: help for parents who want to launch a few arrows.