3 Christian Resources for Current Events in Morning Time
When our kids were young, I wanted to shield them from all the violence and scary headlines in the news. My husband and I wanted them to have an innocent childhood. But as they grow older and their world expands, this changes. We want them to know what is happening daily in the world around them. We also want them to be able to think critically, to identify truth from error, and most importantly to measure everything they hear against the rubric of God’s Word. Here are 3 Christian resources for Current Events in Morning Time.
Current Events in Morning Time
Morning Time has been a wonderful addition to our homeschool. Morning Time is the time that we all gather to cover the subjects that are of great value, but often get pushed to the wayside because of the more formal subjects. I have written several posts about how we do Morning Time in our homeschool.
HOW TO SIMPLIFY YOUR HOMESCHOOL WITH MORNING TIME
SIMPLE IDEAS FOR POETRY IN MORNING TIME
TEACHING BIBLE IN MORNING TIME
SIMPLE IDEAS FOR MEMORY WORK IN MORNING TIME
Morning Time is the perfect atmosphere for learning current events with your kids. Everyone is gathered and for the most part, kids enjoy discussions around things that are happening “right now” in the world.
In our homeschool, we have subjects that we cover daily and others that we learn regularly and rotate through a looped schedule. Because of the nature of the subject, we do current events every day in our Morning Time.
Teach Kids to Think Critically
Let’s be honest, because we are Christians, we are biased in our thinking. We compare and measure everything we read or hear against the truth of God’s Word. We read the Bible to our kids regularly and want them to compare the news that they hear in the world around them with Scripture.
While we have found some wonderful Christian resources for current events that we use daily, I think it is also helpful, especially for teens, to hear the news from other perspectives. From time to time, when we watch news from mainstream media with our kids, it presents great topics for conversation! This can be a great opportunity to help kids think critically.
Watching news from different perspectives really gets kids thinking. Usually they ask some fantastic questions! Again, from childhood, we have encouraged our kids to measure everything they hear and see against the truth of the Bible. With this in mind, rather than answer their questions or draw conclusions for them, sometimes we leave the questions unanswered and challenge them to form their own opinions.
3 Christian Resources for Current Events In Morning Time
The thing I love about all three of these resources is that they are each ten minutes or less. Because of that, they very easily fit into our Morning Time.
#1 World Watch News
World Watch is a 10 minute video world newscast. As advertised in their sneak peak video, their episodes build news literacy, Biblical discernment, and critical thinking. World Watch reports on current events from across the globe from a different perspective: one that isn’t scary. World Watch is written for middle and high school ages, but all of our kids enjoy it. Host Brian Basham ends each program by saying, “Whatever the news, the purpose of the Lord will stand.”
The first half of each episode has the top news headlines from around the world. For the second half of the episode, World Watch goes a little deeper with feature stories. The feature stories vary widely and can be anything from the history of coins to artisans who make hand woven saris to Peruvians sharing meals to survive to Boston’s celebration of Patriot’s Day.
Our family tried the free 30 day trial of World Watch just to see what it was about. After the 30 days was up, everyone loved it so much, we subscribed! Our kids forward to it every morning. It is perfect for our Morning Time because it provides a visual/technology element to our meeting. A family subscription is just $6.99 per month or $79.99 per year. It absolutely pays for itself! This has been a wonderful addition to our Morning Time.
#2 The Worldview in 5 Minutes Podcast
The Worldview in 5 Minutes is a (roughly) five minute podcast that reports top news headlines from across the globe from a Christian perspective. Hosts Adam McManus and Kevin Swanson clearly state the program’s purpose in their promotional video. “A totally unique look at the world everyday. It’s upbeat. It’s truthful. It’s biased. But it’s the right bias. It’s the best bias of all.” They also describe their program as “part Paul Harvey, part R.C. Sproul.”
What I love about each podcast is that and the end of several of the stories, the host reads a passage of Scripture that relates to the story. This encourages the listener to compare the content of the story with the Biblical perspective. I love the challenge that McManus ends each episode with, “Seize the day for Jesus Christ!”
Some of the topics in the podcasts can be a little too much for younger ears, so I would say this resource is more appropriate for middle and high school ages. After having said that, we all still listen to it in morning time because my little are often distracted with drawing or puzzles that they work on during the older kids’ portions of Morning Time and often much of the headlines are over their head anyway.
Because it is only five minutes, we often listen to both The Worldview in 5 Minutes and watch World Watch News.
The Worldview in 5 Minutes is completely free. Search for The Worldview in 5 Minutes in the podcast app on your smart phone.
#3 Voice of the Martyrs Magazine
Voice of the Martyrs Magazine shares the stories of Christian persecution around the world. VOM is an interdenominational, non-profit missions agency. It was originally started by Richard Wurmbrand who faced 14 years of prison and persecution in Nazi Germany. As a result, he started the organization as a way to encourage Christians to remember the persecuted church and to encourage us to love our enemies.
For our Morning Time, I often read through a story or two from Voice of the Martyrs magazine one day a week, usually in place of something else. What I love about reading these testimonies to our kids is that reminds them of Jesus’ words, “If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also.” Seeing the difficulties Christians around the world are facing helps them to gain an appreciation for the freedoms they have. Furthermore, I hope it will give them an attitude of compassion for people who are suffering.
Some of the descriptions in the write-ups can be a little graphic or brutal for younger ears, but since I am reading it to the kids, I can use discretion based on who is present.
Occasionally, instead of me reading the article, I will choose one of our teens to read. I have found that the person reading the story is usually the most engaged, so having them read (especially a more distracted child) can help draw them into the story.
Additionally, what I love about Voice of the Martyr articles is that these events are happening to Christians around the world right now. It reminds us to pray for the persecuted church and it helps us to pray more specifically.
You can subscribe for a free monthly magazine at persecution.com.
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Leave a Comment!
If you are looking for some good current events options for your homeschool, I hope that these 3 Christian resources for current events in Morning Time might help you!
What Christian resources have you found for your homeschool that you love? Leave a comment and share with our readers! I love hearing from other homeschoolers! Please tell others what Christian resources you enjoy.
For more posts about Morning Time, you may enjoy reading these.
How to Simplify Your Homeschool with Morning Time
Simple Ideas for Memory Work in Morning Time
Teaching Bible in Morning Time
Thank you! Going to add these into our morning routine.
Wonderful! I hope you like them as much as we do!
Great resources! Thank you!
Glad you found it helpful! You are welcome!
I’ll have to check these out! Thanks for sharing
Sure! Enjoy!
Great resources! Not just for the kids either – nothing more disheartening that the news and I like to be slightly informed without falling into a black hole of despair! Thanks.
Thank you! Glad you found it helpful! Yes, I agree!