I’d like to thank Christian Focus 4 Kids for giving me a box set of five books.
Our family loves (loves, loves!) Christian Focus 4 Kids’ Trailblazers series. It’s a fabulous series of books, and the biographies have been such a great aid to our history studies. They’ve also been great faith builders, and a fabulous help in teaching about character.
Paul mentions our need for human mentors a number of times in his letters, as does David in one of his Psalms. But I think my favorite biblical reference to human mentors or heroes is in Hebrews 12:1-2:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Reading about the lives of those saints who have gone before me gives me a new perspective on my circumstances, helps me see my life in terms of eternal impact, and reminds me to keep my eyes on Jesus as I run the race before me. I have loved every minute of the time I’ve spent reading Christian history to my kids.
The Trailblazer series is narrative, so the books read almost like fiction stories (though some are closer to a true biography). They’re written at a level that an elementary or middle school student can understand, with study questions at the back.
The box sets are really nice, with thick and sturdy boxes. My boys both like having boxed sets of books–I think they present a challenge to read all the included books.
Christian Biographies for Kids
Trailblazer Evangelists & Pioneers Box Set 1 (Trail Blazers)
Trailblazer Evangelists & Pioneers Box Set 1
The Evangelists & Pioneers contains biographies on the following people:
- Bill Bright
- Billy Bray
- Billy Graham
- David Brainerd
- Joni Eareckson Tada
Amazon: Trailblazer Evangelists & Pioneers Box Set 1
Trailblazer Missionaries & Medics Box Set 2 (Trail Blazers)
Trailblazer Missionaries & Medics Box Set 2
The Missionaries & Medics contains biographies on the following people:
- Adoniram Judson
- Amy Carmichael
- Hudson Taylor
- John G. Paton
- Paul Brand
Amazon: Trailblazer Missionaries & Medics Box Set 2
Grab your FREE Bible Study Tool Kit–over 130 pages of Bible resources for your family!
Trailblazer Preachers & Teachers Box Set 3 (Trail Blazers)
Trailblazer Preachers & Teachers Box Set 3
The Preachers & Teachers contains biographies on the following people:
- Charles Spurgeon
- George Whitefield
- John Stott (Click to read the Thinking Kids review.)
- Jonathan Edwards
- Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Amazon: Trailblazer Preachers & Teachers Box Set 3
Trailblazer Reformers & Activists Box Set 4 (Trail Blazers)
Trailblazer Reformers & Activists Box Set 4
The Reformers & Activists contains biographies on the following people:
- William Wilberforce
- John Calvin
- John Knox
- John Newton
- John Welch
Amazon: Trailblazer Reformers & Activists Box Set 4
Trailblazer Heroes & Heroines Box Set 5
Trailblazer Heroes & Heroines Box Set 5
The Heroes & Heroines contains biographies on the following people:
- Brother Andrew
- Corrie ten Boom
- Eric Liddell
- Richard Wormbrand
- George Muller
Amazon: Trailblazer Heroes & Heroines Box Set 5
Trailblazer Arts & Science Box Set 6 (Trail Blazers)
Trailblazer Arts & Science Box Set 6
The Arts & Science contains biographies on the following people:
- C.S. Lewis
- Fanny Crosby
- John Bunyan
- Michael Faraday
- Patricia St. John
Amazon: Trailblazer Arts & Science Box Set 6
Trailblazer Americans Box Set 7 (Trail Blazers)
Trailblazer American Box Set 7
The American set contains biographies on the following people:
- Jim Elliot
- Elisabeth Elliot
- Betty Greene
- D. L. Moody
- Lottie Moon
Amazon: Trailblazer American Box Set 7
More Christian Focus Trail Blazers Books for Your Kids
Our family loves the Christian Focus Trail Blazers books. They’re perfect for ages 7-14. We read them as we studied history! Check them out.
Eric Liddell: Finish the RaceJohn Chrysostom: The Preacher in the Emperor’s CourtSamuel Rutherford: The Law, the Prince and the ScribeFrancis & Edith Schaeffer: Taking on the WorldTitanic: The Ship of DreamsWilliam Tyndale: The Smuggler’s FlameWilfred Grenfell: Courageous DoctorDietrich Bonhoeffer: A Spoke in the WheelElisabeth Elliot: Do the Next ThingBetty Greene: Courage Has WingsUlrich Zwingli: Shepherd WarriorLilias Trotter: Daring in the DesertIsobel Kuhn: Lights in LisulandJim Elliot: He Is No FoolGeorge Müller: The Children’s ChampionAdoniram Judson: Danger on the Streets of GoldPatricia St. John: The Story Behind the StoriesHelen Roseveare: On His Majesty’s ServiceJohn Newton: A Slave Set FreeJohn Calvin: After Darkness LightJohn Knox: The Sharpened SwordBilly Graham: Just get up out of your SeatRichard Wurmbrand: A Voice in the DarkMary Slessor: Servant to the SlaveJoni Eareckson Tada: Swimming Against the TideHudson Taylor: An Adventure BeginsAugustine: The Truth SeekerPatrick of Ireland: The Boy Who ForgaveBrother Andrew: Behind Enemy LinesLottie Moon: Changing China for ChristD L Moody: One Devoted ManNate Saint: Operation AucaJohn Welch: The Man Who Couldn’t Be StoppedMichael Faraday: Spiritual DynamoWilliam Wilberforce: The Freedom FighterC. S. Lewis: The Story Teller: Trailblazers SeriesJonathan Edwards: America’s GeniusCharles Spurgeon: Prince of PreachersGeorge Müller: The Children’s ChampionGeorge Whitefield: Voice That Woke the WorldAmy Carmichael: Rescuer By NightMary of Orange: At the Mercy of KingsMartyn Lloyd-Jones: From Wales to WestminsterHannah More: The Woman Who Wouldn’t Stop WritingFanny Crosby: The Blind Girl’s SongPaul Brand: The Shoes That Love MadeFrances Ridley Havergal: The Girl Who Loved MountainsCorrie Ten Boom: The Watchmaker’s DaughterGladys Aylward: No Mountain Too HighJohn Bunyan: Journey of a PilgrimDavid Brainerd: A Love for the LostJohn G. Paton: South Sea Island RescueBilly Bray: Saved From the Deepest PitJohn Stott: The Humble LeaderBill Bright: Dare to be DifferentCharles Simeon: For Christ in Cambridge (Trail Blazers)William Carey: Expecting Great Things (Trail Blazers)Jack Turner: Truth in the Arctic (Trail Blazers)Elaine Townsend: At Home Around the World (Trail Blazers)Thomas Clarkson: The Giant With One Idea (Trailblazers)John and Betty Stam: To Die is Gain (Trail Blazers)Maud Kells: Fearless in the Forest (Trail Blazers)Jim Elliot: He Is No Fool (Trail Blazers)Elizabeth Prentiss: More Love (Trailblazers)
MARTIN LUTHER AND THE REFORMATION
Teach your teens about Martin Luther and the Reformation in an exciting, new way with When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther!
Martin Luther (1483-1546) is often referred to as “The Father of the Reformation”. Born during a time of superstition, tradition, and spiritual corruption, Luther gave up a lucrative career as a lawyer to become a monk in the Roman Catholic Church–a path he felt would certainly lead to salvation.
As Luther’s understanding of the spiritual corruption within the Church grew, and he despaired of true salvation, Luther (now a scholar and priest) sought the Bible for answers. Following his discovery of the true gospel in Scripture, Luther began to preach spiritual freedom to his congregation, and to teach biblical (rather than philosophical) theology at the University of Wittenberg.
It was on October 31, 1517 that Martin Luther penned his Ninety-Five Theses in Latin in response to the abusive indulgence sales practices of the monk Johann Tetzel in a nearby town. Luther nailed the Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church, the scholarly bulletin board of his day, and mailed a copy to the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther hoped to start a scholarly debate about the practice of selling salvation through plenary indulgences. The response he received was greater–and more dangerous–than he imagined it would be.
Luther’s story is exciting. There are death defying moments, epic spiritual battles, narrow escapes, a kidnapping, revolution, and war. As the “Father of the Reformation”, Luther is a vital figure in Church history. His sacrifice and willingness to wage battle against the spiritual, religious, and political powers of his medieval world allowed Christians throughout time to embrace the truth of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone as explained by Scripture alone once again. May all glory be to God alone!
Read portions of the first eight chapters of When Lightning Struck!:
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I think my favorite set is number five, because George Muller is in it and he is one of my own personal Heros!
I would love to have this set to enhance my homeschool curriculum. It sounds wonderful!
Thanks for sharing about these. I am always on the look-out for good books for my daughter.
Preachers and Teachers looks wonderful!
These books look so nice. I am most excited about Preachers & Teachers, though all the sets would be interesting to read with my kids.
I personally would love to read the Arts and Science set. Thanks for sharing about these sets.
I would like to read the Arts and Sciences.
Love these books!
How exciting!
Thank you for thee opportunity! These books look interesting!
These look awesome! I am so glad that there are resources such as these to help my children learn about church history. I’m adding them to my “must have” school resource list!
These looks awesome!
These sets are wonderful – such great people to read about and lives to learn from.
Reformers and activists
Wow! Thanks for a chance to win these amazing sets! I’d love to read these out loud with my family.
I’m very interested in the arts and science set. Thanks!
I don’t think I could pick just one that I am most excited about! They all sound fascinating!
I’m interested in the Hero and Heroines set and the Arts and Science set
The box set that I am most excited about is Heros and Heroines.
These sets look very interesting. Some of my favorite historical figures are included. Biographies like this are always a blessing to add to homeschooling resources. 🙂
I like the Trailblazer Box Set 3 ~ Preachers & Teachers the best.
I love these! We are going to start a bio on Corrie Ten Boom next week. I will add these sets to our Christmas list! Thanks for the ideas!!! 🙂
I think the Arts & Science set looks really interesting. But I am excited about all the sets and look forward to adding this to my “to buy” list! Thanks for doing the giveaway!
Evangelists and pioneers looks like it has some that we would use in the years coming up
I am most excited about the boxed set of the arts and science. Really can’t wait to see them all.
We’d love to have the box set! We actually own the 2nd set, and you are right — I have never regretted reading aloud this type of book to my kids. From the teachers series, I am most excited about reading more about Charles Spurgeon. Thank you!
There are many names of people whose biographies we don’t have, especially from boxes 1 and 3, These books sound great.
They all sound fantastic, but I think my kids would be most excited by the missionaries and medics series.
Heroes and Heroines sounds exciting!
It’s hard to choose, but I think I’m most interested in the Art and Science set.
I think I AM going to like this series even more than my boys. so much RICH history with many 20th Century persons.
These look great! We love biographies and historical fiction, so this seems right up our alley. Thanks for offering. 🙂
Don’t believe I have seen these. Sounds like something I would like to look into.
These look wonderful! I’d love to win them!
These look really good. I love incorporating books on missionaries and more Christian leaders in our homeschool and my girls enjoy them, too. Going to have to add all of these sets to our wish list, too!
I’m excited about all the sets. Love history and love teaching it to my kids!
these look great!
Wow, this is JUST what I was looking for in regards to rooting our kids in Godly mentors/Heroes of the past!! I’m going to keep this on our Wish list!
These look awesome. I have boys who are avid readers and I love it when they can read about great men of faith!
Yes all of them. I’d happily read all of them. And yes that doesn’t really answer the question.
These all look wonderful and I haven’t heard of many of these people. I think I would enjoy the books as much as my children would.
These book sets look absolutely wonderful. My son is wanting to work in the medical field and so the box set #2, Missionaries and Medics, looks especially appealing.
These look amazing. We love having books under the tree and will have some of these. I think my kids would especially love the Heroes and Heroines set. Thanks so much for the giveaway!!
These look awesome. Would love to add this to our homeschool curriculum.
These books would be wonderful to add to our homeschool. We would have trouble trying to decide which book to begin with!!
My favorite box set would be the Evangelists and Pioneers, because I have told many of my own missionary stories to my 10 year old grandson, whom I homeschool, and I want him to be as inspired by the bravery displayed by those who follow the call of God to the unknown.
Wow! All are so wonderful! I know that the kids in our church family will be excited to see more new books in our church library. As a matter of fact, the book that I won from you that is When Lightening Struck was check out the first thing they saw on the church library table. They also love to learn and read more books. Some of the library books haven’t return for more than months because they are taking their time to read them. I do read most of the books when I do add them in our church library. I am looking forward to read all of them.
The Arts and Science set looks great.
Thank you for offering this! History is not my strong suite so this would be most welcome.
It would be difficult to choose a favorite. I think my kids would like missionaries and medics.
This looks awesome!
These look wonderful & I know we’d enjoy them all — maybe the Heroes and Heroines set would be the favorite. Hard to choose!
They all look very good. Favorite would be box 6. Thanks!
THESE LOOK GREAT! I HAVE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE. I AM GLAD I DON’T HAVE TO CHOOSE A FAVORITE IF I WIN B/C THEY ALL HAVE SOME MARVELOUS CHRISTIANS I WOULD LOVE TO READ ABOUT WITH MY DAUGHTER.
THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN.
PEACE.
These look like books my boys would enjoy! Thank you for the chance to win!
I think we would love to try the Arts and Science since my kids are very into those two things!
The Activists. Activists hold a special place in my heart because they actually do something to elicit change instead of wishing “someone” would do “something” to make things better.
I love them all! They would all fit wonderfully within my homeschool and Sunday School classes! What a blessing they would be.
My son would love these, especially the Arts and Sciences one.
I would love, love, love this!! I would have a hard time choosing but I guess if I had to I would either choose evangelist and pioneers…or the heroes. They all look great.
They all look good. I think I would pick Reformers and Activists.
ah that’s a hard choice!!!! I think missionaries and medics but all of them look great!
Teachers and Reformers; both sets are a high interest time period for us.
Thank you for continuing to offer great selections Danika ~
Lovely sets! We would be blessed by them. Thank you for this offer!
very interested in getting these even though 2 of my kids are over 14. I think they will still learn.
Preachers and Teachers set sounds very interesting to me.
Do I have to pick just one… Why do you make this so hard? Teachers or Reformers… Heroes and Heroines… Or Arts and Science… uggh this is so hard
My children love books and I have a hard time keeping them stocked up with GOOD books. This set would be lovely to own.
We love Christian biographies.
These look cool
Arts and Scientists. I love C.S. Lewis! 🙂
Thanks for hosting such a great giveaway!
So glad to see these books offered in sets. These are interesting stories, and my children would love to have them! Thanks for the giveaway offer!
I think I would love the arts and science. I love the arts!! I think I would enjoy reading them as well.
So hard to pick just one! I’m torn between Arts & Science, Heroes & Heroines, or Missionaries & Medics. If I had to pick just one though it would probably be Heroes & Heroines.
These seem like great books. Thanks so much for the giveaway.
I am new to this blog, and hadn’t heard of this series before. Hard to choose a favorite, they all look great and so engaging. Thanks!
I think the Art and Science set is interesting, but truthfully all of them look great!
These books look amazing! I cannot wait to get some of these and get started! My 2 boys will love, love, love these!
We are excited about several of them, but I think we’re most excited about the Reformers & Activists set.
I’m most excited about the Arts & Science set because I have two artsy, science-y kids.
All of these box sets look wonderful! I think I would choose the Evangelists and Pioneers set first.
I’m excited about all of them. They look wonderful!
Number 5 Preachers and Teachers. Sounds great. Although they all sound quite interesting…
The one with Richard Wormbrand from VOTM!
What a great giveaway! It hits on so many areas, History, Redemption, Perseverance, Forgiveness & World view just to name a few. This is really great!! We would love to have are very own Trailblazers set. Have heard so much about them. Great Christmas Gifts!!!!
Heroes is what I like!
These all look great! I like the Arts and Science set and the first set with Billy Graham in it!
Love that these are for a slightly older group of kids.
The Arts and Science set
Heroes and heroines looks wonderful, but really any set that includes godly women would be wonderful for my daughter.
If I HAD to pick one I would choose Heroes & Heroines but seriously I think they all are great!
I am most excited about the Arts and Science set–I have a family full of writers and techies, so they will be the most popular here. 🙂
These all look fantastic. My son loves reading and we struggle with finding things for him to read. We are currently looking for history and biblical things for him to read besides the normal reading.
would love these for for my kids to read.
My daughter is very excited about the Trailblazers books. We only own 5 of these books and she would love to read the Reformers and Activists book set. Really, she just loves reading, especially about missionaries, and would love to read any of them!
It’s too hard to pick a most exciting one. Each set had some people I knew about and some people I didn’t. So I’m sure any of the sets would give us plenty to learn.
Reformers & Activists
My kids would love reading any of these books! Thanks for a chance to win!
These are great! We LOVE biographies and love how they are boxed into separate categories. Thanks!
Wow, I just love them all. So many inspiring and courageous people.
They all look great but I am particularly drawn to the Arts & Science set.
Thanks for introducing me to these books. they look awesome!
Heroes and Heroines – Corrie ten Boom is an inspiration.
The Arts and Science set looks very interesting. I always enjoy reading this blog and using their Bible Road Trip.
I’ve never heard of these. I’m excited to find out about them!
These look great! Thanks for the opportunity to win. I’m excited about the reformers and activist.
Preachers and Teachers sounds the most interesting.
Arts and Sciences sounds interesting!
Love these books. Look like great Christmas gifts.
Wow! These are all great sets and all would be a great addition to anyone’s library!
I have never seen these. I don’t think I could choose a set. I’m thinking I might have to start getting one set at a time. 🙂
This looks amazing
Set five. I love Corrie Ten Boom!
Heroes and Heroines
Trailblazer Preachers & Teachers Box Set 3
Arts and Science
I think Set 5 would be read the most here. They are familiar with the names.
Missionaries and Medics sounds super interesting to me, but they all look wonderful!
They all look fantastic but I think the Preachers & Teachers is where we’d want to start!
I would be interesting in the Science and Art.
I would be happiest to win The Arts and Science. Thanks for the giveaway.
Marion
These look great. I was just thinking I needed some ideas for books for my kids for Christmas.
Preachers & Teachers looks really great!
Thanks for sharing! These look amazing! My little boy loved reading about Corrie ten boom!
We would love to incorporate more biographies into our homeschool!
I would like Ats and Sciences most because it’s a different approach to studying these. Thank you!
These books look great! They would be perfect for our ‘virtual triplets’ (12,12,almost 12 yrs old). The Preachers & Teachers set likely be our starting point. All three kiddos (2 girls & 1 boy) have names from ministers’ surnames.
Our family has read many of the books on missionaries, pastors, and teachers already, so we would be interested in Arts & Sciences! We highly recommend these books to other who are looking for meaningful material for their children to read. My sons and daughter both enjoy the books!
We really enjoy this series. We have read many of the books on Pastors, Missionaries, and Teachers, so we would be interested in the Reformers or the Arts & Sciences box sets.
I’d like to get Heroes and Heroines
Have only read the Jungle Doctor one, but our children would love to read the rest of these books! Wow, didn’t know there were so many!
If I have to choose, I would say I look forward most to reading Heroes and Heroines. But the sets all look fantastic!
I would be excited to get my hands on any one of these sets for my kids. They all have names we are familiar with and would like to learn more about.
Reformers and Activists to encourage awareness and action for social justice
They all look great! I think Heroes and Heroines for now as we have been reading about some of them.
Box 5 would be a favorite, but they all look great. What a terrific resource!
I would love to have Preachers and Teachers. All of them sound great though.
Growing up, I loved to learn, but history classes? No way! I got my history from historical fiction on my own time. Good books are the only way it really sticks. I would so love to get these for my kiddos. The only I could get these in the foreseeable future is a gift or a raffle.
Neat! Been looking at these for a while now.
What a wonderful resource,
I’m most excited about Preachers and Teachers.
Missionaries and Medics!!
Heroes and Heroines!
Thank you for posting this! We have a few Trail Blazer books, but had no idea the boxed sets existed!! Preachers and Teachers would be a great set to own … actually, all of them are now on our “wish list”!! =)
I think my son would be most interested in the Arts & Science bundle.
arts and sciences
This is really hard to only pick one set–each set has multiple reasons for wanting it. I love reading missionary stories to my children. But there are so many other heroes of the faith and they are included within these sets. Thank you for an excellent give away.
I am glad I came across this on pinterest. Thank you for introducing me to these books. I really like the arts and science set.
I think #6 is my favorite. So many heroes there!
Great giveaway. Any of the sets/titles look awesome!
I think I’d start with the Heroes and Heroines set, but they all look great.
Box 5 with the Artists and Scientists. My daughter loved Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis and learned some of Fanny Crosby’s hymns. Would also like to learn more about John Bunyon and Pilgrim’s Progress.
Arts and Science – really all of them!
We have a lot of these books and love them also. Great giveaway!!
Hero’s and Herons sounds exciting!
I think it’s such a good thing that you are doing. Giving my children a fun way to learn history! We ordered the book about Martin Luther and hope to start the Unit Study.
These sets look fantastic. I’ve not heard of Trailblazers until visiting your site. Thanks so much for the info. As a homeschooling mom, I’m always excited to find new, Godly resources to share with my children. The heroes and heroines one looks particularly interesting.
The Preachers and Teachers set would be great!
Preachers & Teachers is something that ought my eye!
I’ve never seen these sets before now. They’re perfect for keeping my son interested in reading non-fiction, while teaching him about faith in action.
I would love to get these. We have another series called “Ten boys who changed the world” and “Ten girls who changed the world” Each book contain a short text on different missionaries, teachers, doctors etc. The kids really enjoyed. The series you are promoting have many names NOT included in the series I mentioned. These would be a great addition to our library. 🙂
Arts and Science
These sound great, hope we can win a set. ..
what an awesome giveaway…the Missions and Medics one looks interesting
I would like the arts and science one best.
These look great! Would love to win a set for my kids 🙂
These looks like great sets. Thanks!
These sound great! I think I will like box sets 3, 4, & 6 the most! I’ll have to look into them. We got your book, by the way! It came in the mail this week and I am very excited for my kiddos and I to read it!!! Best wishes.