80% of the world’s evangelical Christians live in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Over the last 50 years, God’s church has grown exponentially in these areas.

These regions have tremendous mission sending potential to help bring the gospel to unreached peoples, but they currently send only 20% of the world’s cross-cultural missionaries!

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This infographic provides a visual score for seven data points ranked on a 0 to 100 scale. Faded icons show scores for other countries on the mobilization index. See below for actual scores and country-specific insights.

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Many Christian families are missing half the story. Without a clear understanding of God's heart for all nations, children are left wondering "Is this all there is?"
Through our resources, families and children in your church will be strengthened and sustained with a global perspective and vision for their lives.

We live in a world of competing values and clamoring voices. Our family schedules are filled with what feel like important things and, in an era of history unlike any before, we wonder how best to intentionally disciple our children.
In the chaos of life, we know it is hard to remember that taking time to disciple our children in this moment matters past today. The challenges are real, but in the midst of all these things Jesus is inviting you and your children to join Him into the greatest story ever told.
Parenting with a Global Vision takes you on a 6-week journey of discovering why consistently guiding your children toward God&rsquo;s heart and purposes for the nations may be the most strategic investment you ever make.
Explore what it means for your family to step into God&rsquo;s story while engaging in deep and meaningful discussions with other parents along the way.

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Parenting with a Global Vision

Families Home

God desires to build his kingdom through families. In Genesis 17, God changes Abram&rsquo;s name to Abraham and promises to make him the father of many nations. God establishes an eternal covenant with Abraham and his offspring that will be passed down from generation to generation (Genesis 17:1-7). About 2000 years later, God fulfills his covenant to bless all peoples through Abraham and his descendants&ndash;Christ the Messiah is born to be the Savior of the world. Today, more than 4000 years after the time of Abraham, God still uses generational legacies to make himself known.
My great-great-grandfather, Carsten Christensen, was a legacy-leaver. The choices he made for the kingdom of God led to generational faithfulness that continues to this day and, Lord willing, will continue for generations to come.
In 1885 Carsten Christensen immigrated to the United States from Denmark. He and his wife settled in a region rich in farmland with some of the most fertile soil around. Surely Carsten could support his family well as a farmer in this ideal location. However, Carsten valued his relationship with God more than material riches.
In 1900, he learned of spiritual revivals taking place in another region. Desiring his children to live lives faithful to the Lord, Carsten moved his family to where these revivals were happening. He longed for his sons and daughters to marry Christians and knew that an area experiencing revival would likely raise up godly men and women for them to choose from. Carsten left some of the best farmland in the US and moved with his family to where farmland was less desirable, but where God was at work.
Generational legacies that lead to spiritual faithfulness don&rsquo;t just happen by accident. Creating a generational legacy like my great-great-grandfather did requires intentionality, sacrifice, endurance, and prayer. Carsten Intentionally chose spiritual fruit for his family over material riches. He counted the cost and willingly sacrificed a life of potential wealth and comfort, knowing that his decision to move to an area where revival was happening would impact God&rsquo;s kingdom through his children, his grandchildren, and beyond. He intentionally shared his faith in Christ and lived it out with his children who were then equipped to share their faith with their own families. Each generation endured in their walk with the Lord, prayed for faithfulness to Jesus Christ for the next generation, and then passed on their legacy to those who came after them.
Fast forward 125 years (about 5-6 generations) to 2024. Hundreds of Carsten&rsquo;s descendants, including me, walk faithfully with the Lord Jesus Christ. We attend and serve in churches across the US. We have missionaries in our family who live cross-culturally, making Jesus known and worshiped around the world. Each time I am together with my extended family we give thanks for Carsten&rsquo;s faithful and intentional devotion to God. We give thanks for our godly heritage, displayed by those who came before, and we continue to pass on our hope in Christ to the next generation. We pray and trust that God will multiply our legacy to those who come behind us. Finally, we look ahead to heaven&ndash;when thousands of generations from every tongue, tribe, and nation will be gathered together around the throne of the Lamb declaring his praises for eternity!
What Christ-centered legacy will you leave for the generations to come? How will you intentionally pursue generational faithfulness in your family? Will you count the cost, pay the price, endure with hope, and pray to that end? When I get to heaven, I look forward to meeting my great-great-grandfather and showing him that his sacrifice and his example were worth it because Jesus is worthy. Jesus is worth it. Every single time.

Via Families

Generational Legacy-Leavers

1. A Blessing Over the Body

Children absorb memories and information through touch, sight, smell, sound, and taste. Intentionally involving these senses during nighttime prayers will create soft soil for the seeds of God&rsquo;s truth to grow deep. This goodnight prayer found in &ldquo;<a href="https://a.co/d/iHW1Wz3" rel="follow">Habits of the Household</a>&rdquo; by Justin Whitmel Earley is designed to place your hand over each body part as you say the blessing. Prayers before bed do not have to be a stoic experience, so feel free to add tickles or hugs along the way.

2. Family Values

Writing down the character traits and beliefs you want your family to be known for and the values you want to instill in your children is a worthwhile endeavor. It helps your family understand priorities, make decisions, and cultivate family discussions. Pray these values with and over your children. Choose one each night to pray,&nbsp;
Example: the family value of generosity.
<ul>
<li>Pray for God to develop a heart of generosity in your child.</li>
<li>Ask for God to give them eyes to see opportunities to be generous.</li>
<li>Pray for your children to bless the nations through generosity.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Discover how your family can develop your values and vision through &ldquo;<a href="https://cdn.buttercms.com/aIxYCZRk9X3h8nYMMaw7" rel="follow">Living Your Legacy: Discovering Your Family's Vision Statement</a>.&rdquo;

3. The Fruit of the Spirit Breath Prayer

The art of focused breathing has a centering and calming effect, making this an ideal prayer before bed. Have your child lay their hand or head on your chest and encourage them to match your breathing. On the inhale, say the first part of the line, then on the exhale, say the second part.

Explore more intentional prayers in &ldquo;<a href="https://www.viafamilies.org/families/articles/praying-higher-things-for-your-children" rel="follow">Praying Higher Things for Your Children</a>."&nbsp;

4. Community Prayer Through Stretching

Sleep research has shown that stretching for a few minutes before bed helps prepare the body for sleep by relaxing and relieving tension. Use this time to pray before bed for the people and locations God has strategically put in your family&rsquo;s life.&nbsp;
Encourage your child to stretch with you. Stretch different muscles such as your arms, legs, or neck. In any direction you are stretching, pray for your neighbor who lives there. For older children, you can expand this practice to include the world using north, south, east, and west to indicate which countries to pray for. Ask God to:
<ul>
<li>Bless them so that they know God (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A17&amp;version=NIV" rel="follow">James 1:17</a>).</li>
<li>Remove any barrier to their worship of God (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A1&amp;version=NIV" rel="follow">Hebrews 12:1</a>).</li>
<li>Hear and believe the good news of Jesus (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+10%3A17&amp;version=NIV" rel="follow">Romans 10:17</a>).</li>
<li>Meet their specific needs (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A6&amp;version=NIV" rel="follow">Philippians 4:6</a>).</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;Check out <a href="https://www.viafamilies.org/families/articles/involve-your-children-in-the-mission-of-prayer" rel="follow">Involve Your Children in the Mission of Prayer</a> for more.&nbsp;

5. Pray Through the Three G&rsquo;s&nbsp;

After a long day, when our children just need to go to bed, it is tempting to skip bedtime prayers. But even just 60 seconds spent in prayer each night adds up to a lifestyle in the Lord&rsquo;s transformative presence. The three G&rsquo;s are a simple, quick, and worthwhile prayer for any schedule or attention span. &nbsp;&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Grow
<ul>
<li>&ldquo;May we grow in our love for God and people.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Give
<ul>
<li>&ldquo;May we give our blessings to others.&rdquo;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Go
<ul>
<li>&ldquo;May the gospel go to all nations.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>

6. Sit, Stand, Kneel, Go Prayer

Body language is a significant portion of communication. The same is true for communicating with God through prayer. When we position the body, we often position the heart as well. For this nighttime prayer, move through the four postures, holding each position during the length of the prayer.

<ul>
<li>Sit - Get into a comfortable sitting position with your child. Quiet your hearts and minds to hear from God. After some moments of silence, pray:
<ul>
<li style="font-style: italic;">&ldquo;Jesus, help us to be like Mary who sat and listened to you.&rdquo; &nbsp;(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A39&amp;version=NIV" rel="follow">Luke 10:39</a>)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Stand - Stand up in a battle stance or at attention. Pray:
<ul>
<li style="font-style: italic;">&ldquo;God, help us to stand strong against the enemy and bravely share your good news.&rdquo; (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A10-20&amp;version=NIV" rel="follow">Ephesians 6:10-20</a>) &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Kneel - Get down on either one or both knees. Praise God:
<ul>
<li style="font-style: italic;">&ldquo;Lord, we are thankful for who you are, for what you have done and how you have blessed us.&rdquo; (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+95%3A1-7&amp;version=NIV" rel="follow">Psalm 95:1-7</a>)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Go - Jump into bed or run around the room. Ask God:
<ul>
<li>&ldquo;Lord, help us to send more believers and go make disciples of all nations.&rdquo; (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A19&amp;version=NIV" rel="follow">Matthew 28:19</a>)&nbsp; &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
You may also consider praying through these <a href="https://www.viafamilies.org/families/articles/43-family-bible-verses-our-role-in-gods-story" rel="follow">43 bible verses about family</a>.

7. Global Prayers

From the tiniest child to the oldest grownup, we all have a role in God&rsquo;s global story of making Jesus known so that all people can worship him. Over 3 billion people still do not know the good news of Jesus. During nighttime prayers, it is a crucial time for you and your children to embrace God&rsquo;s heart for the peoples of the world.&nbsp;
There are several fun and creative ways to engage your family in praying for the nations through everyday household items. Use a&nbsp;<a href="https://store.vianations.org/products/fabric-world-map?_pos=2&amp;_sid=813d96559&amp;_ss=r" rel="follow">fabric world map</a> or a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=globe&amp;crid=YK7XMSD2YA1T&amp;sprefix=globe%2Caps%2C608&amp;ref=nb_sb_noss_1" rel="follow">globe</a> to identify different countries to pray over. Utilize the <a href="https://joshuaproject.net/" rel="follow">Joshua Project</a> to look up people groups or countries in the news to inspire specific ways to pray. Discover how <a href="https://weavefamily.org/thread/bedtime-prayer/" rel="follow">popsicle sticks</a> can highlight particular people groups. Ask God for all people to come to know God and worship him.&nbsp;
For more on global prayers, read <a href="https://www.viafamilies.org/families/articles/live-out-gods-work-praying-for-the-world" rel="follow">Live Out God's Work</a>. &nbsp;

8. Five Finger Prayer

Finger prayers are simple and can be practiced anywhere, anytime you have a hand! Using the hand as your good night prayer visually represents what to pray about. Each finger represents the different relationships in our lives to pray over. You and your child can hold up or point to the corresponding finger while you pray or link the corresponding fingers with each other. &nbsp; &nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Thumb (the closest finger to the body)
<ul>
<li>Pray for your close relationships
<ul>
<li style="font-style: italic;">e.g., family and friends</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Pointer (the finger that points the way)
<ul>
<li>Pray over your leaders
<ul>
<li style="font-style: italic;">e.g., teachers and coaches</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Middle (the tallest finger)
<ul>
<li>Pray for the authorities
<ul>
<li style="font-style: italic;">e.g., government officials and police officers</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Ring (the weakest finger)
<ul>
<li>Lift up those who need God&rsquo;s strength
<ul>
<li style="font-style: italic;">e.g., sick and hurting</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Pinky (the farthest finger from the body)
<ul>
<li>Intercede for the unreached
<ul>
<li style="font-style: italic;">e.g., those who have not heard the good news about Jesus</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
For specific ideas on what to pray for, you can learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.viafamilies.org/families/articles/live-out-gods-work-praying-gods-promises" rel="follow">praying for God&rsquo;s promises for the nations</a>.&nbsp;

9. Candle Light Prayer

Once the family has brushed their teeth and read their books, light a candle and turn off the lamp. Gently remind your child that Jesus says he is the light of the world (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A12&amp;version=NIV" rel="follow">John 8:12</a>), and we are to bring his light (make Jesus known) to spiritually dark places (where people do not know or worship Jesus) in the world (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A14-16&amp;version=NIV" rel="follow">Matthew 5:14-16</a>). Then pray together before bed:
<ul>
<li>For more believers to shine Jesus&rsquo; light on those who do not know Jesus as their Savior (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+9%3A38&amp;version=NIV" rel="follow">Matthew 9:38</a>).</li>
<li>For more opportunities for your family to shine the light of Jesus (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A16&amp;version=NIV" rel="follow">Matthew 5:16</a>).</li>
<li>For those living in darkness to see who Jesus is and worship him (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4%3A16&amp;version=NIV" rel="follow">Matthew 4:16</a>).</li>
<li>For God to strengthen and provide for believers in dark places (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A18&amp;version=NLT" rel="follow">Ephesians 6:18</a>).&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
For more on shining light as a family, check out <a href="https://www.viafamilies.org/families/articles/positioned-to-be-the-light" rel="follow">Positioned to Be the Light</a>

Bedtime prayers are a deeply fulfilling part of <a href="https://www.viafamilies.org/families/articles/parenting-guide-to-family-discipleship" rel="follow">family discipleship</a> and act as a uniting experience of God&rsquo;s presence. Inviting God into the special connection time at the end of each day will give your family a powerful legacy of answered prayers, starting within the hearts of your children and spreading around the world. &nbsp;

Bedtime Prayers

Ambokile*, his wife, and two children live in East Africa where they reach out to the local community. As Christians, their family is in the minority in this area. Sharing about Christ with anyone of another faith can lead to severe persecution. When some local people became followers of Christ, Ambokile&rsquo;s family became a target. They had to leave their house and flee the area to protect their lives. &ldquo;This was a traumatic experience for us all,&rdquo; Ambokile shared. &ldquo;I struggled to explain what happened to my children. They did not understand and had many fears. I also had to deal with my own trauma while trying to care for them.&rdquo; Prayers and support from other believers helped Ambokile and his family deal with the trauma. Since then, he has decided that he needs to prepare his family to deal with persecution because &ldquo;we continue to live in a persecuting world&rdquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp;
You might not live in a place where being a Christian puts you or your children in physical danger, but Jesus warned us that a time of great persecution is coming when all nations will hate his followers (Matthew 24:9-10). Now is the time to prepare our families for the time when persecution comes.
Persecution in the Bible
Persecution is a topic that both Jesus and the apostles addressed regularly. The Bible says that if we want to live a godly life, we will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). We should not be surprised when the world hates Christians as they hated and killed Jesus and many believers who followed him (e.g. Mark 13:13; Luke 6:27; John 15:18-20; 1 John 3:13).&nbsp;
Three verses in the beatitudes are dedicated to dealing with persecution: &ldquo;Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.&rdquo; (Matthew 5:10-12)
This passage is hard for us to apply as adults when we face insults or other forms of persecution because of our faith. It is even harder when our children get confronted with these challenges. So, what can we practically do to help them?&nbsp;
Build a strong biblical foundation
After Ambokile and his family had processed the trauma, he decided to disciple his children more intentionally. He shared stories that would help his children see God&rsquo;s presence and power. God wants us to tell our children about his mighty works and teach them what it means to follow him (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 6:20-25; Joshua 4:21-24). For this, we can use Bible stories and modern testimonies of believers around the world. It is important that we do not glamorize Christian life but explain the cost of following Christ in our own lives and that of others (Luke 14:25-30).
Help them develop spiritual habits
While building a strong biblical foundation, it is important that children develop spiritual habits. Daniel lived in a hostile country and heard that those who prayed to anyone other than the king would be killed. His first response was to run to God for help and he continued to pray in his room like usual (Daniel 6:10-11). Daniel had a well-developed spiritual habit of prayer.&nbsp;
Prayer is an important habit when facing adversity. Ambokile decided not only to pray for his children but to teach them to pray always (Ephesians 6:18)--when going to school, on the soccer field, or when going to a friend&rsquo;s house. Ambokile also taught them to pray for those around them that did not yet know Jesus and helped them to pray for their persecutors.
Other spiritual habits that can help children in times of persecution are Bible reading, memorizing Scripture, and worship. These spiritual habits are modeled by Bible characters who responded to persecution (Peter and John: Acts 4, Stephen: Acts 7, and Paul and Silas: Acts 16).&nbsp;
Surround them with community&nbsp;
Lorrin serves with her family in the northern part of Zambia. One day, witchdoctors** were going through villages in their area to cleanse them from evil spirits. They went from house to house, forcing people to pay them a fee for cleansing. When they knocked on the door of one of the Christian families, the mother opened the door and refused to get the house &lsquo;cleaned&rsquo;. Furious, the witchdoctors cursed the house and family with sickness and death if they would not leave the house. Many people in the community were afraid of what would happen, but the family stood firm and prayed. This family's daughter was part of a children&rsquo;s group that Lorrin led. That week, Lorrin wondered if all the children would attend. They all came and embraced their friend. They prayed together for her family, and nothing happened. The children, and later the rest of the community, saw that God was bigger and stronger than the witchdoctors.
This story contains important elements that help children deal with persecution. First, having Christian friends who can not only support them in prayer, but also stand by their side during difficult times is vital. Children need a safe place to talk and be accepted. As parents, we can support them in finding believing peers and create space in our family to talk about persecution and pressures. Ambokile shared that when he started to talk with his children about the emotional side of persecution, he learned some things from his children, too.&nbsp;
Lorrin&rsquo;s story also features a parent who models faith and obedience despite persecution or pressures. As we learn to follow in the footsteps of Christ, our children will observe us and may decide to follow him, too (1 Peter 2:21).
Hopefully these tips will help you disciple your children to stand strong for Jesus despite persecution and pressures around them. Here is a Scripture-based prayer to pray for your children (Proverbs 22:6: Deuteronomy 31:6,8: Romans 5:3-5).&nbsp;
Lord, thank you that when my child faces problems and trials, you will use it to grow their endurance and character. I pray that this will strengthen their confident hope in you. Thank you that you love my child deeply and I pray for your protection and presence in their daily life. Help me to guide them into following you with their whole heart. Amen.&nbsp;
* Name changed to protect the family.
** Witchdoctors in Africa, also called traditional healers, attempt to heal sickness or drive out evil spirits through magic and spiritual rituals.&nbsp;