Is God Calling You to Write Books for Children?
One parent's burden to find gospel resources for her own children led to a calling to write gospel children's books for an entire nation.
Could God use you to write a book for children? Maybe. Just listen to Hannah’s story.
Hannah is a Christian mother with two boys. She is determined to raise them to follow Jesus and know God's word. But there’s a problem. In her country and language, there are hardly any children’s Bible story books. This is a situation in Ethiopia. Hannah needed a solution as a mother.
A few years ago, she took a local missions trip deep into a Muslim tribal area. She saw the deep need for Jesus among these people.
She believed these children were open to the gospel if the approach was respectful of their culture and geared to their level of understanding. She felt a growing burden to do something to bring the gospel message to all the unreached children of Ethiopia. She just didn’t know what to do about it.
Hannah Hears About Medialight
Hannah heard about Medialight from a friend who had graduated from the program.
At Medialight, she practiced creating stories. Surrounded by a community students who had burdens just like hers, she became encouraged to develop her own voice. She even learned to overcome her hesitation to stand before the camera as a storyteller.
Here’s a sample:
Hannah Writes Her First Book
After graduation, Hannah returned home to do her first project, a children’s book series dedicated to reaching Muslim children with moral reasoning and ultimately, with the gospel message. “Ishmael,” is her first book in this series. It is the beginning of her lifetime calling to create for God.
What Writing This Book Has Taught Her
We took some of the donations we’ve received at Emerge and helped pay for her first run of books.
Producing her first book has taught her the following:
How to write for a young audience and to use stories they can relate to
How to work with an illustrator to produce quality artwork that is in line with their culture
The business of publishing
What it takes to get a book published and placed in retail spaces where people can buy them
She’s learned so much so fast!
Her First Audience
The first audience for her book was the tribe where God planted the vision. This is the first Christian-produced book in their language.
The book has been received by children so well in the Afar region that it is now receiving pushback from religious leaders. This is a prayer point. Please be praying for Hannah and her team as they continue to publish children's books and attempt to keep their relationships with this tribe intact. Bringing the gospel in print has its risks.
If you would like to read Ishmael in English just click here.
Hannah’s Launch Party as a Published Author
“Ishmael” is Hannah’s introduction to the nation as a children’s book creator. Today is her book’s public launch in the capital city of Addis Ababa.
We’re excited to watch her ongoing progress as an author and publisher bringing gospel literature to share the hearts and minds of children in Ethiopia.
Media is the new world language, and with each new creator released, thousands of lives will benefit. This is the power of releasing one young person to follow their calling for gospel media creation.
Big Announcement!
We are now open for enrollment for our two fall courses, photojournalism, and content creation.
If you or anyone you know would be interested in these courses please direct them to Medialight.Network
Sometimes students want to attend, but do not have money for the tuition. If you would like to sponsor a student, please click this link (you can change any of the fields with a click).
Thank you so much for standing with us!
It’s working!
Love,
Chuck & Sherry
