Customer Reviews

The Mission Minded Family: Releasing Your Family to God's Destiny

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I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. This is the first book that I have seen that incorporates both an emphasis on missions and on family. I have noticed that many have a heart for one or the other, but unfortunately they become compartmentalized and separated throughout our lives. The author does a great job conveying the important characteristics of a mission minded family, but more importantly she gives hundreds of practical steps which one can initiate immediately. I myself will implement many of the ideas that she has suggested both now and in the future. I would suggest that anyone with a desire to impact the world with the gospel get this book ASAP.

I loved this book! In a time in our country where the tendency is to keep our money and time and children very safe, this book encourages - even pushes - us to get out in the world and make a real difference with the resources we've been given. Ann Dunagan is no arm-chair missionary...the pages of the book are filled with actual experiences that she and her husband and kids have done for many years. It totally inspired me to take some big risks and help my kids learn to love the world beyond our doorstep.

"The Mission Minded Family" by Ann Dunagan is the coolest book! It has everything: hymns, stories of missions, mini biographies of missionaries, skits, a calendar of international holidays and suggestions for how to pray on those days, tools for teaching mission-mindedness, and even practical tips for missionary travel. This is an educational and informative book whether you're planning to be a foreign missionary, a local missionary, or just learn about the field.

The Mission Minded Family is a delightful read from cover to cover-- a perfect mix of "show and tell." Ann Dunagan offers many practical ideas for getting one's family involved in missions, for developing children's hearts with a sold out purpose, and she sprinkles in plenty of personal family examples as well as biographies of many refreshingly unknown yet inspiring men and women of faith. Ann and her husband Jon would be among these examples. They have made many great sacrifices of faith during their years of ministry and because of it, God has given them many amazing opportunities and miraculous provisions.

One message you find interwoven throughout, and one that I appreciate in particular, is that Ann drives home the point that parents can't see ministry as separate from their kids. Ann says, "God is not calling us to win the world and, in the process, lose our families. ...In our view, raising and training our seven children is not a distraction to our mission calling; it is our primary ministry!"

Another wonderful part of her message that lends credibility to all her suggestions for getting one's family involved in missions is she and her husband's extreme commitment to and experience on the mission field for many years. The Dunagan's are seasoned professionals who are sharing great insights and suggestions throughout, such as how to get started in family missions (at home or abroad), what to expect, and how to prepare for mission trips. Their kids bear the wonderful fruit of being a part of this ministry from the outset--all SEVEN of them are well experienced on the mission field, very mission-minded, and sold out for the Gospel.

I definitely recommend this book!

Author of One Million Arrows: Raising Your Children to Change the World

In our busy lives, very seldom, do we stop to ask God if we're truly fulfilling His purposes in our lives. "The Mission Minded Family" opens that line of communication between you and God to have a discussion about His will for your life. Ann Dunagan provides a powerful resource in order to fulfill the Great Commission. She has "walked the walk" and offers every bit of fantastic advice that a person can possibly offer,
when leading someone to the decision to follow Christ.If you desire to follow Him, let this book be your first step in discovering what you are called to do and allow Ann Dunagan help you on the learning curve of HOW to do it!

If you're simply wondering what God's purposes are for your life, you may very well find the answer within the pages of this book. Don't be surprised if you hear God speaking to you in greater ways than you ever imagined. If you are a church leader, I can't imagine a better resource to promote to your congregation and a better gift to give to your missionary families. Ann Dunagan walks you through her and her husband's lives as a missionaries and sprinkles it with wisdom coming from her young children who have experienced the power of God in and through their lives. The book is not only a resource that provides you with countless "how-to's," but it is filled with the Dunagan Family's missionary experiences that will inspire you and draw you nearer to God.

Point: Your family can and should be involved in missions. God does not ask you to sacrifice your family on the altar of missions, but have you sacrificed God's commands on the altar of your family?

Path: Through stories, examples, tips and testimony the author pieces together a feasible strategy for family missions.

Sources: Compiling resources from missionary biographies, missions agency, and current missions project, the author gives many resources to the reader.

Agreement: It is not "missions or family" it should be "mission through family." Too often we think that our lives are too busy caring for our children to think of missions. Rather, we should look how we can involve our whole family in missions.

Disagreement: The author is a proponent of YWAM and other organizations which confuse missions. Also, the strategies are often focused more on humanitarian aid than Gospel presentation.

Personal App: How can I involve my family in missions rather than exchanging my family for missions?

There are some helpful ideas.

I won this book through a giveaway on a blog that I read, and it couldn't have come at a better time. My husband and I had just begun to prayerfully consider going into missions. This book offered us encouragement as well as practical ideas to use as we incorporate missions into our daily life. I would highly recommend this books, as well as "The Mission Minded Child" to anyone who wants fresh insight into how to be a missionary where God has placed you - whether in a foreign country or not!