If you’re a Sonlighter, you probably have this book. It’s a resource used in Core 2. The cover will also look familiar to many seminary students as it is very similar to the cover of another book called Operation World.
As Americans, we often forget that most of the world does not enjoy the freedom and luxury we experience every day of our lives. It’s so easy to get caught up in the meaningless pleasures and distractions of the ‘world’ that we become completely oblivious to the struggles mankind across the globe faces. I love this book because it is a sobering reminder of how materialistic we are here in the States and how little we really put our ‘faith’ into practice. By reading about the many many people groups of the world and their struggles just to survive, I realize how few people really do know who Jesus Christ is and even fewer are trusting in his saving grace. We sit here in our comfortable homes surrounded by more things than we can make time for while, the world over, people can’t find a single scrap of food to eat… a single piece of cloth for covering. Or we sit around trying to decide between a church service or a sporting event while a handful of Christians quietly meet in secret to tell others about the man God sent to die for the sins of the world. They are risking their life to share this information while we ‘veg’ on the couch in our Jesus t-shirts.
I’m not condemning anyone for living in America (and I’m just as guilty of these offenses as anyone else), but I am reminding us that if we are being blessed with much – and we are – then we need to be sharing much. In prayer, in deed, in wealth, in riches, in hope.
If you’re in need of some inspiration and motivation, I have two resources for you to check out.
The first one is about the Mouk people of Papua New Guinea. It’s a video of what happens when we follow God’s commandment to make disciples of all nations. Watch this with your children before you cover Papua New Guinea in Window on the World.
The next resource is a story about a couple from Uzbekistan. Well, actually, it’s the story of how God has used the wealth of America to bless people in Uzbekistan and Russia and people in America.
When you click on the link, be sure to read the last post first and work your way up. I want you to see this whole story and this was the best way for you to get all the posts in one page. You’ll want to read this on your own but I strongly encourage you to read parts to your children and explain to them how God can use us to send others. We can be a light to those in our neighborhood and across the world all at the same time.
If you have great resource or idea for use with Window on the World, be sure to leave a comment.
Sara O’
This year I am using Children Just Like Me for Joe's social studies (and hopefully Henry will participate). It just talks about kids from countries all over the world and how they live. I plan to cover one a week, and then hopefully add in some other activities with it. It is secular, not missions-based.
I loved Window on the World, but Tony and Ben did not care for it. I am going to use it with Joe and Henry, though, when we get to Core 2.
We enjoy this book also and have found some worthy extra's at this site http://www.kidsofcourage.com/activities?start=12
http://lastinline-zappedo.blogspot.com/