Blotch: A Tale of Forgiveness and Grace

Blotch is a boy who lives in a kingdom where everyone has blotches on their skin. Each time a person is mean or does something wrong, another spot appears. Hoping to find someone who knows how to get rid of the spots, Blotch strikes out on a journey. At the first village he meets the Hiders, who merely cover their spots. Next, the Pretenders simply deny they even have spots. A third village is full of the Blamers, who constantly fight and blame each other for their rapidly multiplying stains. Fearful and frustrated, Blotch finally meets a kind stranger who has the solution for removing the spots permanently. But an elated Blotch is shocked to find out that the humble stranger is actually the King, and the solution requires that the King take the spots on Himself--a sacrifice that will change Blotch and his family forever.

Much like Jesus' use of parables to help His listeners understand and remember spiritual lessons, Blotch is a parable that helps kids grasp the concepts of sin, salvation, and redemption in a way that is memorable and engaging. Each chapter includes a parent/child discussion guide that would also work well in small groups or classrooms. A simple story with an accessible message, Blotch is an excellent vehicle to teach kids about the Gospel.

Andy Addis attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where he earned his MDivBL and graduated as the first ever LifeWay Pastoral Leadership Award recipient. He is currently the pastor of the CrossPoint church (crosspointnow.net)--a video-driven, multi-site congregation in Hutchinson, Kansas, with 2,500 to 3,000 in weekend attendance. Andy also serves as the president of the Kansas Nebraska convention of Southern Baptists. For more information, visit www.AndyAddis.com.

Tatio Viana, a self-taught artist from Madrid, left a decade-long career in advertising to follow his passion for illustration in 2000. Since then, he has breathed life into the pages of math, history, science, and literature textbooks with his rich, vivid illustrations. Outside of the studio, you’ll most likely find Tatio swaying to jazz, devouring a book, or laughing with his young son, Elías.