Christian Focus

View all results

Catherine MacKenzie

Catherine MacKenzie comes from Scotland and has written several biographies for young teens in the Trailblazers series as well as other titles for younger children. She is Editor for Christian Focus’ children’s imprint, CF4Kids.

Catherine MacKenzie

Titles by Catherine MacKenzie


Books endorsed by Catherine MacKenzie

Christian Heroines, Just Like You

Christian Heroines

Just Like You

Catherine MacKenzie

When writing summaries of these women's lives I wanted to give other young women the opportunity to put themselves in a heroine's shoes - to see if they'd fit as it were. Because these heroines were just like us... what makes them special is God and his purposes. Who knows what God has planned for our lives? It could easily be persecution like it was for Blandina or the Two Margarets - it could be fearlessly standing up for the truth like Elizabeth Welch. Or it could be a more anonymous testimony to God's strength and faithfulness in our lives... where only our Lord and Saviour witnesses the sacrifices we make for him.

Read more
The Two Margarets, Danger on the Hill

The Two Margarets

Danger on the Hill

Catherine MacKenzie

I think I can honestly say that I wrote Danger on the Hill in the space of about ten or twelve days in total. I spent a day at the National Library in Edinburgh and then it just happened. Not much is known about the Wilson children and after Margaret's death the other two just disappear off the pages of history - but this story needed to be told. And those facts that we do know can't fail to touch our hearts. I found my own background of Psalm singing essential to understanding this young girl and her history. I've used that extensively throughout the book to give that necessary authenticity to the struggle of the Covenanter church of the 1600's.

Read more
Big Green Tree At No. 11, Tammy and Jake learn about Life and Death

Big Green Tree At No. 11

Tammy and Jake learn about Life and Death

Catherine MacKenzie

I wrote this book because we needed it. I'd seen children trying to get their heads round the whole death thing, and I'd seen adults try to explain it to them. I wanted to write something that you could give to a child who was mourning. But I didn't want the book to make them any more sadder than they were already. I also wanted to be able to give the book to a child who was simply curious, as children often are, about something which we know very little about. But as it turns out God tells us everything we need to know about death and the life to come in his Word. So there, I've named my source, and trust that you will find this book helpful.

Read more
Deep Black Pond At No. 12, Tammy and Jake Learn About Health and Sickness

Deep Black Pond At No. 12

Tammy and Jake Learn About Health and Sickness

Catherine MacKenzie

We keep hearing about children's health, eating habits, and levels of exercise. I often think about the poor advice I received as a youngster regarding what was considered then to be a 'healthy diet.' We can get obsessed with things, but more often than not today our children haven't a clue about what health means for them and how God wants them to use their bodies to glorify him. I hope this book goes some way to helping children to focus on a healthy lifestyle in what is a healthy way. I also hope that I really do practice what I write :-)

Read more
Amy Carmichael, Can brown eyes be made blue?

Amy Carmichael

Can brown eyes be made blue?

Catherine MacKenzie

"My own nieces and nephews love books and being read to. The older ones are now wanting to read books for themselves. Fiction is all very well but I love it when children catch the thrill from real life. That's what people like Amy Carmichael do - they show you how what happens in our day to day can change a life and change a world. To start a life that honours God in meaningful way, try introducing that life to those believers who have been there and done that."

Read more
John G. Paton, South Sea Island Rescue

John G. Paton

South Sea Island Rescue

Kay Walsh

The Christian legacy of this amazing missionary is still felt today in the South Sea Islands. Reading true life stories like this help us realise what difficulties really are. John G Paton was no stranger to struggle. This is not the story of a gentleman missionary who wilts at the first hardship. This man went through the school of hard knocks to become a missionary in one of the toughest areas of Glasgow - and then on to the savage tribes of the South Sea Islands. Being a missionary is hard - it certainly was back then. For many their very life was in the balance and John G Paton was no exception. Cannibals and warring tribes were daily dangers.

Read more
Gladys Aylward, No Mountain Too High

Gladys Aylward

No Mountain Too High

Myrna Grant

TRY ANOTHER TRAILBLAZER

As well as Gladys Aylward No Mountain too High, I'd recommend that you look at Amy Carmichael, Rescuer by night. This makes up a nice set of female role models from a variety of different background.
Amy was from Ireland and was a bit of a dreamer.
Gladys was from London and definitely working class.
Isobel Kuhn was from America and well educated.
It just goes to show that it doesn't matter where you are from or what your background is - God has a job for you to do.

Read more
A Young Person’s Guide to Knowing God

A Young Person’s Guide to Knowing God

Patricia St. John

"If you like this you'll love these:

Twice Freed by Patricia St. John
This is an ideal companion book to present to young people who have enjoyed Patricia's stories in A young person's guide. A well written adventure romance that appeals to both boys and girls.

For younger children: Take a look at Prayer is an Adventure by Patricia St. John. These are a collection of stories on the theme of prayer and God.

Two stories from A young person's guide to knowing God have been illustrated throughout and produced in hardback gift editions:
The Safe Place
A Home For Virginia."

Read more
Goal Behind the Curtain

Goal Behind the Curtain

Cliff Rennie

"If you like this, you'll love these:
Offside in Ecuatina by Craig Rennie.
This is the next in the series after Goal behind the Curtain. Danger and intrigue are everywhere as Doug has more to tackle than just footballs. There is a plot to assassinate the president of Ecuatina for a start.

True Gold by Cliff Rennie
The olympics have arrived and the competitors are under starters orders. But one runner's life hangs in the balance in this thrilling tale of adventure and excitement for older teens."

Read more
Offside in Ecuatina

Offside in Ecuatina

Cliff Rennie

If you like this, you'll love these

Goal Behind the Curtain by Craig Rennie
The first in the series about Doug Mackay takes him through communist controlled countries in a desperate attempt to bring bibles to the persecuted christians in the Eastern Block.

True Gold by Cliff Rennie The olympics have arrived and the competitors are under starters orders. But one runner's life hangs in the balance in this thrilling tale of adventure and excitement for older teens.


Read more
True Gold, An Olympic Adventure

True Gold

An Olympic Adventure

Cliff Rennie

"If you like this, you'll love these:

Goal Behind the Curtain by Craig Rennie. The first in the series about Doug Mackay takes him through communist controlled countries in a desperate attempt to bring bibles to the persecuted christians in the Eastern Block.

Offside in Ecuatina by Craig Rennie. This is the next in the series after Goal behind the Curtain. Danger and intrigue are everywhere as Doug has more to tackle than just footballs. There is a plot to assassinate the president of Ecuatina for a start."

Read more
Read With Me

Read With Me

Jean Stapleton

"If you like this, you'll love these:

Sharing Jesus with Under 5's by Janet Gaukroger.
This book is a good volume for any family or church who are trying to reach out to pre-school children. Full of practical tips and ideas. Ideal for church, useful in any situation.

Teach your children to Pray by Denise George
When introducing family worship to your children start as you mean to go and introduce them to personal prayer. With Denise you will see how you can make this a practical, hands on experience for your family - something that will stay with them."

Read more
Ten Boys Who Used Their Talents

Ten Boys Who Used Their Talents

Irene Howat

If you like this, you'll love these:

Wilfred Grenfell: The Arctic Adventurer by Linda Finlayson.
Wilfred Grenfell is the archetype of a boys hero adventurer. His hair raising adventures and near misses are enough to keep anyone gripped to the edges of this book. A full length biography about a full on explorer and Christian.

C.S. Lewis - The Storyteller: A full length biography about the best known children's writer of the 20th Century. Read the book about the man who wrote the Narnia books.

John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress has been laid out with excellent line drawings. New sections are included to explain vocabulary and concepts as well as giving extra information about the author and his background.

Read more
Ten Boys Who Made a Difference

Ten Boys Who Made a Difference

Irene Howat

"If you like this, you'll love these:

John Welch - The Man who couldn't be stopped by Ethel Barrett.
John Knox's Son in law seems to have inherited some of the famous Knox fire for adventure and excitement. John Welch's story is a fantastic adventure that brings a young man from a gang of robbers to preaching the gospel in hostile situations.

William Tyndale: The Smuggler's Flame by Lori Rich
William lived a life of adventure and danger in Tudor England. A bible smuggler he operated illegally and under the very noses of the King's officials!"

Read more

Select shipping destination

UK USA & Canada Rest of World