One of the things I’ve done with my children, ever since the oldest was a baby, is to read Christian biographies to them. I want them to know the heroes of the faith — the pioneers, the generals, and the unknowns — of whom the world was not worthy.
Many (most?) Christians today have never heard of most of these people: Lillian Trasher (yes, Trasher), C.T. Studd, Rees Howells, Hudson Taylor, Maria Woodworth-Etter, J.O. Fraser, William Carey, George Mueller, John Williams, Madame Guyon, Charles Finney, David Livingstone, Jim Elliot, David Brainerd, William Seymour, Isobel Kuhn, Gladys Aylward, Jonathan Goforth, John Hyde, and others.
But why read biographies to our children?
Many Christians don’t know their history. In the list above, there are Presbyterians, Anglicans/Episcopalians, Congregationalists, Baptists, Pentecostal, and others. Some started missionary agencies. Others went out by those agencies. Some were pastors. Some were despised by other Christians. At least one of them is considered a heretic by a certain group of Christians. Some came from rich families. Others came from extremely poor families. Some saw revivals. Some labored for years before seeing any fruit. Two were killed by the people they were trying to reach. One was eaten by the people he was trying to reach. Some saw awesome healings. Some tried to explain away miracles. All of the above saw mighty answers to prayer. Some changed history because of their prayers.
Teach your children about the men and women of God who have gone before us. Help them to get a vision of what God can do through them. Read biographies from people of different beliefs — if you’re a Baptist, don’t be afraid to read the stories of Presbyterians, Methodists, or Pentecostals. You don’t have to agree with everyone’s doctrine or practice. If you’re a Calvinist, read the stories of some Arminians (and vice versa). Protestants, read the biographies of Roman Catholics. Catholics, read the biographies of Protestants.
At the top-right side of this page are links to the bookstore. Check out YWAM’s Christian Heroes: Then & Now series by Janet and Geoff Benge. This is a great series to read to your younger children. For older children, read the other biographies, and especially the autobiographies (or at least those biographies written by family members or friends).
Let your children see what God has been doing in the Church and in the world through men and women dedicated to Him.
As you read, pray that you and your family will be used by God to touch your neighborhood, your community, your city, your state or province, and your country, and the countries of the world. You never know how one of these stories could plant a vision in your child to do mighty things for God.