A New Book and Chapter for HomeGrown Children
It's been a dream of mine for decades to provide children's books for parents and help prevent the destruction that awaits children who don't have a solid foundation and relationship with their Heavenly Father and the Lord who longs to be their Best Friend—closer than a Brother.
Since then, God planted a seed in my heart to help children around the world discover His promises through books they could read in their own language.
Since then, God has done more than I could have imagined.
Today, I am excited to share that all of our children's books are translated and now available in one place. What once required searching across multiple websites can now be found together on a single website, with a new name, making it easier for mothers, fathers, extended families, or missionaries, churches, and teachers to access books that share God's love and promises with children around the world.
Along with this growth, HomeGrown Ministries has a new name:
Welcome to HomeGrown Children
While our mission remains the same, our new name better reflects the heart of what God has called us to do—planting seeds of faith—truth in the hearts of children from every tribe, nation, and language.
One of the projects closest to my heart is Macy's Barn Cat.
What began as a simple story about a little girl praying for a barn cat became a story about something much bigger: God's faithfulness. Macy learns that God hears prayers, keeps His promises, and goes on to bless us in ways far greater than we imagined.
As I recently worked on a Japanese-English edition, I was reminded of why these books matter so much. This special edition was created not only for a precious granddaughter soon-to-be born in Japan, but also for her father, who is learning English. Together, they will be able to read the story in both Japanese and English.
That is the vision behind HomeGrown Children.
We are not simply translating books.
We are helping families read together.
We are helping parents teach their children about God's promises.
We are helping children encounter God's Word (Passages and Promises) in their own languages so they understand.
And we are building bridges between generations, cultures, and nations through stories that point to their Father, Best Friend, and Brother.
God tells us that one day there will be people worshiping before His throne from "every tribe, nation, and language." We may not be able to reach every child personally, but together we can plant truth-filled stories into their tiny hands, they can sow and hide in their tender hearts.
Thank you to everyone who has trusted God, encouraged, translated, shared, and supported this children's ministry. Every language added, every book translated, and every child reached is evidence of God's faithfulness.
We are just getting started.
How You Can Help
Would you help us spread the word?
Visit the new HomeGrown Children website, explore the growing collection of multilingual children's books, and share them with parents, grandparents, homeschool families, churches, missionaries, and friends in every tribe, nation, and language.
Together, we can help children around the world discover that God's promises are true.
And just like Macy learned, nothing is impossible with God.
Dedication
献辞（けんじ）
この本は、世界中のすべての孫娘たちにささげます。
This book is dedicated to granddaughters everywhere.
メイシーのお話と、神様が「不可能」について三回も語られたことを、どうか忘れないでください。
Never forget Macy’s story and what GOD said three times about impossibilities.
そして、この日本語と英語の特別版は、もうすぐ生まれてくる日本の大切な私の孫娘に、特別にささげます。
This Japanese-English edition is especially dedicated to my precious granddaughter in Japan, who is almost ready to be born.
彼女のお母さんのエリカは、かつて私たち家族と一緒に暮らしていて、私は彼女の “aMom” — 「アメリカのお母さん」になりました。
Her mother, Erica, once lived with our family, and I became her “aMom” — her American mom.
エリカのお父さんは私の兄です。あなたは『First Love, Closer than a Brother』のアドリアンとして彼をご存じかもしれません。兄と私は、作者が私たちのために心を込めて献辞を書いてくださった特別な Alphabet Book を読みながら育ちました。
Erica's father, my brother, who you know as Adrian in "First Love, Closer than a Brother," he and I also grew up reading a very special Alphabet book that the author lovingly dedicated to us.
「この本はエリンのため。
“This book is for Erin.
この本はティムのため。
This book is for Tim.
この本は彼女のため。
This book is for her.
この本は彼のため。
This book is for him.
数字や文字や韻を、楽しく学べますように。
I hope you have a wonderful time learning your numbers and letters and rhyme.”
ささげる言葉
“Words of Dedication”
「この本はヒロのため。
This book is for Hiro.
この本はエマのため。
This book is for Emma, too.
この本はお父さんのため。
This book is for a father,
英語を少しずつ学ぶため。
Learning English through and through.
英語と日本語で
In Japanese and English too,
楽しいお話を読みながら、
As you read these happy stories,
ページをめくるたびに
With every page you turn together,
心がもっと近くなりますように。
May your hearts grow closer too.」
「人にはできないことでも、神にはすべてのことができます。」⁴
“With people this is impossible, but WITH GOD all things are possible."⁴.
「すべての部族、国民、そして言葉を持つ人々」² にまで広がって、みんなも神様の約束を信じられるようになりますように！Be sure to share Macy’s Barn Cat with your friends—in “every tribe, nation, and language.”² so they’ll believe in God’s Promises too!