Champ Thornton

Middle-Grade Biography Illuminates Eric Liddell’s Life of Faith and Fame Eric Liddell was an Olympic sprinter, gold medalist, and world’s record holder. But despite his rising fame on the track, he was determined to dedicate his life and legacy to God alone. After his Olympic triumph in 1924, Liddell returned to China as a missionary, embodying self-sacrifice, kindness, and an unwavering commitment to serving others. This short and lively biography takes middle-grade readers on an exciting journey through Liddell’s life, highlighting his upbringing as a missionary kid, his battles with serious illnesses, and his imprisonment during World War II. As readers explore Liddell’s journey of faith and fame, they will discover that true success lies not in personal achievement, but in living for God’s glory and the good of others. Featuring illustrations, maps, timelines, bonus sidebars, and study questions, this addition to the Lives of Faith and Grace series engages kids ages 8–13 in the drama of history, showing how God worked in the past through ordinary people like them. Lively Biography: Explores the life of Eric Liddell, an Olympic sprinter, world’s record holder, and missionary Written for Kids Ages 8–13: This short format includes illustrations, maps, timelines, and bonus sidebars to help young readers stay engaged Inspiring: Teaches young readers to run their life’s race for the glory of God and the good of others Part of the Lives of Faith and Grace Series: Engages kids with the real-life stories of Christian men and women from history

Middle-Grade Biography Illuminates John Bunyan’s Life of Grace, Courage, and Creativity John Bunyan was an imaginative author, father, and Puritan preacher who was deeply committed to sharing the gospel that had transformed his life. His enduring literary legacy, including his well-known and beloved book The Pilgrim’s Progress, continues to inspire and transform lives today. This engaging biography takes middle-grade readers on a journey through Bunyan’s life, exploring his early struggles with sin and shame, his years of imprisonment for preaching the word of God, and the turbulent events shaping his nation. Bunyan’s life and writings offer a powerful reminder that God can fulfill his mission through unexpected people and circumstances. Featuring illustrations, maps, timelines, bonus sidebars, and study questions, this addition to the Lives of Faith and Grace series engages kids ages 8–13 in the drama of history, showing how God worked in the past through ordinary people like them. Lively Biography: Explores the influential life of John Bunyan, a creative author of almost 60 books, including the beloved The Pilgrim’s Progress Written for Kids Ages 8–13: This short format includes illustrations, maps, timelines, study questions, and bonus sidebars Inspiring: Despite early struggles with sin and challenging life circumstances, Bunyan became a follower of Christ, devoted to spreading the good news that had transformed him Part of the Lives of Faith and Grace Series: Engages kids with the real-life stories of Christian men and women from history

Have you ever noticed how often books and movies tell stories about heroes who defeat evil and save the world? Think about Superman. He comes into the world as a baby, and when he grows up, although he looks like a normal human, he uses all his power to rid the world of evil. Think about Anna from Frozen. She sacrifices her own life--even for people who don't deserve it. As a result, her love brings the warmth of life to a frozen world. And think about Frodo from The Lord of the Rings. He left his home to go on an adventure, and in great weakness carries the burden of evil, even if it kills him. Why? To save the world. It's like we humans write these stories because deep down, we all know what we really need. The human race needs someone--to help us, love us, and rescue us. Someone like Jesus. Really? "Someone like Jesus"? How do superheroes point to Jesus? The Bible teaches that Jesus came to earth to clean up and conquer the evil that had spread throughout the world and corrupted human life. Don't just take my word for it. You should meet Jesus by listening to his own words. But prepare yourself: He made some pretty intense statements. Jesus declared he could give people true life (John 5:21-29; 6:35). Jesus told people that he could forgive sins (Mark 2:1-12; Luke 7:48-49). And Jesus even claimed to have the authority of God (Matthew 28:18; John 17:2). What kind of person would make these kinds of huge claims? According to C. S. Lewis (author of The Chronicles of Narnia), you've basically got three options. Option 1: Jesus Is Lying Think about the strong statements that Jesus made about himself. Anyone could say that he had all authority. Anyone could just tell people that he could give them true life or forgiveness. But he'd be lying. Yet Jesus did more than merely talk. He calmed storms--something only God can do (Mark 4:35-41). He healed people that no one else could help (Mark 5:1-20). And he raised people from the dead (Mark 5:21-43). Jesus proved his words with his actions So Option 1 isn't really an option. Option 2: Jesus Is Insane Some people might say that Jesus wasn't lying but that he went around making wild statements. The world is full of crazy people. What if Jesus meant well but was actually out of his mind? But Jesus did more than make incredible statements about who he was. He also gave lots of brilliant teaching (Matthew 5-7; 10; 13; 18; 23-25). People were amazed by what he taught (Matthew 7:28-29; Mark 6:1-6). When the Bible experts of his day tried to trick Jesus, he stumped them with wise and logical answers (Matthew 22:15-46). No, Jesus wasn't insane. He was a genius. So Option 2 isn't an option either. And that leaves us with one final answer. Option 3: Jesus Is King Who is Jesus? He's not a liar. He's not a lunatic. (And he's also not a legend dreamed up by the disciples.) Instead, Jesus is exactly who the Bible truthfully says he is: the rightful king over everything and the true hero of this world. If true, then Jesus is a big deal. And he's a big deal that confronts your life. We usually live with ourself as our king--"No one tells me what to do " And we all live with ourself as our hero--"I can handle this " How's that working out for you? If we're honest, don't we all end up needing help? We need someone who has the power to rescue us from the evil around us--and even the evil inside us. But if Jesus is the true hero and king over the whole world, how are you going to respond? You may be thinking, "I want to believe in Jesus and follow him, but I don't know how." I've got good news: All it takes is believing with your heart and saying so with your mouth. If you want to give your life to King Jesus right now, you can do it. Consider praying something like this: Heavenly Father, I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son and that he died on the cross to save me from my sin. I believe that he rose again to life and that he invites me to live forever with him in heaven as part of your family. Because of what Jesus has done, I ask you to forgive me of my sin and give me eternal life. Please guide me to a Bible-believing church where I can grow as a Christian with others who love Jesus. Amen.

Written Especially for Tweens, This Devotional Tackles 10 Important Questions about Salvation Everyone has questions about religion, but when you’re young, finding the answers can be difficult. Some books are too complex and others don’t dive deeply enough into the faith topics that matter most to kids and teens. So where can young readers go to grow in their understanding of God and his word? The 10 Questions series invites children ages 8–14 to investigate spiritual questions and provides reliable theological and practical answers on their level. The first book, 10 Questions about Salvation, helps readers find joy, security, and hope in God’s gracious love. Each 10 Questions book presents one main topic, poses 10 vital questions on the topic, and answers each question through 3 short devotions. Readers can work through the 30 readings in any order they choose. Written to be read alone or aloud with family, 10 Questions about Salvation is the perfect way to start or end each day reflecting on the things of God. Faith-Building Devotional for Kids and Teens: With 30 devotional readings, prayers, and reflection questions, this book makes a great supplement to regular Bible study Comprehensive: The 10 questions range from the content of the Bible to the experience of living out your personal faith Flexible: The 10 questions can be read in any order—alone or as a family The First Book of the 10 Questions Series: Forthcoming volumes will cover topics including suffering, the Bible, identity, and technology

Your feelings always count to God Toddlers and preschoolers often struggle with emotions like anxiety, fear, and sadness because they lack the maturity to address, process, and communicate their hardest feelings. But counting down and focusing on the five senses can help calm and conquer any fired-up emotions In You Count : A Five-Senses Countdown to Calm, preschoolers follow an upset baby bear through his daily routine. He is guided by his mama to focus attention on the senses God gave him. By observing the outer world, baby bear learns to manage his inner world. Once the baby bear is calm and focused, his mama reminds him that God feels for him too. This book serves as a valuable tool for both preschoolers and their parents as they learn that even the biggest feelings are normal and valuable.

The Really Radical Book for Kids continues the exciting dive into the roots of the Christian faith started in The Radical Book for Kids. More Bible exploration, more history, more secret codes, and more faith-filled direction for how to live as a believer in the here and now. Short chapters on a variety of topics will grab the interest of readers of all ages, from 8 to 80 Kids will learn about ancient kings, legendary battles, and fierce snakes and dragons. They'll discover unusual food to make, secret codes to break, fun crafts to try, and strange planes to fly. They'll also uncover exciting ways to read the Bible, factual reasons to believe, stunning truths about God, and incredible examples of "radical" men and women who have gone before them and trusted Jesus in challenging times. The Really Radical Book for Kids by Champ Thornton will spark curiosity and a love for God's Word.

"On a fine, frosty day, in the small town of Kent, there awoke a young boy who was never content." From the moment he wakes up, the young boy complains about everything. The sun is too bright, his pancakes are icky, and everything is so terribly boring. He can't see why everyone else is having such a wonderful time--until his eyes are opened to the wonder of God's world. Now he begins to see all the great things he's missed and learns to be grateful. Often, kids (and grownups too) don't feel thankful. It's easy to complain about things, even when there are so many wonderful blessings all around us. But in the Bible, God says "in everything give thanks." The young boy in Why Do We Say Thank You? learns that thankfulness is a choice--it's about paying attention to God and the glory of the world he has made. Award-winning author Champ Thornton wrote this book to help children recognize God as the source of all joy and contentment. Written for ages 4-7 and illustrated by Brad Woodard, Why Do We Say Thank You? is sure to become the go-to book when the kids are grumpy or complaining of boredom. A section at the end of the story for parents will help families continue the conversation far beyond the last page.

Fleeing a neighborhood bully, a brother and sister stumble into an ancient quest and now they must escape far more powerful enemies. This exciting story engages young readers as they follow Nomi and Emmet as they go adventuring through the Bible--unlocking secret riddles and following the path of the Serpent Slayer. As readers journey through time and place with Nomi and Emmet, they'll see how God conquers evil, slays the Serpent, and rescues his people. The Serpent Slayer and the Scroll of Riddles will engage young readers while the Bible comes alive in their hearts and minds. Far from being a dry, dusty book of instructions, the Bible tells the most stunning story--of true love, a lost loved one, a fearsome enemy, and a costly rescue. Young readers will encounter the story of Scripture up close and personal along with life-changing truths they'll never forget. Written by Champ Thornton and Andrew Naselli and illustrated by Dana Thompson, this story, on one level, follows the adventures of tween siblings as they magically observe firsthand events in the Bible--getting up close and personal with the Hero of heroes, the Serpent Slayer. On a broader level, it engages readers with a biblical way to live in a hostile world. The Serpent Slayer and Scroll of Riddles is a time travel adventure with a twist--children learn biblical, theological themes as they travel through God's Word.

Advent is the perfect time for families to gather together and celebrate the birth of Jesus. Using pictures of Jesus from Isaiah's prophecies--the Light, the Branch, the Shepherd, and the Savior--brings to life the true meaning of Christmas. Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, God spoke to his people through the prophet Isaiah, promising them a Savior. To communicate God's message, Isaiah used striking, stunning, and surprising imagery--the "wonders" of his love Isaiah pointed God's people to the future, when one day, through his birth, death, and resurrection, Jesus would deliver his people from sin and sorrow forever. Perfect for busy families with younger children, each week of Advent focuses on one of Isaiah's images and has readings related to the week's theme--Jesus the Light; Jesus the Branch; Jesus the Shepherd; Jesus the Savior--and, on Christmas Day, Jesus the Bread. Each week also includes fun stories, discussion questions, crafts, recipes, games, and suggestions for family service projects. Illustrated by Jeremy Slagle, this four-week devotional will draw families closer to Jesus and to each other.

Going to bed and turning out the light can be a hard time for many children. Award-winning author Champ Thornton wrote this beautifully designed and illustrated book to help parents comfort their children with three truths about God. As a mother and her little daughter talk, they remember together that God made the night, he sees in the dark, and he watches over them just like a shepherd protects his sheep. Children and parents will want to start a new nighttime tradition of reading together about why we can say that the night is good. In this important, engaging children's book, parents can bring comfort and encouragement to their children, reminding them Jesus is near.

The story of the Delaware Baptist Association reaches back to 1967 and beyond. The labors and personalities of its leaders and the dedication and service of its churches showcase the unfailing steadfastness of the Lord. From Age to Age traces the heritage of the Delaware Baptist Association, from its rich ancestry and its small beginnings to its later decades of both expansion and economy. Written as part of the DBAOs 50th anniversary celebration, this book recounts for the first time many stories which have never been told. This book also features a Foreword written by Baptist historian, Tom J. Nettles.

The Radical Book for Kids is a fun-filled explorer's guide to the Bible, church history, and life for boys and girls ages eight and up. Vibrantly illustrated and chock-full of fun facts and ideas, this interactive book competes with screen time by stimulating children's natural curiosity and sense of adventure Get your kids reading again while communicating big truths about life with this one-of-a-kind resource for elementary- and middle-school aged kids. While providing engaging biblical content in simple, three- to five-page chapters, The Radical Book for Kids will capture the interest of children. The power-packed book takes children on a journey into the ancient church, which is actually fascinating, funny, and fun to read. Kids learn about ancient weapons (and how to make one), create pottery, discover ancient languages, use secret codes, locate stars, tell time using the sun, play a board game that's three thousand years old--and more. They'll also learn about the "radical" men and women who have gone before them and trusted Jesus in the face of great odds. This remarkable book is a fun, informative, and spiritually edifying resource. Along with the many fun and exciting stories of historical figures, young and old readers alike will learn about the roots of our faith and the importance of the gospel in our lives. Check out the table of contents, skip around, or read straight through. However a child chooses to explore it, The Radical Book for Kids will open new vistas for their imagination and help to make straight paths for their feet.