Ever-watching Father:
we pray for the suffering children whom we do not see.

We know that your eyes see their tears,
that your heart knows their sorrow,
that your hands can reach them now.

We remember that Jesus was once a child,
that poverty stole his bread,
that tyrants sought his life,
that his mother tasted tears.

We ask you to send friends for the lonely,
food for the hungry,
medicine for the sick,
saviors for the enslaved,
rescue for the perishing.

Give us the wisdom to do our part,
share our possessions,
leave our comforts,
lend them our voice,
send them our food,
love them with more than prayers.

We call on you in the name of your child Jesus.
Amen.

You are encouraged to print out and share this prayer for suffering children.

Related posts:

1. Video: Statistics About Children & Call To Prayer

Edmund Burke once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”  That quote unsettles me, partly because it describes me.

International Justice Mission (IJM) is an organization that allows you to extend that influence  to vulnerable children around the world.  Their purpose is articulated in Isaiah 1:17, “Seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, and plead the case of the widow.”

As described on IJM”s website, “IJM seeks to restore to victims of oppression the things that God intends for them: their lives, their liberty, their dignity, and the fruits of their labor. By defending and protecting individual human rights, IJM seeks to engender hope and transformation for those it serves and restore a witness of courage in places of oppressive violence.”

Recently I had the opportunity to talk to my local Congressman about the issues of child trafficking, enslavement, and IJM’s incredible work to abolish these horrors.  I specifically asked him to consider co-sponsoring a bill, entitled the Child Protection Compact of 2009.  This bill would allot 50 million dollars over three years to the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Office, for the purpose of eradicating child trafficking.  International Justice Mission would be a recipient of these monies. 

To be quite frank, I was as nervous as anything.  I am as ordinary as ordinary gets.  I can hardly articulate a coherent thought without stumbling over my own tongue.  But with God, all things are possible.  I know that this issue is at the heart of God.  I know that there are children who need someone to speak on their behalf.  I know that it was certainly not me speaking in the first place, but Him.  All of this knowledge, coupled with the prayers and support of so many, carried me through my first advocacy meeting.  And truthfully, I don’t think it’ll be my last. 

There are multiple ways to get involved in pursuing justice for our children around the world.  Here are a few examples of how you can get started:

1. Consider becoming a prayer partner for International Justice Mission.
2. Spread awareness of this issue through friends, social media outlets, Bible studies, and your local church. 
3. Mobilize your church to follow God’s call to justice.
4. Attend an IJM event to hear first-hand accounts of their work and ministry.
5. Support IJM financially or organize a fundraising campaign near you.
6. Volunteer with IJM on a short term basis in Washington, DC.
7. Get involved in a justice campaign.  Urge your member of Congress to support the Child Protection Compact Act of 2009 today! 

How have you defended and protected the rights of children at home and around the world?  What organizations do you feel reflect the heart of God?

Related posts:

1. Southern Baptist Convention 2007 Resolution ON PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM ABUSE
2. Compassion International: One Way To Welcome Children In Jesus Name
3. 5 Ways Christians Can Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect
4. Statement on Child Abuse From the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

Update: The girls came back and left again, then came back a third time! We’ve been able to adopt the younger of the two and the older has aged out of foster care. Still praying!

This morning, I took our two foster girls home. We’ve had them since November, but driving away from their mom’s house it seemed like much longer. It’s a sad story, just like most foster care stories you’ve heard. Each of these stories are different, but they all center on broken down families and kids without much hope.

We’ve been doing foster care longer than we’ve had our own kids. It started just after we were married. A little boy named John came into our life – even now it’s hard not to cry when I think of his story. But his life, like all the others, has moved on beyond our help. I could name over 25 children who have come and gone out of our lives, and even now their stories are still a part of us.

Last night I asked my wife, “Did we do a good job with these girls?” After a long silence she said, “We could’ve done more.” There is always more we wish we’d done.

• I regret that I didn’t spend more time praying with the girls. They shared in our times of family worship, but I could’ve taken more time to walk them to Jesus.

• I regret that I didn’t love them more. After so many times, it gets harder to open my heart to anyone I know will be gone inside a year. Love isn’t meant to be short term, but I could’ve done more to love them.

• I regret that our lives were so busy. The girls had a several visits and appointments each week, plus our family pace didn’t slow. I wish now that we had cleared the calendar and lived a simple life.

• I regret that we weren’t more involved with their family. We have arranged to keep bringing them to church, but we could’ve worked harder to build relationships with their mother and stepfather. It takes effort, but we could’ve overcome the awkward relational dynamics to better serve the girls.

Despite these regrets, I believe that God will use our ministry to these families. I’ve learned that all good works are made good only by God’s grace. We tried to serve the girls and show them Christ, and I trust that God can overcome all our failures.

I’m so thankful to God for these experiences as a foster father. We cry when the children come, and we cry when they leave. But there is a blessing to be found every time you enter the broken lives of others. Despite the hard days, there were many more happy ones.

Sometimes our friends ask us why we keep doing foster care? My best answer is this: When God is in something – there is nothing else we’d rather be doing.

Related posts:

1. Father’s Day Poem – When Father Reads The Book by G.E. Foster

Safety and security is one of the biggest topics in children’s ministry today. This is true for both small and large churches. Keeping kids safe should be a priority in every church. In this article, I will discuss the leading concerns about Sunday school security and offer some ways to improve safety at your church.

Security and Safety Concerns For Sunday School

Many of the articles I’ve read about children’s ministry safety do not clearly state what dangers we need to address. I believe that is a mistake. We need to be responsible when accessing threats so we can avoid extremes. Here are the dangers that churches must work to prevent:

• Accidents: Kids can always find some way to get hurt. Accidents are the most common safety danger for children in Sunday school. Often they are minor, but we should be concerned that every ministry setting is a safe place to learn and play.
• Food Allergies: This is an increasing concern, and rightly so. Many food allergies are life threatening if not treated properly. Kids love snacks, but we should always be aware of the dangers of food allergies.
• Kidnapping: This is every parent’s worst nightmare. While it may be a rare, Sunday school programs should establish safeguards to make it impossible to steal a child from any church program.
• Sexual Abuse: Few things are more devastating to a child, especially when the predator uses religious authority to accomplish their crime. Churches have not done enough to prevent the sexual abuse of children.
• Other Children: It doesn’t make the news, but the most common threat for sexual abuse is one child abusing another child. This is devastating for everyone involved. Never allow children unattended in the church facility. Even Pastor’s kids should not be set free after the church program. We have a designated game room where volunteer’s children can play until their parents are free to go.

Sunday School Safety and Security Checklist

One way to think carefully about church safety is to audit your Sunday school program according to the following categories. We are also talking about safe kid check policies in our children’s ministry forums.

Are Your Sunday School Facilities Safe and Secure?

• Classrooms should be in high traffic areas and have windows. We recently installed windows in every classroom door. Since we have a volunteer church handyman, the project cost was very reasonable.
• If your Sunday school classrooms do not have windows, keep them open unless two adults are with the class.
• Children’s ministry areas should be up to building and fire code. This would include emergency exits, smoke alarms, and fire extinguishers.
• Is the furniture safe and appropriate for children? Make sure that bookcases are secured to the wall, desks do not have splinters, and chairs are in good repair.
• Use safety plugs in all electrical outlets. This needs to be checked often, since these tend to get lost. Use safety plugs in the hallways and adult areas too.
• If there is overhead storage, on a shelf or a cabinet, make sure it is secure and items will not fall on children if they bump up against the cabinet.
• Control the access to your building. In larger churches this becomes a big concern. There should be a limited number of entrance points to your children’s ministry area.

Do You Insist On Safety For All Sunday School Activities, Snacks and Crafts?

• Scissors, glues and craft materials should be safe for children.
• Avoid object lessons that could be unsafe. We learned from experience not to burn anything inside the Sunday school classrooms!
• Some games are not safe for small rooms. If you don’t have enough floor space for a suggested Sunday school game, go outside or substitute another activity.
• Never serve a snack with nuts unless you have personally cleared it with every parent. With peanut allergies on the rise, it is better to be safe than sorry.
• Do not serve hot liquids; it’s okay if the hot chocolate is a just warm.
• Supervise children closely during snack time, even older children can choke on their food.

Have You Selected Volunteers And Teachers That Are Safe?

• Every volunteer should be screened and interviewed by the church leadership. Many churches are even purchasing criminal background checks for all church volunteers, especially those that work with children. That is a good step, but don’t forget to use common sense and judgment. Many sexual predators abuse many children before they are caught, so the criminal background check is only a limited safeguard.
• No one is every allowed to be alone with a child. Make this a rule with no exceptions.
• Even in counseling situations have another adult volunteer present.
• The best safeguard against abuse is preventing opportunity for abuse. As much as you can, make it impossible for children to be harmed at your church.

Do Your Policies And Guidelines Promote Security and Safety?

• All the best policies won’t help unless you train your teachers. So, make training Sundays school teachers about safety and security a priority in your church.
• Make 2-by-2 the rule. No child (or group of children) should even be alone with an adult volunteer.
• Ask your volunteers to get trained on CPR and first aide. We have several retired nurses in our church who are great resources for minor accidents.
• Establish a check-in and check-out procedure that gets every child back to the right parents after your program. This will help to prevent children from being unsupervised in the facility.
• Do not allow children to be unattended before or after Sunday school programs. As one reader stated, “Children stay with parents and remain the parents’ responsibility.”
• Have a definite drop-off and pick-up time. These should be clearly posted and enforced. The children of volunteers should remain with their parents or be supervised in one location. We do not allow early drop-offs.
• Ask for hall monitors or greeters to patrol the facility during and after your ministry programs.
• Do you have clear bathroom policies? This more of a concern for younger children, but

Resources For Improving Security and Safety In Your Sunday School

• Read these articles about Children’s Ministry safety from ChildrensMinistry.com
• Browse these resources for Children and Youth safety from one insurance company.
• Read my post 5 Ways Christians Can Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect
• Read the Southern Baptist Convention 2007 Resolution ON PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM ABUSE
• Read the Statement on Abuse From the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
• If you know of a good resource, leave me a comment below.

What tips do you have to improve safety for children’s ministry and Sunday school?

Related posts:

1. Sunday School Crafts
2. What Is Effective Sunday School Teaching?

• to bring healing to persons and relationships injured by an inadequate grasp of God’s will concerning manhood and womanhood,
• to help both men and women realize their full ministry potential through a true understanding and practice of their God-given roles,
• and to promote the spread of the gospel among all peoples by fostering a Biblical wholeness in relationships that will attract a fractured world. (Purpose #5)

In addition, the Danvers Statement affirmed that

• In the family, husbands should forsake harsh or selfish leadership and grow in love and care for their wives. (Affirmation #6)

CBMW continues to grieve over the alarming rise in abuse in its many forms, and recognizes a need for a fuller, stronger declaration of our conviction that the Bible speaks clearly and forthrightly against abuse and that it speaks with equal clarity on the differing responsibilities of men and women in marriage.

Therefore, the Council has issued an expanded statement on abuse as part of a continuing effort to demonstrate that the biblical teachings on male headship in marriage do not authorize a man’s domination or abuse of his wife.

We hope this statement will encourage Christians to oppose abuse wherever it appears.

Adopted by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood at its meeting in Lisle, Illinois in November, 1994.

Statement on Abuse

• We understand abuse to mean the cruel use of power or authority to harm another person emotionally, physically, or sexually.
• We are against all forms of physical, sexual and /or verbal abuse.
• We believe that the biblical teaching on relationships between men and women does not support, but condemns abuse (Prov. 12:18; Eph. 5:25-29; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 3:3; Titus 1:7-8; 1 Pet. 3:7; 5:3).
• We believe that abuse is sin. It is destructive and evil. Abuse is the hallmark of the devil and is in direct opposition to the purpose of God. Abuse ought not to be tolerated in the Christian community.
• We believe that the Christian community is responsible for the well-being of its members. It has a responsibility to lovingly confront abusers and to protect the abused.
• We believe that both abusers and the abused are in need of emotional and spiritual healing.
• We believe that God extends healing to those who earnestly seek him.
• We are confident of the power of God’s healing love to restore relationships fractured by abuse, but we realize that repentance, forgiveness, wholeness, and reconciliation is a process. Both abusers and abused are in need of on-going counseling, support and accountability.
• In instances where abusers are unrepentant and/or unwilling to make significant steps toward change, we believe that the Christian community must respond with firm discipline of the abuser and advocacy, support and protection of the abused.
• We believe that by the power of God’s Spirit, the Christian community can be an instrument of God’s love and healing for those involved in abusive relationships and an example of wholeness in a fractured, broken world.

CBMW

Related posts:

1. 5 Ways Christians Can Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect
2. Southern Baptist Convention 2007 Resolution ON PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM ABUSE

Child abuse in protestant churches is a real problem. Just last week several church insurance agencies have spoken out on this problem. I am proud to say that Southern Baptists Churches are aware of the issues and looking for ways to protect children. Here is the historic resolution passed by the Southern Baptist Convention against child abuse last month. Let’s pray this is a starting point for safer churches.

Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting
San Antonio, TX. June 12-13, 2007
Resolution No. 7
ON PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM ABUSE

WHEREAS, The Bible stresses the protection of and care for children, as evidenced by: its condemnation of the ancient pagan practice of child sacrifice (Leviticus 20:1-7; Ezekiel 16:20-21); its special regard for orphans in the nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 24, 26); and the teaching of Jesus, who welcomed and valued little children (Matthew 18:1-5; 19:14); and

WHEREAS, Faithful Christians throughout history have risen to the defense of children, as seen in the Early Church’s protest of the practice of “child exposure”—in which unwanted infants were abandoned and left to die; the work of nineteenth-century Christians such as Lord Shaftesbury and others, who campaigned against child slavery and enacted child labor laws; and the diligence of those who defend the right to life of unborn children today; and

WHEREAS, Violent physical and sexual crimes against children have reached alarming levels in our nation, thus showing child abuse to be a leading issue requiring the urgent response of God’s people; and

WHEREAS, This abuse has occurred too often in churches and homes—which ought to be places of shelter and safety—and it has happened at the hands of family, educators, ordained ministers, and ministry workers—who ought to be trusted persons of authority; and

WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention in 2002: called Southern Baptists to practice integrity and fidelity to God; urged accountability among spiritual leaders to the highest standards of Christian moral practice; urged seminaries and related educational institutions to emphasize ministerial integrity; encouraged religious bodies to rid their ranks of predatory ministers; called on civil authorities to punish to the fullest extent of the law sexual abuse among clergy and counselors; called on our churches to discipline those guilty of any sexual abuse as well as to cooperate with civil authorities in the prosecution of those cases; and urged our churches to offer support, compassion, and biblical counseling to victims and their families; and

WHEREAS, LifeWay Christian Resources and many state conventions offer extensive resources designed to assist churches in addressing this issue; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in San Antonio, Texas, June 12-13, 2007, express our deep level of moral outrage and concern at any instance of child victimization; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we implore Southern Baptist churches to utilize materials from LifeWay Christian Resources and state conventions and other relevant research that help churches prevent child abuse; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we strongly recommend that Southern Baptist churches and Convention entities respond to any suspicions or allegations of child abuse in a timely and forthright manner; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptist churches and Convention entities to exercise moral stewardship by observing responsible employment practices, including performing criminal background checks on all ministers, employees, and volunteers; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we renounce individuals who commit heinous acts against children; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we renounce individuals, churches, or other religious bodies that cover up, ignore, or otherwise contribute to or condone the abuse of children; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we pray for righteousness and justice to prevail in our land and intercede on behalf of victimized children, asking God to heal their deep emotional and physical wounds, grow them into mature and healthy adults, and stop the cycle of abuse from repeating itself in another generation.

Related posts:

1. 5 Ways Christians Can Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect

Child abuse and neglect is a disgrace to our nation. Even worse – many Christians are unaware of the issue. I believe that churches should be leading the way.

Sunday, April 29, 2007 was designated as National Blue Sunday. This was a day set aside for churches to pray for the victims of child abuse. As believers it should break our hearts when children suffer. We must recognize that God values children. The Bible says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.” (Psalm 127:3) Kids matter to God. We must affirm that little ones are God’s gift to us. Christians should be the first ones to stand against child abuse. We must defend children and work for real change.

The love of Christ compels us to think biblically about child abuse and neglect. Our world is broken. Humanity has rejected God’s rule. Many people live only to please themselves. In such a world of sin children often become the victims. The same evil that causes child abuse lives within our hearts. Without God’s grace we might be the abusers. The only cure for the sin and evil of this world is the Gospel. Jesus alone has the power to change hearts. At his final appearing Christ will restore all things. The world will be made right and children will no longer suffer at the hands of their own parents.

As Christians we should feel great sadness about child abuse. But we should also look for ways to help. How then can you respond to child abuse? Here are some ideas:

5 Ways Christians Can Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect

1. Educate yourself. Find information to equip yourself to recognize and prevent child abuse. Find statistics, read real stories, learn about local case law and read articles about child abuse. Find resources.
2. Be aware of at-risk kids. Become involved in the lives of children. If something seems wrong – question the parent and make a report to our local Child Protective Service.
3. Become foster or adoptive parents. There is a great need for families willing to open their homes to kids in crisis. Getting involved means opening your home.
4. Train your own children. We must model and teach our children what it means to be a godly parent. Teach your boys to cherish and protect women. Encourage your girls to develop their God-given maternal nature.
5. Pray. I place this last because its importance cannot be overstated. There are times when a child’s only defender is God. Remember to prayer for the little ones. You can pray for children that you know. Pray for the children that live on your street. When you see a parent being harsh in the grocery store – ask God to convert that parent. “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

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