Spin the Globe: Developing a Heart for the Nations

A Mother/Daughter Children’s Book Project

Melissa (daughter)

Have you ever experienced the magic of taking an adventure to faraway places simply through the pages of a book? 

When I was a young girl, my parents used a book, You Can Change the World, and a game they made up, Spin the Globe, to take my brothers and me on a journey around the world. They wanted to help us develop a heart for God and His people at a young age, while also having meaningful family time together each night. As we gathered in the evening, my brothers and I would take turns closing our eyes, spinning the globe, then placing our finger on the globe. I remember my youngest brother being so little that my other brother and I had to help him hold his finger in place. When the globe stopped spinning, we opened our eyes to see which country our finger landed on. Then we read about the country in our world atlas and prayed for the people who lived there. 

Aimee (mother)

The game that inspired our book, Spin the Globe, came from a desire my husband, J.R., and I had to find a fun, “hands-on” way to engage our children’s hearts, minds, and souls for world missions. In the busyness of raising small children, it's easy to wonder, Am I teaching them everything they need to know? How can I keep pointing them to Jesus? At times our children seemed so preoccupied with their own little worlds that we looked for ways to get their attention on others.

With that in mind, we thought it might be fun to show them the world while they learned about people who live both near and far away. Spin the Globe began as a simple family game, but it shaped our children in ways we never could have imagined. In fact, one of our son’s first “big” words was Cambodia. 

The purpose was simple: make family time special while teaching our children about Jesus, the world, and loving others. 

This fun adventure opened our eyes to many cultures, while deepening friendships with our neighbors. Our children looked forward to playing the game each night. Their excitement led us into a relationship with local Christian organizations for international students on campus at the University of South Carolina. Over the years, we hosted students from almost every continent! There were plenty of funny stories and laughter as
we shared cultures, food, and friendship only God could’ve orchestrated. 

Melissa

As my parents brought the world into our home through international students, my brothers and I began realizing that our relationship with God is not a private affair or confined to church. We are part of a much larger story that includes every tongue, tribe, and nation. My parents helped us have eyes not just for people from other countries, but also those right around us. At times, my mom’s boldness for Christ embarrassed me, but she unwaveringly pursued others. Whether it was a neighborhood backyard bible study, a prayer walk for the city with other believers (which she made us tag along for), or  asking a complete stranger, “Do you know Jesus?” Our mom was on a mission. She didn’t make it complicated or difficult. She simply made it part of everyday life. 

The “open door policy” my parents maintained and the countless international students we hosted developed in
me a deep desire to travel internationally whenever I could. From middle school until I was married, I had the privilege of experiencing many short-term missions and work projects in Europe, Africa, and South America. Now, Spin the Globe is a second generation teaching tool my children enjoy with theirs. 

Aimee and Melissa

Though intended for young children, Spin the Globe is a fun and engaging game for the whole family, and we hope it will become a tradition for you, too! Featuring Bible verses and a powerful message on fulfilling the Great Commission, Spin the Globe helps young readers see they can take any question or need to God through prayer. For parents, Spin the Globe provides a practical way to talk about the importance of Christian outreach with their children. 

Our greatest desire is for Spin the Globe to inspire families and future generations to put their trust in Jesus and open their hearts to all His people.

We pray each reader will come to “know and believe in the love God has for you” (1 John 4:16) and deepen their love for others (John 15:12).

For additional resources visit spintheglobebook.com.