Just a Minute: In the Heart of a Child, One Moment ... Can Last Forever [Hardcover]

Dr. Wess Stafford (Author), Dean Merrill (Author)

Book Description

Release date: January 1, 2012

How long does it take to make a difference in the life of a child?

For good or for ill, individual moments in a young person's life can make all the difference in their future. It may be something said or done by an adult who hardly thinks about it: a hug, a compliment, an intriguing question, a sincere applause. But in that moment, the child discovers who they are, what is important to them, why they matter, and sometimes even what their destiny will be. Most of us want to help encourage and build into this next generation, most of us see the need all around, but we just have no idea where to begin.

 

Now, with this book, you know where to begin and you know that it only takes Just a Minute. Follow along as Dr. Wess Stafford, president of Compassion International, shares stories and experiences to introduce you to the difference you can actually make anywhere on the spectrum of child development. From helping meet physical needs to breaking down emotional barriers and from discovering latent talents to equipping with spiritual insights, these stories are a catalyst for action.

 

You don't have to be a teacher, a parent, a pastor, or a doctor to make a difference in the life of a child. You only have to be willing!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

WESS STAFFORD From the poor of Africa's Ivory Coast to President and Chief Executive Officer of Compassion International, Dr. Wesley K. Stafford - Wess - has maintained one simple belief: God's children are priceless resources. To that end, Wess leads Compassion's efforts to break the cycle of poverty for children everywhere. Wess joined the staff of Compassion International in 1977 and has worked with the ministry, both overseas and at headquarters, for 34 years. He has served as president since 1993. Wess lives on a small ranch near Colorado Springs, Colorado with his wife, Donna, of 32 years who was a Compassion sponsor even before she met Wess! They have two daughters, Jenny and Katie - the two children in the world for whom Wess is the greatest advocate of all.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Moody Publishers; New Edition edition (January 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802404723
• ISBN-13: 978-0802404725
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.8 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Leave No Child Behind December 30, 2011

By Dr Conrade Yap

Format:Hardcover

This is a book of inspiring stories about how a minute can change the life of a person forever. It stems from the author's basic conviction about the value of every child.

"I have become convinced that if God stands a child before you, for even just a minute, it is a divine appointment." (14)

It is one thing to see a child as an ordinary child. When seeing from God's perspective, every child is extraordinary. As the President of Compassion International organization, Stafford travels far and wide all over the world, to reach out to ordinary people, especially children. Bringing together many touching stories of hope, faith, and love, he strings together the stories to highlight the importance of one minute that can change a child's life forever. He tells of how children are physically rescued, and allowed that moment to change them and to rescue others as well. He talks about inculcating self-worth in children, so that they can develop a healthy self-esteem, especially in a world that puts children down. He mentions powerful stories of successful individuals like Colin Powell, Tony Dungy, Zig Ziglar, Abraham Lincoln, and many others to show us how these people have been formed from a very young age. Encourage them and assist them when young, and they will become big influences to help others next time.

Stafford brings together not only personal stories, but from the individual testimonies from biographies, sharing, and popular books in the market. What distinguishes Stafford's collection of stories is that it helps us trace the beginning of a successful person back to the very beginning state of a child. There are many valuable lessons on integrity, ethics, generosity, gratitude, and good moral upbringing. In fact, anyone can inspire a child. A parent, a teacher, a music professional, or simply a stranger can encourage and touch a child's life.

This book is high on story-telling. What a book to prepare for the start of a New Year! Let the stories in this book touch your heart, that you will then go on to inspire a child today. Every day.

Rating 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

This book is provided to me free by Moody Publishers and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. The opinions offered are freely mine.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A single moment can change a life! January 4, 2012

By Keri W. Kent

Format:Hardcover

Just a Minute: In the Heart of a Child, One Moment ... Can Last Forever

Life can change in an instant. Some folks say that while waiting for the other shoe to drop, or in response to unforeseen circumstances. But this book challenges readers to be intentional about creating those moments, where you can with a word, touch or deed, change someone else's life for the better.
In this inspiring book, Compassion International President and CEO Wess Stafford strings together poignant stories like beads. Perhaps the most beautiful and heart-wrenching of the tales he tells is his own--sufferings that might have made another man bitter have made Stafford compassionate, yet a warrior for justice, especially when it comes to children.

He asks the searching question: "Who believed in you before you believed in yourself?" Remembering moments when someone encouraged us or believed in us, Stafford writes, should inspire us to do the same for someone else--especially a child.
There are no chance encounters, Stafford writes, noting that "if God stands a child before you, for even just a minute, it is a divine appointment." A small word or deed of encouragement to a child might change the trajectory of their life, he argues, telling "key childhood moments" stories of famous people from John Wesley to Albert Einstein. He also shares some beautiful moments where he found himself at a "divine appointment." (He shares one of the best stories from the book in a YouTube video -here's the link, as it is definitely worth "just a minute" of your time:[...]
Stafford's message is simple: it only takes a moment to show love and compassion to a child, and that moment might be a significant one--perhaps changing a child's destiny. He encourages readers to look for opportunities to change a life in "just a minute" of their time.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars You Can Make a Difference in the Life of a Child June 22, 2012

By Ben Birdsong

Format:Hardcover

In 'Just a Minute: In the Heart of a Child, One Moment...Can Last Forever', Wess Stafford, the President and CEO of Compassion International, presents a compelling book challenging message to make every moment count to positively impact the life of a child. Stafford's thesis is "I have become convinced that if God stands a child before you, for even just a minute, its a divine appointment." (p. 14)

'Just a Minute' is a book of stories of such divine appointments. The stories include both positive and negative moments that greatly impacted the lives of children. The stories come from Stafford's work with Compassion International, history, biography, and from people that submitted their stories. Stafford's heart of compassion and love for children, which is evident in his books and ministry, shines forth through the book. He has been the child who has been both positively and negatively impacted by adults. These experiences have shaped him to become one of the leading voices for children in poverty.

Stafford's book is a good read that is heart-warming and compelling. He really makes readers think about the way that they handle a conversation with a child. In a world that so often against children, 'Just a Minute' calls readers to take a minute to make an eternal impact on the life of a child.