Exploring the Roots and Shoots of Faith
Part
1 of an interview with Champ Thornton,
Author
of The Radical Book for Kids:
Exploring the
Roots and Shoots of Faith
What images does the term “radical faith” conjure? The
Latin origin of the word “radical” literally means “roots.” Today the word also
means extreme or revolutionary — even excellent or cool. With The Radical Book for Kids: Exploring the
Roots and Shoots of Faith (New Growth Press), author Champ
Thornton takes children deep into the ancient roots and origins of the
Christian faith in both exciting and innovative ways.
Brilliantly illustrated and extremely kid-friendly, The Radical Book for Kids is an
explorer’s guide to the Bible, church history and life, mixing practical and
theological elements with fun activities such as a 3,000-year-old board game
and a tutorial on how to make a (kid-safe) David-style slingshot. The hands-on
approach will help kids grasp the Bible’s relevance for daily life and leave
them with a curiosity driving them to learn more.
Q: Your new
book is The Radical Book for Kids.
What makes the book radical?
In
this book, I introduce young readers to the stories of men and women who have
lived out their faith in Jesus in radical ways. God sustained them to trust him
despite great opposition and difficulty. The book also focuses on the radical
roots of our faith. (The word “radical” comes from the Latin word “radix,”
which literally means “roots.”) So in many ways it is a “root” book,
leading young minds on a tour of the roots of their faith — a tour of the Bible,
what it teaches, how to read it and why we should believe it and tell others
about it. The Radical Book for Kids
also includes radical fun with a 3,000-year-old game, a secret code, hands-on
activities, fun facts and more. It’s radical strength, depth and fun.
Q: How did
your children provide inspiration for writing this book?
My
wife and I have three children, all currently under the age of twelve. So this
age group is on my mind and in my heart regularly. I want them to grow up to
know God, trust him, love him and serve him with all of their lives. This book
is an attempt to point my kids and others toward that goal. In the background
of this desire is that in 2003 I was diagnosed with a blood clot and a genetic
blood disorder. When you’re 29 years old, you think you’re fairly invincible,
but God brought into my life a daily reminder of my mortality. I’ve not had
another scare like that since, but God has used this diagnosis to raise my
awareness of the importance of passing along to the next generation the good news
of Christ and the truths of His Word.
Q: The Radical Book for Kids is described
as a fun-filled explorer’s guide to the Bible, church history and life. What
are some of the specific topics kids will be able to explore?
In
The Radical Book for Kids, readers of
all ages will be able to explore topics such as:
- The Bible in one sentence
- How to read the Gospels
- The names of God
- How we know the Bible’s true
- The secret to growing up
- How to deal with parents who aren’t perfect
- How to make good decisions
In
addition to these topics, there are also fun-focused and practical application
chapters too.
Q: You say you
want to whet kids’ appetites for God and the Bible by giving them samples of
various aspects of the faith. What are some of the samples offered in the book?
The Radical
Book for Kids
opens doorways to rooms to be explored later. It cracks doors and provides
glimpses into the lives of faithful men and women through church history, such
as Augustine, Martin Luther, Amy Carmichael and Sarah Edwards. Sometimes the
focus is on someone famous, such as John Bunyan, or in contrast someone nearly
forgotten, such as Hannah Faust.
Other
open doors included are theological topics: the gospel, union with Christ, the mission
of God, and the names of God. Daily Christian living is also explored: how to
pray, how to grow as a Christian, a theology of work, how to deal with heart
idolatry, what to do when you’re angry, what to do when you’re afraid and what
to do when bad things happen. Then there are just practical matters of biblical
wisdom, such as how to make good decisions and how not to apologize.
Q: What are
some of the fun, hands-on activities included in The Radical Book for Kids?
Kids
will find instructions and opportunities to do some fun stuff. Activities
include how to make your own pottery, how to make a (safe) sling shot like King
David’s, how to make a functioning sundial, how to make a miniature catapult
and how to set up and play a game that’s as old as Abraham. In addition to
hands-on activities like these, there are other fun elements: making a secret
code, learning elephant jokes and trying to answer Bible trivia questions that are
scattered all throughout the book.
Q: You also
provide sections with practical advice, such as “How to Clean Your Room” and
“What to do When You’re Angry.” How do those chapters fit in with the idea of
the book as a whole?
In
this book I aim not only to deepen the faith of young readers, rooting them in
the Bible and its truths, but also to strengthen their daily life of faith in
Christ. I hope to strengthen daily faith by introducing radical role models — the
lives of men and women from church history. But this daily faith dimension also
has practical, real-life aspects for kids. They have to learn to deal with
heart issues, such as anger, forgiveness, guilt, fear, and disappointments. Kids
also need to mature in more mundane matters such as being a good friend,
avoiding harmful friends, making wise decisions and keeping your life (or room)
organized.
Q: What is
your hope for the children and families who read this book?
On one level, I hope those who read this book — whether
children and teens or their parents and grandparents — would come to love,
trust and follow the Lord Jesus Christ more. It’s my prayer this book will be
used by God to grow deep roots of faith in all who read it.
In addition to this, it’s my hope that the middle
schoolers and young teens who read about the spiritual disciplines, the names
of God, biblical wisdom, union with Christ or men and women who gave their
lives for the Lord will one day come back for more as they later decide to
explore more deeply and widely the riches of God’s truth. In other words, I
want to scatter a packet of assorted seeds across the minds and hearts and
imaginations of the next generation, which in God’s time and by His Spirit will
take root, sprout and bear much fruit. If this book makes children and teens
(and adults) more curious and thirsty to know God and the good news of His Word,
then it will have done its job.
Champ Thornton
invites you to connect with him at www.champthornton.com, on Facebook (Champ.Thornton.7) and via Twitter (champthornton).
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