Customer Reviews

One Million Arrows: Raising Your Children to Change the World

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For years now the church in the US has continously developed ministry after ministry targeting our children and young people. Effect?? More and more are leaving the church after leaving the home. As a former student pastor I saw the effect first hand. The reason: I asked a roomful of "church kids" whose parents served in the church, how many of them had prayed with, had devotions with, or even spiritual conversation/guidance from their fathers, or parents in general within the LAST FEW MONTHS. The answer was 1 in 30! The answer is not more church programs to monopolize your families time. The answer is YOUR FAMILY! God, wife, children, are your top three priorities and One Million Arrows calls us all to stop dropping our children down our list of to dos behind work and "church." OMA calls us all as parents to take up this banner for our lives and run with it so that our children will not become casualties of a generation of unconcerned, lukewarm, Christian by name only young men and women, but truly Arrows for God!

Inspired by the work of Dr. M.A. Thomas in India, Julie Ferwerda enthusiastically embraced his God-given vision of sending out One Million Arrows (children trained to reach the nations with the gospel) into the world. While Thomas has been faithfully laboring to raise abandoned and orphaned children for the Lord while training them for future roles in ministry and evangelism, Ferwerda has expanded this vision to include our own biological children here in North America, and any whose lives we may touch through giving.

Ferwerda both encourages families to raise their children whole-heartedly for missions and ministry, while examining the impact that families can have mission-ally and financially as they seek to reach the world for Jesus. Recent years have seen a huge re-evaluation of the approaches used to impart discipleship upon children. Increasingly parents are turning away from reliance upon formal church ministries and embracing visions of family discipleship within their homes. Author Julie Ferwerda offers a unique approach to creating a family on fire for the great commission in One Million Arrows.

One of my favorite portions of the book was the inclusion of the paths different families have taken to raise their children with a passion for Christ. Many homeschooling families have shared their stories and the fruit their children's lives have borne. Likewise, the stories of many orphans who have been raised in Christian homes with a heart for ministry are also shared along with some of their impact upon the world.

Ferwerda's passion is unmistakable, but at times her message of spreading the gospel through the lives of children who have been abandoned and consequently raised in Christian homes seems a bit cold. There is little discussion of God's heart for placing orphans in families (regardless of whether they reach the world for Christ), the tender joys of adoption, or even the delights of parenthood. Her tight focus on raising children with hearts for evangelism does at times give an all-business, no-nonsense, raise `em up, get `em out, feel to her work.

With such a strong emphasis on numbers, I'm surprised that a strong emphasis on bearing more children and adopting more children into our families wasn't included in One Million Arrows. Though Ferwerda does briefly mention the possibility of having more children oneself, it's a one-sentence statement. She then focuses mainly upon financial support to international orphan ministries (100% of the book's proceeds are designated towards such ministries.) An excellent resource section at book's end provides an abundance of ministries to investigate for charitable giving.

Though I'm already somewhat familiar with the principles of family discipleship, reading One Million Arrows gave fresh inspiration, and a renewing of my vision for our family. It is so easy to become distracted in this temporal life, but Ferwerda keeps us focused on those things that have eternal value, and encourages us to run the race with both perseverance and joy.

As someone who has seen first hand the great need for parents to raise their children and the need for parents in countries whose streets are filled with orphans, this book speaks a clear word to everyone who cares about justice and mercy and the lives of children. Trust me, this book will change your perspective on pretty much EVERYTHING concerning the future of the world we live in, because the future is in our kids, and their kids, and the kids who have nobody to teach them right from wrong.

What I Liked: For starters, the subject matter. I've cut back seriously on book review opportunities lately, trying to catch up on my backlog. But I couldn't pass this one over - the topic is just too close to my heart. More than any other dream I have for my little daughter, I want to raise a child who loves God and changes the world, through Him and for Him. And service to humanity has always been a dream and priority of mine, even before Esmé came into the picture.

Somehow, though, I didn't expect this book to pierce me so much. To point out my shortcomings so well. To make me realize I need to change the very essence of my thoughts on homeschooling and education.

In fact, I just spent the weekend studying different methods of education. I tried to sum it up on my Mozi Esmé blog - realizing that I could never get it all figured out, and ultimately loving and savoring my baby girl is by far more important than picking the right handwriting teaching method and helping her ace the SATs. This book takes it even further.

This book is full of quote after motivational quote that I wish I could memorize and internalize. Here's one:

I don't want children who are just productive members of society. I don't want to encourage my kids to strive after mere hapiness either. In the short window of opportunity I have to impact their lives, I want to raise spiritually fulfilled kids who are productive members of eternity.
Not just inspiring quotes and ideas, this book is also full of inspiring stories. One after another. Of parents. And children. And it makes me realize no matter what my circumstance, what my daughter's personality, what the ingredients are - kids CAN make a difference for God.

Oh, and there's another "little" challenge in the book. Consider not only raising your own kid as an arrow, but adding to your quiver and raising even more arrows for God!

Is this book practical? Not really. Total commitment to God isn't really practical, in a worldly sense. But the book IS realistic, and possible - with God, all things are possible...

Is this book an easy read? Not really. It's interesting and moving and organized, but it's hard. Because you're constantly being challenged to dream, to do, to die, to act.

Long story short - this book motivates me in raising my daughter. And ultimately, it opens me to transformation in my priorities and my commitment, because that's what it's going to take to effectively influence my daughter.

What I Didn't Like: Absolutely, unequivocally nothing... I wish I could get this book into each and every one of your hands! It can be life-changing, both for you and the kids in your life, if you allow it...

Julie, where were you when we were raising our children 25 years ago? Wish we would have had your book in our childraising arsenal back then! This book lays out such a wonderful Biblical model on raising children to be all God wants them to be. Pointing children to service in ways that are God honoring makes so much sense. It seems like the tendency is to hope our children learn these things thru osmosis (doesn't seem to work real well!). Julie lays out a principle in a manner that is very applicable to the 21st century and His children today. God asks us to teach them line upon line... Great book. Thanks!

As a parent, grandmother, and media personality I could not be more on fire about a book as I am for One Million Arrows: Raising Your Children to Change the World. Ferwerda hit the bulls-eye with her bold proactive approach to raising our children to change the world. Her challenge to parents to take Judges 2:10 to heart stopped me in my tracks, "After the generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel." What are you waiting for? "... accept the mission... and leave a mark for eternity."

Very much needed view for families. Many times we lose our perspective of our greater purpose in life. Thanks to Julie for making a huge dent in changing the world and changing our perspective!

This book is a battle cry for Christian parents today. Ferwerda inspires us, through personal example, and illustrations from families worldwide, to rise up and raise children intentionally for the Glory of God. Parents will be bolstered, encouraged, inspired, and challenged to raise their children purposefully, and through the lens of Scripture. If you choose one book to purchase and delve into this year, make it this one. And keep a highlighter handy. It is that good.

This parenting book encourages parents, grandparents, and others involed in the lives of children to set their sights on the eternal impact children can make in this world. It reminds us how our children are truly God's children and He has created them to fulfill a remarkable role in making a spiritual difference in the lives of others. Through personal testimony as well as interviews, Julie Ferwerda captivates the reader's attention and inspires them to raise up spiritual "arrows" who will be sent out to transform the world. For anyone who desires to raise the spiritual bar for the next generation, this book is a must read.

What an awesome book. It clearly shares the vision of Bishop M.A. Thomas of [...] by reaching the downtrodden of the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and teaching them to reproduce themselves thus expanding the Kingdom of God. We are all Arrows in the Hand of God as Julie so aptly states. Every church and ministry should buy this book for their members.