Is God Nice? Children's Book

INTRODUCTION VIDEO

PURPOSE
To promote peacemaking and inclusion by pointing to God's character as revealed through Jesus.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
I'm self-publishing a children's book called Is God Nice? that focuses on God's nonviolent, inclusive love and compassion as revealed in Jesus.

Various characters help show what God is like on a practical level in school, the neighborhood, and globally.

God is depicted as male and female - within gender, and beyond gender, as well as diverse in race and culture.

VALUES PROMOTED
Nonviolent peacemaking                 Forgiveness
Unconditional love                              Inclusion of all people
Gender equality                                   Compasssion
Welcoming of refugees                    Grace
Jesus as God's full revelation        Inter-faith dialog 

WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
100% of the money raised will be used to pay the artist for her illustrations. She will make this book come to life. Not only is she talented, but she adds personal conviction and creativity to communicate the theme beautifully. Your donations help to pay a fair wage for good art for a good cause!

THE ARTIST
Victoria Adhikari grew up in the Philippines and Taiwan and is now a freelance artist in Los Angeles.  She has previously worked in art education and art therapy - specifically for underprivileged/low-income kids.  Victoria is passionate about encouraging kids to express themselves artistically and also loves motivating adults to reconnect to their child-like joy through art.

THE AUTHOR                                         My name is David Nagai and I'm an American, born and raised in Taiwan, now living in Japan with my wife.  I've worked mostly in grassroots education and community development and currently am an English teacher.  I'm passionate about using creativity, art and collaboration to communicate the peace of Jesus.

THE BACKGROUND STORY
You may wonder why I am creating this book.  Good question!  I previously spent five years living and working in the slums of India.  While teaching in a local education program and facilitating a peace education project , I grew to realize how powerful art and story can be for kids to imagine an alternative future where they can be agents of change in a world of violence and inequality.  

Look at our world now.  People are paralyzed by fear and are addicted to security that is maintained by violence toward others near and far.  Much of this is perpetuated by our worldview and theology (our undestanding of what God is like and how we should act as people of faith in this world).  

This project is one attempt at helping kids (and parents) understand God as revealed through Jesus - God's full revelation.  As we help spark questions and ideas, I hope we can point kids toward Jesus and help them imagine how to participate in Jesus' upside-down kingdom of peace and inclusion.  Together, we can help the next generation let go of their fear, exclusion, and violence.  Together, we can help the next generation grow in love, peace, and radical forgiveness that may be costly, but will give birth to more of God's peaceable reign.

Thanks for helping us making this happen!

-David Nagai
www.evokepeace.com

WHO WILL BE IMPACTED?
The book will be available on amazon for anyone to purchase. We will also promote or share the book with various churches, libraries, and schools. You yourself can help share the book with individuals or groups you are a part of.

DEADLINE
We hope to raise all the funds by September 15th but the illustrations will take more time.