February 25th, 2016.
— All over social media, you’ve probably noticed red-X images and photos of hands marked with permanent red Sharpies. Last night, our three teenagers came home from church with red-X’s marked on their hands. Friends on facebook and twitter have images of ENDIT and statistics of modern-day slavery all across their profiles.
So, as Daring Daughters, is this something we should participate in?
Of course, we’re all totally against slavery and human trafficking, but as Christian mothers and leaders, we need to make sure we’re joining with something that’s okay to support. So, as a heads-up, here are some facts to get you in the loop.
The ENDIT movement is led by a Christian pastor, Louie Giglio.
The ENDIT movement was prominently featured at the mission conference, PASSION, with over 60,000 young Christians in the Georgia Dome.
Many prominent Christian leaders have shown their support for the ENDIT movement, including Beth Moore, Mark Dricoll, Chris Tomlin, and Kari Job.
As Daring Daughters, we need to DARE TO CRY for the needs of this world that grieve God’s heart. Human slavery, exploitation, and Human trafficking are issues that need our voice. In the famous Bible chapter about the virtuous women, Proverbs 31:8-9 tells us . . .
“Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
As Daring Daughters, let’s raise our voice and our hands. Let’s also learn from this great example of using creativity and contemporary social media to help expose a horrible need of modern-day slavery and to raise awareness.
Ladies, let’s DARE TO CRY and to pray . . . for this need.
Reach for God-Sized Dreams . . . with Daring Daughters!
(click each box for more information)
Our two featured “Kids of the Month” from Daring Daughters LOVING ORPHANS (with Harvest Ministry) are Nakline and Ernest, from Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center in Uganda, East Africa. Seeing the joy of Jesus just radiating from their faces, reminds us of the reason why we do what we do.
These aren’t just “numbers” or “needs” we help, but real kids who love Jesus.
As women and girls, each of us have a unique sphere of influence. In this upside-down world, we are called to SHINE BRIGHTLY for Jesus Christ!
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV
“. . . these who have turned the world upside-down
have come here too . . .” Acts 17:6 NKJV
Even if you are a stay-at-home, homeschooling, homeworking mother, there are people who you come in contact with — perhaps on a daily, monthly, or seasonal basis — who need Jesus Christ. There are many ways that you can expand God’s kingdom and SHINE for JESUS, right from your home, through your life, your family, and especially your fervent prayers and Spirit-led obedience.
SHINING in your home
If you’re married, you have a husband to encourage and uplift (so he can fulfill God’s call on his life). If you’re a mom, you have children to train and prepare (so each one can fulfill God’s unique kingdom purposes). Never under-estimate the influence of a godly wife and mother; your impact can extend for generations. Your attitude often sets the tone for the home. Your spiritual life and daily faithfulness can be a testimony to many. Your words can speak death or LIFE, despair or HOPE, discouragement or ENCOURAGEMENT, and your prayers can make an eternal difference. The life of a godly mother is definitely counter-cultural. Just live as a happy mommy with a big smile on your face, and heads are going to turn. As a family, just SHINE bright and PRAY HARD for hearts to turn to JESUS!
SHINING for your Extended Family
You and your family are God’s ambassadors to your relatives and loved ones. Your life is an example and sometimes the details they notice are different than what you think. They don’t care so much about your clothing styles or modesty . . . as much as your smiles and your kindness. They don’t care so much about your furniture or homemaking expertise . . . as much as your greetings when they arrive at your door.
Years ago, I read a great article by Dean Sherman in a Last Days Ministries newsletter, called Pharisees, Sadducees, and Jesus.
The theme begins with a look at the legalistic Pharisees during the days of Jesus. Oh, they could make a “show” about following all the rules, but these leaders had no real relationship with God.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Sadducees were lawless and permissive. They didn’t believe in the resurrection and were super-lenient about sin. In Jesus’ day, these were the two sides of the aisle. In America today, we have our conservatives and liberals, our Republicans and Democrats; during the time of Christ, the leaders of Israel had their Pharisees and their Sadducees.
Yet, Jesus was totally different than either group. Jesus loved and obeyed every aspect of God’s holy law, yet prostitutes and tax collectors enjoyed His presence. Jesus was full of life and love; yet His convictions were never compromised. He was (and is) amazing.
Today, Jesus lives in you and in your family. As Christians, we should be “different” from the world, yet our lives should convey a relevance that exudes LIFE and a contagious joy! As ambassadors for Christ, you are called to represent Him wherever you go — at family reunions, Christmastime, graduation ceremonies, birthday parties, weddings, and funerals. If you have relatives who doesn’t know Jesus, you are called to be their missionaries. You could be the only true representatives for the Lord that some people will ever come in contact with. Your family has God’s Word and God’s life and God will give you His wisdom. Your presence can (and should) bring God’s presence.
SHINING in your Community
Surrounding your home are people who need Jesus. There are people who work in the grocery stores you frequent. There are attendants who sell you gasoline.
Even if you live in a remote area of the country, you have neighbors . . . local children, teenagers, young married couples, and families. Maybe there are elderly people in your community who need help in their yard . . . or new immigrants or foreign exchange students who are lonely. Perhaps you have interests or hobbies you enjoy . . . and people you connect with in those activities. There are people who deliver your mail . . . and UPS packages . . . and from the looks of those things you order, these delivery people will likely guess (before too long) that you’re a Christian; and they’ll be watching you.
Over the years, our family has had a great time organizing many LOCAL OUTREACHevents to REACH OUT to our community. In addition to being “on-call” at all times to share the Gospel, we’ve enjoyed scheduled times, especially around seasonal holidays, to witness and to show the love of Jesus. Sometimes we’ve done random “acts of kindness” (like sweeping sidewalks, picking up garbage, cleaning parks, or giving away free hot cocoa). Other times, the focus has been specifically evangelistic. For our family, it’s been a great way to get outside of our “Christian-bubble” and to put real-life faces to “the lost” we’re praying for.
Wherever you are, just SHINE for Jesus, and simply obey each little “prompting” in your heart to step out and to share love and God’s Word. Stir your heart with God’s passion for the lost and begin to care more for the eternal destinies of acquaintances and relatives than trying to impress them. Live to please God, not people.
SHINING on the Internet
If you’re reading this on your computer, you also have an ability to influence others through online networking. As women of God, we need to establish safeguards (in both our use of time and in appropriate accountability), but over the past several years I have found online social networking to be incredibly effective . . . not only in our ministry to Christian families and to missionaries throughout the world, but also to our extended family and relatives. I can easily connect with a distant niece or a backsliden young adult . . . and he or she can simply begin to watch our family do life . . . and see the difference.
I can radiate God’s life in a dark world. With a little click I can link to a powerful prolife video or a simple Gospel presentation. I can post status updates about things I’m passionate about, like loving orphans or motivating families for world missions and share quick testimonies about the awesome goodness of God. I can even post links and updates about going to church, and this news (along with the direct church link) can “pop-up” directly on my unbelieving friend’s facebook wall.
The possibilities are really amazing. Sometimes it can seem nearly impossible to invite an unsaved neighbor or relative to church, but if we connect through the internet, the “door” to your church website or to a message of God’s salvation can be only one click away . . . directly from a place they already frequent (their facebook wall). I can live God loudly and influence many, even without leaving my home. I’ve learned how to make YouTube videos, how to use Twitter, and how to write blog articles. Just today, I had a deep discussion with a Mormon woman who was searching for the truth. Through blog comments, we “talked” back-and-forth about faith and self-efforts . . . the blood of Jesus and the Cross . . .and what it really means to have a living and vibrant relationship with Jesus.
SHINING in the World (Who is our neighbor?)
As Christians, we’re also called to be a light for Jesus in this world.
Hudson Taylor said,
“The Great Commission is not an option to consider;
it is a command to obey.”
My husband Jon and I often say, “Missions is not just for missionaries;
God’s call is for all.”
Every Christian, and every Christian family is called to be a part of God’s global mission. You might not be called the “front-lines” in remote geographical areas (although you might! — our family sure is!), you are called to help expand God’s kingdom in whatever “sphere of influence” God has placed you. Allow God to expand your heart for others and to expand your spheres, beginning with specific areas of COMPASSION that God has placed on your heart. Do you care for unborn babies? Do you care for lonely families? Do you care for abused young women? Do you care for children? Do you care for a specific nation or people group, or for people who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
In closing, I want to share a short teaching (my son actually made this video for me) about how we as Christians are called to “Turn the World Upside-Down!” Sometimes, I don’t think we don’t take time to pray for the lost, or to share our faith, or even to care . . . because we don’t realize how eternally important this really is. In reality, it’s big, with bigger ramifications than any of us can imagine. It’s about light and darkness, good and evil, heaven and hell.
Let’s SHINE brightly for Jesus . . . in every sphere of our influence . . . and with God’s help, let’s start turning this world upside-down (so it’s right-side up!).
Maybe I’ll grow up to be a missionary, or a doctor or a midwife or a nurse. Maybe I’ll be a teacher, or a newspaper reporter or a speaker and an author. Or maybe I’ll be something crazy . . . like a state governor, or an airplane pilot or an artist . . . or an amazing MOM!!!
I’m a girl who loves God and as long as I grow up to fulfill God’s purpose for my life, that’s all that matters!
A Daring Daughter . . .
. . . dreams of fulfilling God’s destiny.
. . . prays for that next-door neighbor.
. . . is not a picky eater!
. . . takes home a photo magnet from the visiting missionary family and puts it on the kitchen refrigerator.
. . . spends a summer night sleeping outside on the trampoline, gazes up at a sky filled with twinkling stars, and realizes God’s plan is infinitely bigger than her own backyard.
. . . is healthy, active, and adventurous.
. . . imagines rollerblading on the Great Wall of China!
. . . recognizes the names of Gladys Aylward, Amy Carmichael, Elisabeth Elliot, and Lottie Moon.
. . . knows how to use chopsticks.
. . . has a reputation for thoroughly enjoying the Bible sword drills and memory verse contests at church.
. . . puts extra money in the monthly missions offering and feels extra good inside.
. . . thinks it could be fun to sleep in a mud hut in Africa!
. . . reads all the way through the Bible by the age of ten (or eleven or twelve)–and is excited to start again!
. . . stares at the photos in the new geography textbook or magazine and imagines climbing to the top of that Egyptian pyramid, snorkeling in those tropical-blue waters, and giving a new outfit to that poor boy with the ripped-up shirt.
. . . befriends the new kid at school.
. . . thinks beyond the “box” of what’s merely expected and hopes to do something big, or something little, for God.
. . . wants to obey (even when no one is looking).
. . . loves Jesus!
Moms, if you have a Daring Daughter, remember that “world missions” is not just an extracurricular subject. Training your girl to love God and to love others (all across the globe) should be at the core of her curriculum. Let’s raise the next generation of our girls to have fervent passion for Jesus and God’s Great Commission.
As Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China said, “The Great Commission is not just an option to consider; it is a command to obey.”
And as I wrote in The Mission-Minded Family, “Missions is not just for missionaries; God’s call is for all.”
When we grow up (and even for those of us who are older — as tweens and teens, women, moms, or even grandmas — as we all look ahead to our future days) let’s all dare to dream, dare to cry, and dare to obey. We’re Daring Daughters.
Reach for God-Sized Dreams . . . with Daring Daughters!
Come join the discussion (with a comment below).
What’s ONE CRAZY DREAM you have . . . of something you’d like to do?
Learn how YOU can serve as a missions volunteer for Gospel for Asia at conferences and events in your local area. Daring Daughters met this awesome mother-daughter team at the Missional Women Conference and they also spoke at our Denver Daring Daughters conference in Denver.
1. Sponsoring GFA native missionaries and Bridge of Hope children
2. Volunteering to serve GFA at a special event (conference or convention) in your local area
3. Raising $$$ for missions with “My GFA Campaign” — raising money for a project, such as buying chickens or rabbits or a “Jesus well” for people in need
Special thanks to Suzanne Wilson and her daughter, Sarah for sharing their example and their heart for missions with all of us here at Daring Daughters.
Suzanne and Sarah,
What a HUGE blessing you are to the Lord, to Gospel for Asia, and to people both in the US and across the world! And what a beautiful example to us of a mother and daughter joining together to make an impact for world missions!!! WoooHooo!!!
Through the ashes, we are walking to victory. — Danette Childs
An Update about the Current Situation in Niger, West Africa
(Note from Ann Dunagan: Christi is my daughter and she’s married to Trae Childs, Danette’s son. When God brought our kids together, he linked the hearts of our families in friendship, mission purpose and prayer … and now we even have a mutual grandbaby!)
From Danette Childs, Missionary in Niger:
Through the ashes, we are walking to victory.
The family of God in Niger, West Africa, is not only strong, but mighty.
On Saturday, January 17, 2015, the church in Niger was attacked in a way that has never happened in the history of this nation.
The unrest began earlier in the week in reaction to the Charlie Hebdo newspaper articles in France. The Muslims here rose up to make a point and attacked almost all of the churches in the capital city of Niamey, as well as Bible schools and Christian primary schools. Churches and Christian homes in other parts of the country were also attacked. We know however, that this was a ploy of the enemy [the devil] – reacting to the growth of the church in Niger. What an idiot he is.
This attack has only further strengthened the Christians here and out of the ashes the church will rise – bigger and stronger than ever before!
The extended Childs family. Ron & Jerry Childs (in the center) have been missionaries in West Africa for over 30 years. Their son and daughter-in-law, Neal & Danette Childs (back right) have been missionaries in Niger for about 17 years. This photo was taken just a few weeks ago in Niger, West Africa, in honor of Ron & Jerry’s 50th wedding anniversary.)
(Photo of Trae & Christi Childs & baby Judah)
Follow Judah on Instagram: #judahstravels (This little guy has experienced more adventures in 7 months than most people do in an entire lifetime! Our globe-trotting grandbaby entered our world in South Korea and has already lived on 3 continents!)
Facebook post from Danette on the day of the attacks:
“These photos remind me of why we’re in Niger. To take the Gospel to those who have never heard. That’s where our strength comes from – doing the will of our Father. Thank you again and again for all your encouragement and prayer. We are confident that there are now thousands praying for this nation. Please continue to pray as we help our pastors and churches assess the loss and begin to restore. There was no church that was not touched by today’s events. I will say it again – the gates of hell will NOT prevail!”
Facebook post from Christi Childs on the first Sunday after the attacks:
“Just got back from the most beautiful and vibrant church services of my life -At one of the churches that was completely torched yesterday. Amidst the ashes and rubble, the message was about forgiveness, and fearlessness, and praying for the extremist who destroyed everything, This isn’t as issue of physical Muslims vs. Christians. It’s an issue of the enemy trying to attack the life and light and salvation that Jesus is bringing to this country. #prayforniger ”
As a mom, this Facebook post caused me (Ann) to burst into tears, not in fear or in sadness, but with such gratitude to God for His amazing presence in the midst of hard times. Even though this situation is difficult, God is with them and it is beautiful.
He is their Emmanuel, their “God with us.”
Raising our children for Jesus Christ is not just about keeping our kids “safe” or restricting them from evil; it’s about raising our sons and daughters to be lights for Him, in a dark and needy world.
Summary of the Current Need from Danette Childs:
Vie Abondante personally had 2 churches destroyed, 3 Bible Schools damaged, and the homes of 2 of our pastors and their families were destroyed, along with almost all of their possessions. We’re still assessing the loss/damage, but it numbers into the tens of thousands.
How to Pray for Niger during these difficult times . . .
Please be praying for Niger.
Just got off the phone with Trae & Christi. The situation has calmed down and now the task of reorganizing and rebuilding is at hand. Biggest prayer needs:
1. Pray for a RELEASE of God’s provision for churches and for missionaries.
2. Pray for PLACES TO MEET. There are many immediate needs for housing for displaced pastors and for places for congregations to worship, since so many churches were destroyed.
3. Pray for FAVOR (even among unbelievers). Many Christian leaders need God’s direction and favor to find new places to rent and/or properties to buy, and/or to secure good builders (especially with so many huge construction needs all at once in such a poor area with limited workers).
4. Pray for SALVATION. Many non-Christians are very upset about all of the destruction and these attacks. Pray for the eyes of the people in Niger to be open and for many to turn to follow Jesus.
Please pray for the entire Childs family and for the nation of Niger.
How we spend our money is a direct reflection of where our heart is focused. Daring Daughters, let’s DARE TO GIVE!
How we view money and possessions is connected with how we view God’s priority in our life. As women who love God, we should have the perspective that everything belongs to God: all of our time, all of our talents, all of our life decisions, and yes . . .
. . . even all of our money.
If you’re a mother or a mentor, it is important to teach our kids about God’s principle of tithing (giving 10 percent of our income to Him); yet more importantly, we need to instill into the heart of the next generation a conviction that 100 percent of everything in our lives belongs to God.
And having a giving heart is a principle much easier caught —by our example— than taught by our words.
Even if you (or your family, or your kids) never move to live in a foreign country, you’re still called, as a Christian, to participate in helping to expand God’s kingdom—both locally and throughout the world.
As Hudson Taylor, a famous missionary to China said, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”
There are many ways you could raise extra money to support international mission projects. Here is a list of activities commonly used by children’s churches, youth groups, and short-term mission teams.
The time will come, however, as your mission-commitment grows, when “occasional” fundraising efforts won’t be enough.
A Daring Daughter simply needs to earn and save money, step out in faith and trust, and manage (or “steward”) those resources according to what’s most important, for God’s kingdom-purposes, and for eternity.
10 Easy Ideas to Raise Money for Missions
Decorate a special container, perhaps with a photo, and begin saving coins for a specific mission project.
Make a “thermometer” to chart a specific family mission goal, and put it on your refrigerator.
Have a yard sale with all proceeds going for a specific mission project.
Offer to do work for relatives or friends (such as housecleaning, laundry, child care, or yard work) in exchange for people donating toward a special mission project.
Collect newspapers for recycling.
Recycle aluminum (and go around neighborhoods to get even more).
Organize a car wash; rather than charging a set amount, receive donations.
Make and sell something, like a craft project or a baked item.
Receive mission donations for after-church lattes and espressos.
Have a “multiply your talents” project. Moms, you can give your daughter a certain amount of money with the mission-minded purpose of using this money, along with his or her talents, abilities, and creativity, for a specified length of time (perhaps two weeks, or one month) to raise money for a specific mission project. Your daughter could use the money to buy gas for a lawn mower, to buy lemonade to sell on the corner, or to buy ingredients for a neighborhood bake sale. At the end of the designated time have each her return the original money, along with the surplus she raised, and give it toward the mission project.
Remember, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
A great way to “earn money” for missions is simply to SAVE MONEY for MISSIONS. Instead of window-shopping through the malls, or overspending on too many gifts, stay away from the stores and be on-the-lookout for international mission needs and local benevolence projects.
What a wonderful example of a Daring Daughter (with a very supportive mom!). At 12-years-old, Lia Mills presented a speech on abortion for her 7th grade class (after much prayer and careful preparation). Today, her YouTube video has been seen nearly 2 MILLION times.
As you watch, let God challenge you to DARE to OBEY!
At first Lia’s pro-choice teacher told her that she was disqualified from the school’s speech competition because her topic was too controversial. But then she HEARD the speech and was so blown away she changed her mind. Lia went on to WIN the competition!
Lia’s speech was recorded several years ago, in 2009; and today, her YouTube video is still impacting our generation. This “little girl” is now a beautiful young Christian woman, continuing to speak for pro-life needs. She can be found on Facebook at LiaMills4Life.
Lia’s response to Daring Daughters:
Lia Mills
Thank you so much for sharing this with me — I think the work that you are doing with Daring Daughters is incredible and I’m glad you were able to use my message to help further your message to these women! May God bless you and the work that you are doing in His kingdom. Thank you once again for your support and for sharing this with me — so encouraging!
A Daring Daughter from Texas sent us a link to this inspiring YouTube video. A musician had a creative idea to bring quality music to poverty-entrenched communities. But the impact of this musician’s idea went far-beyond the initial dream.
This fascinating video is well worth 11 minutes. It’s not a Christian video or a missionary video, but it has stirred our hearts on both accounts.
God has called us, as Christians, to go into all the world and to preach the Gospel. He’s called us to preach the Gospel to the poor and to love others. The man in this video is a professional musician who had compassion for the poor and a creative idea that was different, and he DID SOMETHING about it. It’s an inspiring example.
God has given us the Good News of Jesus. He has also given us amazing minds and hearts to love others and to do beautiful things. He can stir you with a simple idea that could go far beyond what you could imagine. Through you, God can bring His “music” of salvation to a lost and dying world.
Just imagine what could happen if we took action on some of our crazy ideas and dreams, empowered by God’s grace and God’s anointing!
Daring Daughters, after watching this video, we would love to hear your thoughts. Did this video inspire you? What are some ideas and dreams in your heart? What do you think about helping the poor, for Jesus?
February 25th, 2016.
Learn how YOU can serve as a missions volunteer for Gospel for Asia at conferences and events in your local area. Daring Daughters met this awesome mother-daughter team at the Missional Women Conference and they also spoke at our Denver Daring Daughters conference in Denver.
Through the ashes, we are walking to victory. 
Lia Mills and her mother Kimberly display the camera used to shoot Lia’s wildly successful video on abortion. 
