In this episode of, we talk with writer/teacher Sara Chinakwe about her new book You Come from Greatness and about building a heritage through the stories we tell our children.
Our Guest: Sara Chinakwe
Sara Chinakwe wife, mother, teacher, and children’s ministry leader. She encourages women and children to pursue God’s purpose and embrace their God-given identity. Sara’s deep love of teaching and decades-long career in education was shaped at California State University Stanislaus. Since then, she has used writing as a medium to propel God’s followers forward as they journey with Him.
Book Discussed in this Episode:
Transcript with Links:
Terrie:
Welcome to “Books That Spark,” a podcast for parents and caregivers, celebrating books that help us with everyday discipleship, every day, sparking important conversations with our children. Today we have a special guest with us, her name is Sara Chinakwe, and she has a new book that has just come out, You Come From Greatness, and I’m really excited for her to talk with you today. Well Sara, thank you so much for joining us today.
Sara:
Thank you. Thank you for having me.
Terrie:
You have a brand new book. When did it come out?
Sara:
It came out January 17th.
Terrie:
Yeah, I thought it was pretty recent. It’s a wonderful book. Can you tell us a little bit about your book?
Sara:
Definitely, yes. So it’s called You Come From Greatness. It’s a children’s book and the whole thing is about a little boy who finds himself looking at the different places, where he came from, from his ancestors and the different scenarios where his parents take him. So, like you came from parents as warm as a brassy African sunset, and then it has some pictures of that. You came from parents whose voices are as mighty as a lion’s roar. So just these different pictures that this child gets throughout history and throughout time, and lastly, the child comes from God. Because of all these ancestors and all these people in his path, he is greatness as well as all of the people that came before him. Throughout the book it has historical figures of our great leaders and in the back of the book it highlights some of them. It has bios and descriptions of the heroes that I reference in the book.
Terrie:
Yeah, I really love it. The title of the book is You Come From Greatness. I love how it just celebrates so many wonderful historical figures, and I know that it’s “a love letter to black children,” you say on your website, but I think it’s a wonderful book for anyone to read, to read of the wonderful heritage that these people have left and the wonderful things that they have done. And I think that we all need to know about these people. So I think it’s really wonderful. All of us come from God, so I just think it’s a beautiful, beautiful book and a celebration of black culture and black history. So I just love it. I love the book.
Sara:
Thank you.
Terrie:
On your website you say you have Montessori definition cards for the book. Can you tell us what those are?
Sara:
Yes. So we have some matching cards that came out with the book. Those are, so Montessori is a type of education that I actually love, which is funny because the publishing company didn’t know that at first. She just decided to make them into Montessori style matching cards. But all that to say is they’re basically matching cards with definitions so the teachers or children can download these for free, if you go to my website, SaraChinakwe.com and subscribe, you’ll get this free download. It’s about 20 pages full of the people in the back of the book that I reference. You’ll get those printable downloads so you can put them in your classroom, use them with your children, anything like that. Then they’ll have them for just anything, you can even hang them on the wall if you wanted to. So there’s different ways to use them, but in the classroom it’s supposed to be an activity that you do, which is okay, this is the description of Martin Luther King, here’s the picture of Martin Luther King and which one goes together kind of a thing.
Terrie:
Nice. Okay. I did some Montessori teaching in my past, and I just love that method of teaching. So I was curious about that. So on your website too, you say that your goal is “to help women and children to pursue God’s purpose and embrace their God-given identity.” Can you elaborate a little bit on that and what is the heart of what you do as a writer and a teacher?
Sara:
Definitely, yes. So just that I think all of us at one point or another, I know me for sure, I have struggled with identity for a lot of years. Who am I? Not just with God but just who am I in general? The more that we develop our relationship in God, the more that we find out who we really are and kind of what we’re capable of, how He wants to see us, how He does see us. So that’s kind of where my focus is. I want everyone to see themselves how God sees them or at least allow themselves the freedom to receive that gift, and I just know from my experience when I have done that and traveled with God on that, it’s been just life changing. A lot of us, especially as women, as moms, I’ll just say when we have children, sometimes we lose our identity. We’re wondering who we are. Maybe if we get married we’re wondering who we are. So all these different things, maybe if you struggle with that, that is how I come alongside, especially the mamas and the women, to help them to uncover the truth nuggets that lie under there so they can flourish in this life and not be hindered by the things of this world, and I believe too, for kids, if they know that at an early age, then how much more successful will they be?
Terrie:
Yeah, that’s true. That’s awesome. Really, if our identity, if we see how God describes us and who we are in Him, then that foundation is on solid ground and it can’t be shaken. When we get caught up in identities from the world’s perspective, sometimes those are not always on solid ground. So that’s wonderful. So do you do school visits and speaking engagements? Tell us a little bit about your ministry. I know you’re a children’s minister, right?
Sara:
Yes. Well I’m a teacher actually. I work part-time at a preschool and I’m in the infant toddler class right now. Then I also do school visits, like you said, and church visits and teach Sunday school as well. So a lot of things, but just education is my passion. Children are my, my passion helping women is my passion. So God has allowed me to do all these things. I’m actually pregnant right now, so I actually have had to slow down a little bit with my third. And one is 12, one is 14, and then one on the way. So, yeah, it’s very, it’s an exciting time but also like “okay, wow that threw us for a loop.” So yeah, we are just in a season kind of exploring what God wants me to do with the next projects and also trying to find rest in the season because not going too fast and things like that. So I do pick my things a little more wisely than maybe I would’ve in the past.
Terrie:
Yeah, our fourth one was a very welcome surprise, but I was 39 when I had him, and I thought I needed to slow down. But as the fourth one in taking that time, we were living in Taiwan at the time, and one of the things they do in Taiwan is you take a month off when you have a baby, and you’re not expected to do anything but just bond with your baby. So I took that time of just special, relaxing, recuperating time with my son, and I felt like I had bonded with him so well at the end of that month. It was such a blessing to be able to do that. So I think you’re very wise to slow down and enjoy this time. So what a blessing. I love babies.
Sara:
That was God’s decision, not mine. That was all God, I didn’t want to slow down. He said you need to slow down. So, so okay.
Terrie:
So do you have any projects on the horizon that we should know about some other books coming out or what are your plans for the future of your writing?
Sara:
More children’s books for sure. Not any to speak of on the horizon, just some ideas floating around in there. I keep saying, well maybe when I’m on maternity leave I’ll dive into it, but I really don’t know. That’s pretty much it. Just still getting the word out there about this current book and just trying to, you know, be mom and wife and coworker and all those sort of things. So that’s it for my life right now.
Terrie:
I think it’s enough, that’s for sure.
Sara:
Yeah, I think so.
Terrie:
Yeah. Okay. Well let’s see. I just am going by your website and what I know about you, so is there anything else you want to cover or talk about? Anything we can help you with as far as supporting you in your ministry, with your book launch, and all these kinds of things? Is there anything that you want to share?
Sara:
I think take a look at the book. Teachers, if there’s any teachers on here listening, it’s a great resource for the classroom. It does talk about God. For public school teachers that might not be something, but at least check out those PDF cards. They’re all free. Then just for parents and parents of children that are black as well can enjoy this book, like you said earlier. And it’s intended for every single race, not just the black children. I am the one who believes that we need to have different types of books in our libraries for our children because how are we going to know what other cultures or other people are celebrating or how to love other people if we don’t understand them or know where they came from. So have these different books in your home library, at your school library, in your community to uplift different populations other than your own.
Terrie:
That’s right. Yeah. I remember as a child, one of my favorite people to read about and learn about was George Washington Carver. I just loved learning about him as a child, and it didn’t matter where he came from or what race or anything. He was such a hero in my eyes, and I loved learning about him. And I think we need to have that attitude about all of these wonderful books that are out about Mexican American heritage and African American heritage and everything. We need to know those stories because these people are fascinating, and their stories are needed because they’re part of our heritage no matter what race we are. And I just think that’s important to read those and to help our children know about these people. And most of them are people of faith. And I know in your book you emphasize that as well–that they are people who knew God and followed God and had that as the cornerstone of what they were doing.
Sara:
Yes, definitely. Yeah, I think it is all very important.
Terrie:
Of course the link to Sara’s website will be in the show notes, and you can see more about her book there and read about her and what’s going on and get, like she said, access to those cards. So you can take advantage of that and that link will be in the show notes. Well Sara, I appreciate so much that you took the time to be with us today. I’m excited for what God is doing with this book, and I’m excited for your family and the new baby. Congratulations! And I just pray that it’s a healthy and happy pregnancy.
Sara:
Thank you. Thank you.
Terrie:
I just want to encourage you, in addition to getting these great books and this book is especially wonderful that we’ve been talking about, and a few weeks ago I talked about biographies and how we need these stories. These stories are basically testimonies to encourage our children, to help them know the heritage they come from, the people who have created the world in which we live quite literally. They have created our culture and many of the scientific and technological advances that we have, and they have overcome obstacles, and they have done something wonderful with their lives. And many of them we’ve also talked about were people of faith who trusted in the Lord and felt they were doing what God was calling them to do. But in addition to getting these books and sharing them with our kids, we need to also share with our children the stories of our own families, the stories of our history.
Terrie:
When I share, I share a talk about discipling our kids and the four Ts of discipleship. And one of those T’s is testimony. And sometimes I think we forget how powerful testimony is. That’s us telling our children what we have done because of what God has done in our lives. It is a way we can help them to grow in their faith by seeing how we have lived out our faith. We have the scriptures full of testimonies of faith, the people of faith and what they have done and the mistakes, the good and the bad, you know. And we have the same stories to tell because our God has done so many wonderful things in our lives. And taking that time to share the stories from your family, from your life and how God has worked in your family and in all that has happened. My husband was the first person in his family to really follow Jesus, to start with him and how God brought him to Himself, and then one by one to see each of his family members come to Christ. It’s an exciting story to share, it’s wonderful to share. And then with my family, I have a heritage of Christianity and of even ministry. My great-grandfather was a pastor and my great-grandmother was such a tenacious, funny, strong woman. I just love to talk about her. I was very blessed to get to know her and then to talk about the faith of my grandparents and then the faith of my parents and then us and what God has done through each generation, even when we have failed, even when we haven’t been perfect. But God has always been faithful. So those kinds of things with our children are such a blessing to them and it’s such a heritage. One time I was able to go on a trip with my dad just a few hours one way, each way. But in that trip he’s shared things with me he’d never shared about my grandfather because he passed away when my dad was 12. And so I never knew him, and I never knew the stories. And he shared so many wonderful stories about family that I never knew. And it was so wonderful to know and to hear those things. And it’s just great to give our children that heritage and that family history to hold onto and to realize where they come from. And then also to recognize that God is working in their lives and they too have a testimony to share with others and then to eventually share with their children someday. It’s just a powerful thing, and I just want to encourage you to take the time to read these wonderful stories with your children, but then also to tell your story.
Terrie:
Thank you for joining us for “Books that Spark,” where we encourage each other to live out everyday discipleship, helping to equip our children to follow Christ with their whole hearts.
Terrie:
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and share on social media. We appreciate you. And if you would like to connect with Sara, you can reach her on her website, sarahchinakwe.com. And if you would like to connect with me, you can find me on terriehellardbrown.com on my website. You can join my mailing list, and when you do, you receive all kinds of free things. You can check that out on terriehellardbrown.com. And you can also post questions or comments on the show notes for each episode of our podcast. And we would love to hear from you, and we respond to every comment or question. We pray you feel empowered as a parent or caregiver to walk by faith and to embrace everyday discipleship every day with the children in your life.
Your Host: Terrie Hellard-Brown
Terrie Hellard-Brown writes and speaks to help children and adults find God’s purpose and plan for their lives. She teaches workshops and writes devotional books, children’s stories, and Christian education materials.
Her podcast, Books that Spark, reviews children’s books that spark imagination, emotion, questions, and discussion leading to teachable moments with our kids. Her podcast posts each Tuesday morning.
Her blog posts discuss living as a disciple of Christ while parenting our children. She challenges us to step out of our comfort zones to walk by faith in obedience to Christ and to use the nooks and crannies of our lives to disciple our children.
Terrie uses her experiences as a mother of four (three on “the spectrum”), 37 years in ministry (15 in Taiwan), and 32 years teaching to speak to the hearts of readers.
Her motto is “Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be WONDERFUL” and keeps her childlike joy by writing children’s stories, delighting over pink dolphins, and frequently laughing till it hurts.
