An Amazing Fact: On August 4, 2015, David and Ornella Steiner went hiking with their nine-year-old son across the White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. As the temperature rose to triple digits, they realized they’d wandered too far into the scorching desert and were quickly running out of water. Both parents eventually succumbed to severe dehydration and exposure. However, officials believe they knowingly sacrificed their lives to save their son—who was found in fairly good condition. It turns out his parents had given most of their water reserves to the boy to keep him alive.
This tragic yet touching story reminds us in a powerful way of Jesus’ willingness to sacrifice His own life to save His children. The Savior cried out in thirst from the cross that He might provide us with that Living Water (John 19:28). There is no greater love than a parent’s for a child, and God promises a special blessing on those who share the Living Water with children. “Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water … will by no means lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42).
Did you know that, according to the World Health Organization, one of the leading causes of death among children under five is dehydration? We can only imagine the anguish our heavenly Father feels when He watches so many innocent children the world over dying of spiritual dehydration. God’s heart is breaking over His thirsty children! But you and I can help change that.
Undeniably, you have already played a vital role in refreshing many children who were thirsting after righteousness. Take, for example, this inspiring letter I received at Amazing Facts only a few days ago …
“Drifting Toward” God“Dear Amazing Facts, I am only 12 years old, and I want you to know that you changed my life. It all started when my dad was looking through sermons on YouTube, and I saw one of Pastor Doug’s messages, so I decided to watch them. Ever since I started watching your videos, I have been drifting closer and closer to God.
“Before I found out about Amazing Facts, I was so obsessed with the worldly lifestyle and I never even read the Bible that was sitting on my desk. I never opened my eyes to see what signs God was putting in front of me. Now that I started reading your online lessons and watching your messages, I gave up all my worldly lifestyles and sat down with my family for worship. I can never thank you enough for all you have done to change people’s lives, including mine” (name withheld for privacy).
Friend, I’m not exaggerating when I say your support was used by the Holy Spirit to lead this precious child to our YouTube videos and to take our Bible lessons. Thank you for being a channel for the Living Water! I have read eight letters from sixth and seventh graders recently saying how much Amazing Facts has changed their lives. You’re literally reaching tens of thousands of children, often in the only places they can be reached—TV or online.
But many more children need to have this same life-changing experience and encounter their heavenly Father. This is why I’m praying that you’ll join me in saving these youth from spiritual dehydration—by offering them the real Living Water, Jesus Christ.
A Battle for the YoungI don’t need to tell you that our children are in great danger. They aren’t merely being influenced by the world … by violent, lewd Hollywood films and by the mesmerizing music industry. Indeed, they are being actively recruited by dark forces!
Why? Because the devil knows that our children are the future of God’s church—its ministers, missionaries, and members.
If he can rob a child’s innocence while they’re young and scar their faith, then making them cynical and indifferent to God’s forgiving grace as adults becomes much easier. Why do you think evolution is taught in schools and on kids’ TV shows? Why do you think public schools tell our children sex outside of marriage is okay?
Jesus says those who help the devil lead children astray will pay a heavy price. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea” (Mark 9:42). Even as we are praying for our children, the devil preys upon them, assaulting their thirsty minds from every direction, telling them what they should think, say, eat, wear, buy, and do.
Tragically, this message that the world is sending to our children every day is the polar opposite of what we should be teaching them according to Scripture.
This is why your support is enabling Amazing Facts to fight back—with programming like
Amazing Adventure, still being seen by thousands of kids daily around the world. We’ve also increased the number of resources for children in our bookstore, and they have become some of our most popular items. You’re helping to meet the need of thousands of parents wanting to lead their children to Christ!
When we give a drink of spiritual water to thirsty children, it’s as if we’re giving it to Jesus himself. “I was thirsty and you gave me drink,” and, “In as much as you have done it for the least of these you have done it for me.”
“Feed My Lambs.”When our youngest headed off to college recently, my wife and I began experiencing the “empty nest.” After years of hectic activity revolving around our kids, the house has become eerily quiet. Yet now that all our children are adults, we have become more acutely aware how important that early training really was.
Jesus commanded, “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15). That’s why Amazing Facts wants to feed every child the Bread of Life as soon as possible. Our goal is that thousands of youth from both Christian and non-Christian homes will hear the gospel today and make the eternal decision to follow Jesus.
And children are listening to the Amazing Facts programs you make possible. Kids as young as five call into
Bible Answers Live with simple but sincere questions of faith. I firmly believe that if we treat our children like they are our brethren in Christ, they will respond to His message of grace and life transformation.
I even presented
Heroes of Faith: Stories of Salvation for the Whole Family, a program designed to reach kids as much as adults. We even produced “Amazing Heroes Activity Pages” so children can be more engaged as they meet the true heroes of His-Story, the Bible.
A River of LifeI feel deeply impressed that Amazing Facts needs to produce even MORE resources specifically to reach the hearts of children. But past experience has taught us children’s resources are some of the most labor intensive and expensive to produce. The odd shapes, extra colors, and creative design that goes into these soul-winning publications make them expensive to produce.
But I believe the children are worth it!
I know you do too. Because as the world seduces our children to go down the popular highway to destruction, you are offering a positive alternative through Amazing Facts.
But to continue to secure our children in the faith, we need your heartfelt support. Your gift of $25, $100, $1,000, or more today will help print more Bible lessons, design more websites, produce videos, and distribute more tools that parents need to help their kids learn about God and make a decision to follow Him.
God’s will for us is that we actively reach out to our children. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
Your generous gift this month will be the catalyst the Holy Spirit uses to train up more children for the kingdom and to live above the crowd, while also ensuring Amazing Facts can continue to reach every age group through every means possible.
Give now!
For our children,
Pastor Doug Batchelor