Ambassador Families: Equipping Your Kids to Engage Popular Culture [Paperback]

Mitali Perkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2005

From movies to music, children are inundated with the values of popular culture. How should Christian parents react? A Bengali immigrant and former missionary, Mitali Perkins encourages parents to think of raising children in a pop-culture world as comparable to being ambassadors in a foreign country--devoted first and foremost to their homeland (Christian faith) but wanting to reach out to and understand the host culture (pop culture). Perkins encourages parents to experience popular culture with their children and discuss it openly as Christians. End-of-chapter focus stories and discussion points allow parents and children to reflect upon pop culture in a meaningful, practical way.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Using the analogy of Christian families as "ambassadors" to a sometimes hostile popular culture, Perkins offers a workbook featuring a middle-of-the-road media philosophy, case studies for reflection, and discussion questions designed to help parents decide where to draw the lines for their children's media consumption. When Perkins speaks of diplomacy, she knows what she's talking about. A visiting professor of international relations at Pepperdine University, Perkins was born Hindu and lived as a child in India, Ghana, Cameroon and other countries before immigrating with her family to the U.S. She is also a YA novelist (Monsoon Summer) and mother who carefully monitors her children's media diet. With Jesus as the model of diplomacy, Perkins urges Christians to follow his lead by boldly trekking through "Samaria"—a land of outcasts to first-century Jews but a symbol in this book for popular culture—spreading healing and wholeness in the land. "The diplomatic strategy is clear: in rare cases, ambassadors retreat to safe places, but we never stop seeking to exert influence in an unfriendly realm." Although the metaphor of popular culture as a mission field or dangerous foreign land will likely have more appeal for conservative Christians than liberal ones, Perkins invites all Christian parents who worry about popular culture on an intentional journey with her "from hostility to hospitality." (Sept.)
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Review

A book I want every parent I know to read. -- Prism Magazine's Epistle, October 2005

Perkins provides a necessary resource at a time when there are few like it. -- Modern Discipleship Magazine, November 2005

This extremely well-written, well-researched book addresses concerns all parents face when raising a child with values in the 21st century. -- Charleston Post and Courier, September 25, 2005

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Brazos Press (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587431246
• ISBN-13: 978-1587431241
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,073,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I write novels for young readers, speak at conferences, schools, and libraries, and chat about writing, books, and life between cultures. Visit me on Mitali's Fire Escape (mitaliblog.com) or track me at twitter.com/mitaliperkins.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Help your kids navigate the culture, October 24, 2005

By 

Carol R. Cool (Ephrata, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ambassador Families: Equipping Your Kids to Engage Popular Culture (Paperback)

Perkins helps parents guide children in how to live within the culture but not be overwhelmed by it. The book uses the qualities of a diplomatic ambassador to show us what qualities we need to possess and train our children to possess as we interact with our world. I found it helpful for my own thought processes, not just for raising kids. The author has lived in several countries, so she has a refreshing perspective on culture and our world. I wish I could afford to buy it for every parent I know.