Missing: An Urgent Call for the Church to Rescue Kids

by Melissa J. MacDonald

They've been called the 4/14 window-the largest unreached people group in the world. They live in your neighborhood. They speak your language. They even attend your church. They are the children between 4 and 14 years of age who-unless they come to faith within the first decade and a half of their lives-will likely never have a relationship with God. Drawing from her experience as a children's minister and her research on Millennials, Melissa J. MacDonald challenges readers to embrace the task of reaching this crucial generation with the gospel before it's too late. Melissa's style is fresh and engaging as she encourages parents, pastors and church leaders with practical, biblically-sound insight into capturing kids' hearts without dumbing down the truth. Melissa draws on mistakes she's made and lessons she's learned with transparency and humor, and you'll have a hard time not catching her contagious enthusiasm for sharing the love of Jesus with a missing generation. The daughter of a pastor and the oldest sister of three, Melissa J. MacDonald grew up doing ministry with her family. Melissa herself has been a children's pastor and missionary. Passionate about the church and about kids, she travels extensively speaking, training, coaching and consulting. She currently serves as the national Children's Disciplemaking Specialist for the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination. She's been to over 30 countries and seeks out the best ethnic food in every city she visits.

114 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2014

About the author

Melissa J. MacDonald has dedicated over two decades to full-time ministry experience, with a profound commitment to serving ministry leaders and children on a global scale. Her journey includes a ten-year tenure supporting children's ministry leaders within a denomination and an active role on the board of INCM (International Network of Children’s Ministry). Alongside her speaking, writing, and coaching endeavors, Melissa has dedicated her life to walking alongside leaders and empowering children to encounter Jesus in a way that changes them forever.
Renowned for her captivating speaking style, Melissa effortlessly blends humor, profound truths, and real-life anecdotes to engage and inspire her audience.
Melissa and her Guatemalan-born husband, Luis, make their home in Iowa, where they actively participate in their community and serve as foster parents.

Reviews

[Christian Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a call to action responding to the mass exodus of millennials from the church. “Over half a million Millennials who grew up in the church have since walked away from the church.” That among some other alarming/informational statistics help shape the author’s motivation for ministering to the next generation before it’s too late. And it’s not just on those in the ministry, it’s on all of us Christians. It’s not just parents, it’s the community that can help pass on faith to kids. The kids (85% of people who decide to follow Christ are kids ages 4-14) are now at risk, but MacDonald offers some encouraging and practical advice that gets the reader excited about leading children to Christ. She’s passionate and shares a lot of personal experience that’s both heartbreaking and uplifting. It’s not a deep dive into theology, but rather a reminder it doesn’t need to be. There’s a reason Jesus points to childrens’ simple faith as the model. We should believe that God can speak to children/use them; we shouldn’t judge how or what a child hears from God. MacDonald encourages practical tools for adults empowering kids to choose and steer them away from victimization / entitlement. In this short read, I’ve learned not to underestimate children as they too have personal agency and can love God better than some adults. Kids are the future - let’s prayerfully invest.

[Judy Weber grinder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normally I'm really bad about reading nonfiction books. They're usually so dry that it takes me forever to get through them. Not this book! This book was so engaging that I devoured it. I intend to read it a second time so that I can take notes. I recommend this book for everyone in the church who has any contact whatsoever with children so that means everyone in the church.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

God can use any one of us to minister to children. Melissa shares ways to reach children to help them choose to have a relationship with a real Jesus. It encouraged me, a married senior citizen with no children, and helped me realize that I too can minister to the little ones I meet.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone who works with youth needs to read this book!