Take kids on an exciting journey to discover that they are part of the amazing worldwide church.
Take kids on an exciting adventure exploring the global church!
Kids will gain enthusiasm for going to church on Sundays as they discover that they and their local fellowship are part of something much bigger: a family of people worshipping God all around the world!
Join Tim Challies as he guides you on this illustrated journey through 10 countries. Your children will be delighted to meet fictionalised kids just like themselves as they discover…
Each positive, eye-opening visit to another country is based on Challies’ own travel experience and conversations with local church leaders.
Use the included prompts to start conversations about the global church as a family or Sunday-school class.
Welcome
Fiji
South Korea
Cambodia
India
Zambia
Poland
Morocco
Brazil
Chile
Alaska
The Best-Ever Worship Service
| Age range: | 4+ |
|---|---|
| Contributors | Tim Challies, Sian James |
| ISBN | 9781802544077 |
| Format | Hardback |
| First published | May 2026 |
| Dimensions | 235mm x 280mm x 12mm |
| Weight | 0.50 kg |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 48 |
| Publisher | The Good Book Company |
“I can’t think of a better way to introduce children to the beauty of God’s global people than through these delightful vignettes that highlight the history of mission, the variety of worship around the world, and the ways God is at work in every culture.”
“What a wonderful resource to help kids and their parents get excited about God’s great big family around the world! When children catch a robust vision of God’s global church, it changes their perspectives and priorities for the rest of their lives.”
“Our children need to know how God is reaching out to touch the lives of children in other regions of the world, together with the adult population. This book is excellent for teaching kids about the Great Commission and its ongoing impact today. I’m thankful for Tim Challies’ excellent work to help us understand God’s work among the nations!”
This is an abridged version of my full review, which is available at: https://www.lifeisstory.com/childrens-books/gods-great-big-global-church-visit-10-kids-and-their-churches-all-around-the-world-tim-challies-and-sian-james/
Tim Challies wrote a book for adults about his experience visiting churches around the world, and this is a companion title for young readers. Each chapter covers a different location, and fictional children describe their everyday life environments and church experiences.
The fully illustrated pages are vibrant, colorful, and engaging, and because the illustrations show what everything looks like, the author doesn't have to spend time describing things. Instead, Challies focuses on introducing each kid's life experiences, how the gospel came to their country, and what their church is like.
Each section ends with talking points for parents and kids, as well as a Bible verse. Because this book has short sections and isn't too wordy, it is great for a broad age range. Even very young children can follow along with this, while older kids can engage with it more deeply.
The book concludes by looking ahead to the greatest worship service ever, when people of all nations and languages will join together in heaven to worship God. This book has a great message of unity and shared purpose. However, because it is based on the author's personal travels to like-minded congregations, it only describes Protestant evangelical churches. Some readers may wish that this resource gave a broader taste of different types of Christian churches.
"God's Great Big Global Church" is an inspiring, educational resource. This book's exploration of so many very different churches will broaden children's horizons beyond what is familiar to them, and it celebrates what Christians have in common around the globe, regardless of differences in cultural practice.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
When I heard about God's Great Big Global Church by Tim Challies, I knew that it would be a must-read for our family.
In addition to teaching about international churches, this book gives information about various cultures and world geography.
The book is organized into ten countires, and each country includes:
- facts about geography, population, and culture
- a brief history of how Christianity spread to that region
- a greeting in the country's native tongue
- discussion questions
- a Bible verse
As humans, we have a tendency to believe that our personal preferences and traditions are "right," but this book reminds us that the church does not have to meet in a brick building with stained glass and a steeple.
I love this book, and I recommend it as a resource for families with children age 4-10.
Content consideration:
Depending on your denomination or theological stance, you may want to know that the church in Brazil practices infant baptism. The discussion questions for this country are about baptism, allowing you to discuss your own beliefs with your children.
