Who do you hope the children in your life will grow up to become? Successful leaders, faithful followers of Christ, compassionate friends? 

Some days our dreams for them might be small, like growing in empathy for a sibling, or having courage to say ‘Hi’ to a new person. Right now, I dream of the day my kids will learn to stop licking things. That’s not world-changing, it’s just everyday life. 

But what about bigger dreams for their future? Like becoming responsible adults who are wise with their finances, active members in the community, and hard workers in their field. These dreams aren’t accomplished overnight. They are sown through years of intentional investment. And they grow out of an identity rooted in a bigger story—a global story.

The Heart of the Matter

Raising globally minded children begins with small, intentional steps that connect your family to God’s heart for all nations. By integrating cross-cultural awareness into daily life, you help unlock a lifelong vision for your kids to use their gifts, careers, and resources for His global mission.

• Exposure: How do we start building global awareness? Share stories, pray for unreached peoples, and explore different cultures through everyday conversations.
• Experience: What moves us from knowing to doing? Take practical steps like supporting missionaries, welcoming international neighbors, or serving on global trips.
• Ownership: How do young adults step into their calling? As kids grow, encourage them to ask "Why not me?" and surrender their career plans to God's mission.

When you sow seeds of global vision at home, you prepare the next generation to boldly say "yes" to wherever God leads.

The Bible is filled with evidence of God’s heart for the nations. It’s not a side glance he occasionally gives to care for people outside of Israel. It is of primary concern that his chosen people declare his goodness and mercy to the whole world. Most of us would not be part of his family if this were not the case. So, if God is globally minded, we should be too. And we should raise up children who are globally minded as well.

A globally minded family intentionally engages with God’s global vision to make disciples of all nations and to exalt his name in the earth. God is not just at work in your hometown, through your home church, and among your closest friends. He is building a kingdom that spans the globe! Your family is a part of that story and vision.

Exposure

My earliest memory of hearing of God’s global activity was at a Christian concert with my family. During an intermission, the story of God’s work among the Waodani tribe of Ecuador was shared, and we prayed for more workers to be sent out like those who had shared the good news with them. It sparked new conversation for us on the drive home and around the dinner table. We had been exposed to God’s global heart through stories and people.

Jesus implored his disciples to pray, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Luke 10:2) We were joining in a prayer that had been prayed for generations. A prayer that has been answered, but also at times, ignored.

Nothing significant changed in our day-to-day lives, not yet anyway. But we had seen and learned something new. Our curiosity had been sparked, and our understanding continued to grow as we heard missionary stories, learned about the practices of our muslim neighbors, and read books from places across the world.

Exposure to God being globally minded and involved in the lives of people outside of our home culture inclined our hearts toward future experiences.

Experience

Moving from exposure to experience can start small. Praying for unreached people groups, financially supporting a family serving abroad, getting to know someone from another culture.

When I was in high school, a family visited my town on home assignment from Tajikistan. They needed to furnish their temporary residence. So we had them over to look at some furniture we no longer needed.

It was a practical opportunity to take part, an easy stepping stone into greater involvement in God’s directing of resources for his mission. My parents faced the questions: “Why not us?”, “Why not our resources?”. And with a ready ‘Yes’, we got involved. A small sacrifice moved us from just knowing about a need to meeting that need. 

Many more stepping stones presented themselves—packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, getting to know foreign exchange students, giving financially to global work.

Eventually, I went on my first international mission trip with our church youth group. I was struck by the lives of the long-term workers there in Guatemala and how their presence would continue in the community long after our team returned home. I began praying biblically and intentionally for the many cross-cultural workers our church supported (which is a great way to start getting involved if you are looking for an easy way to begin!).

What had been sparked in our earlier exposure, was being fanned through experience.

Ownership

Growing up in a globally minded family gave me a great big view of God. And gave me an identity within his great big story. After I graduated from college, our part in God’s story drew even closer to home. I had my ‘Yes’ ready on the table, and God put it on the map. I became a Goer, and tithed my career in a 2-year overseas placement. 

Growing up in a globally minded family gave me a great big view of God. And gave me an identity within his great big story.

The question I saw my parents confront: “Why not us?” became a personal question of, “Why not me?” The exposure, experience, and ownership I possessed from growing up in a globally minded family unlocked my potential as a Goer. It gave me vision to see my part in God’s story. It gave me the willingness to be used by God in his global work. It gave me confidence to pursue sacrificial and adventurous opportunities. 

Now I get to pass on this same gift to my own children. We read picture books about missionaries, pray for our church’s partners around the world, and share meals with global workers when they are in town. Our family is cultivating something significant together. I trust it will unlock some wonderful adventures!

Conclusion

For those of us raising up the next generation—parents, grandparents, children's workers, youth leaders—we must root our families in that bigger story. The story of a globally minded God who loved the world so much he sent his Son to make a way for people from every language, nation, and people-group to have eternal life and worship him as King forever. 

Right now we are in the middle of that story. The dreams we have for our children—to see their future career, resources, and relationships as available to God’s global mission—require intentional investment now. There is a tremendous invitation and opportunity here. But it can start with a small step. If you need some ideas for what your family’s next step could be, check out this article on Simple Ways to Mobilize Your Family for the Nations.

The globally minded seeds you sow through exposure, experience, and ownership could unlock the next generation of Goers who just might be living under your roof or sitting in the seats of your youth group. God is moving in a global way, and your family is a part of it. 

For more tips and resources, check out our Globally Minded Families Hub.