In 2008, an invitation changed everything for me. A friend named Jonathan Conrath invited me to help lead seven evangelistic campaigns across Uganda. We gathered multiple teams and together stepped into an outreach that would be the birthplace of a lifelong mission. In one village called Kalunga, Uganda, we ministered for two days with almost no response. The atmosphere felt resistant and that night we decided to fast and pray. The next day everything shifted; while I was preaching, two boys were brought forward who had been born blind, deaf, and unable to speak. As we prayed, their eyes opened, their ears opened, and their mouths were loosed! In the midst of that miraculous moment I heard the voice of the Lord tell me; “Bruce, this is nothing in comparison to what I am about to do.” As my mind raced toward thoughts of greater miracles and massive gatherings, God said “Uganda will become a prototype of a transformed nation, a light of hope to the countries of Africa, sending ripples of hope around the world.” I asked the Lord how He would do this and His answer redefined everything for me:

What began as a moment of divine revelation quickly became a journey of deep searching. I needed answers: Is there a biblical foundation for this? Is there an historic precedent? Are there any current accounts in our world today? What I discovered confirmed the vision and began to expand it. In Deuteronomy, I saw the clear command for parents to teach their children diligently. In Genesis 18:18–19, I saw God’s strategy for nation-building revealed through Abraham: “God declared Abraham would become a great and mighty nation because he would teach his children, his grandchildren, and his household the ways of the Lord; His justice and His righteousness. I realized this was not incidental, but intentional generational discipleship through education. Abraham understood something profound: If he upheld his responsibility to teach the next generation, God would fulfill His covenant promises. This pattern echoed throughout Scripture again and again:

Then I looked at history and the same pattern emerged. When the Church deeply transformed culture, one thing was always present: discipleship through education.

In Ireland, Saint Patrick, followed by leaders like Columba and Columbanus, built monasteries as centers of learning for the next generation to learn reading, writing, and understand Scripture. A room in their home was dedicated to reading and transcribing the bible. What happened? Ireland was transformed. From there, the gospel spread into Scotland, England, Gaul, Germany, Northern Italy and beyond. Wherever these Irish reformers went, they built monasteries for discipleship-infused academic education. Historians later called it one of the most powerful movements in history—so significant it inspired the phrase: “How Ireland Saved Civilization.”
This pattern continued in history: The Carolingian Renaissance discipled through education, Martin Luther turned churches into schools where the bible was central and theology the mother of all science, John Calvin discipled men and women through education in Geneva, Abraham Kuyper in the Netherlands, Hans Nielsen Hauge in Norway… The list goes on and on.

In each of these histories, the same principle held true:

After the historical studies came my modern research. Studies such as those connected to Arizona Christian University and researcher George Barna revealed something striking:

• Over 90% of people who follow Christ make their initial decision before age 20
• A person’s worldview is largely formed by age 13
• Those who develop a biblical worldview before age 13 go on to have significantly greater Kingdom impact

As I studied, the implication was clear: If we reach the next generation early, we shape the future. If we don’t, someone else will, with ideologies and methods opposing the truth.

Looking back, I’ve realized that it wasn’t just those boys in Uganda whose eyes were opened, it was mine. What began with a miracle became a mandate that God turned into movement. We returned to Uganda and began building what weren’t just programs, but foundations: Schools, homes, computer labs, agricultural initiatives, wells, and medical clinics. Beyond that, we began investing in leaders and communities committed to discipling our youth. God brought partners in multiple nations, and in 2018 things began to shift. Doors opened to government and education leaders in Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, Cote de’Voire, India, South Korea, Brazil, Columbia, Germany, Finland, and Norway.

We are now curating resources, consulting governments, and coaching educators in how to disciple the next generation through education. We do this in collaboration with many organizations and close partnership with the leading educational organization – Imaginal Education.

Children Arise exists because of this unshakable conviction: Nations are transformed when the next generation is discipled and discipleship happens most powerfully through education.

• This is a biblical pattern, a historical reality, and a present-day urgency.
• We aren’t just reaching children, we’re shaping nations.
• We aren’t just teaching lessons, we’re forming identity, worldview, and destiny.
• We aren’t just responding to need, we’re participating in God’s plan to see His Kingdom come here on earth as it is in heaven.