SHARE Magazine October 2021

SHARE Share Truth Change Lives

Oct 2021

Who’s

Minding the Children? l FATHER ME

l GODLY PARENTING

l SINGLE PARENTING

l THE DYING FAMILY ALTAR

l MENTORSHIP & FOSTER CARE

l CHILDHOOD TRAUMA FROM DIVORCE l THE PASSIVE WOMB

l INDIA’S STREET CHILDREN

l ROLLING OUT THE WOMEN

l WHO IS PARENTING YOUR CHILDREN? l TESTIMONY - TEENAGE PREGNANCY A Select Arrow Publication www.thesharemagazine.com

lWORLD IN VIEW lTHINK FILM lFAMILY SURVEY

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There is no denying this, “that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23) that we have all made wrong choices and stepped outside of the will of God. We face consequences for our actions, but when our self-assessed charges don’t meet our deadline we make the statement “I’m being punished.” However, 1 John 1:9 says if we confess these sins our God is faithful and just to forgive us. Then if ‘we are forgiven’, what is this punishment we speak of and who are we being pushed by? Could it be our disappointments?

Let us not forget that we have that hope of being reconciled (2 Cor. 5:17-18) with our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ that we may obtain Grace, Mercy and Unmerited Favour in all things as He wills it. Evaluate your present state: Did I forgive myself? Is it my timing or God’s timing? Is it the consequences of my actions?

Undeserved kindness (grace): Hebrews 4:14-16 We have a great high Priest, who has gone into heaven, and He is Jesus the Son of God. That is why we must hold on to what we have said about Him. Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because He was tempted in every way that we are. But He did not sin! So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help. (CEV)

Devotional

FORGIVE YOURSELF

Additional Grace Scriptures: 1 Peter 5:7, Romans 8:1 &12:12, 2 Corinthians 9:8 Jesus loves you-forgive yourself Acknowledge “I did wrong” & Repent As God forgives, forgive yourself Trust Gods timing (Eccl. 3:1) God’s Grace will carry you through Declare that in Jesus I deserve everything that is good.

Choose to be a ‘Naomi’ (pleasant, attractive, lovely and not ‘Mara’ (bitter) We encounter the difficulty of forgiving others, but the biggest struggle is forgiving ourselves. If years after committing a sin, repenting, and being forgiven by God we still carry the blame in our hearts that sentenced us to what seems to be an everlasting punishment, we have simply not forgiven ourselves.

Challenge yourself to repent of your past sin(s) and as God forgives, forgive yourself. Let God fix what has been broken!

Devotion - October 1, 2021 BY: Cypriana Parkinson

inside EDITORIAL

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FEATURE ARTICLES

The Dying Family Altar 6 Family prayer time is needed now more than ever.

The Push & Pull of Individualism 8 In a selfish world where do the children fit in?

The Changing Role of Women 10 The pros/cons as women’s careers take priority Childhood Trauma From Divorce 12 The impact of divorce on children is often overlooked

REFLECTIONS

Rolling out the Women 26 Women are co-laborers in God’s kingdom World in View The Nanny State vs Parents!

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Storyteller: 29 Throwing God’s Children to the Wolves

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Who is Parenting Your Children? 30 Is the Church a nurturing community?

India’s Street Children 32 Heavenly Home’s work among the street children

Mentorship & Foster Care 14 Exploring parenting options for all ages and stages of life

#YouthSHARE - Survey The changing face of family

Godly Parenting 16 Biblical strategies for parenting that still work

The Passive Womb 36 Our Duty of care to children- Every child matters!

Case for Homeschooling Notes from a Homeschooling NINJA

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THINK - Film CUTIES - A Netflix original

Father Me Allow the Lord to Father You.

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Single Parenting How to help Single Parents

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Testimony: Teenage pregnancy 24 Pregnant at 15 - My life changed forever

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Poem: Who is Minding the Children? 41

By Jennifer Williams

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Suffer the Children to come and do NOT let those who come, suffer.

EDITORIAL

“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14 Who is Minding the Children?

It’s the holiday season and parents go all out to treat their children to lovely gifts.

Who is mindful of the children for the rest of the year? 20 to 30 years ago we could have answered confidently, “their parents of course!” Or in some quarters the grandparents or extended family members, if you were more affluent, a paid nanny. The point is, children were a priority and people made sacrifices to spend actual time with them and do actual activities that helped to develop their character- that is, their IQ as well as EQ. The Governance Of The Nanny State Today, the same question would be answered thus: Electronic gadgets or the government are minding the children as they set the social standards and the curriculum that our children will learn in school. Parents are losing their right to challenge systems of governance or educational arrangements that are inconsistent with their core values and belief systems.

Where Have all the Parents Gone?

Out to work, shopping, abroad for vacation, some are in jail, others are homeless addicts, or are institutionalized for mental therapy.

That leaves us as the child advocates assigned by heaven to administer their care and nurture. Give them the word of God in practical ways. The Abeka curriculum system of education from Pensacola Florida opened my eyes. It threaded the gospel through every subject. Similarly, write it on lunch bags, books, clothing, everywhere in our homes 4

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and cars, saturate our children with the word of God through music and play because if we don’t the devil surely will.

Teach them how to pray; I haven’t forgotten the simple prayer that my Granny taught me.

Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, Look upon a little child; Pity my simplicity, Suffer me to come to Thee.

Fain, I would to Thee be brought, Dearest God, forbid it not; Give me, dearest God, a place In the Kingdom of Thy grace.

by Charles Wesley

The worse we can do for our children is NOT raise them to KNOW their God and prevent them from serving Him because of our offensive lifestyle. Let us live the Bible authentically before our children. Let them see HOW our God is transforming us and taking us through life’s challenges, celebrate the triumphs, and give thanks during the trials so they share the testimony of Jesus.

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. Mark 9:42 SHARE

Love as always,

Angela Slack

October - December 2021

About Us

SHARE MAGAZINE is a FREE Christian quarterly that deals with challenging Christian topics that have been mostly ignored or left unanswered.

The magazine includes written articles, poems and thoughts etc.

Read our online version at www.

TheShareMagazine.com where you can go to our blog to discuss articles or order a printed version.

If you would like to submit articles, join our writers group, or to get involved in any other way kindly email us. SHARE MAGAZINE is produced by Select Arrow, the publishing arm of United In Christ charity number 1140448.

Disclaimer

I was secure in the protection of God when I prayed at night and was convinced that Jesus loved me. So much so, that I never feared evil and confronted it on behalf of my primary school friend in her home at the age of 9.

Their family had their first night’s peaceful sleep after I prayed and left their home. I was not afraid because I was taught how big, and mighty my God was. Are we raising future warriors or whips?

Holiday blessings from the Magazine family to yours. p

Volume 9 - Issue 4

Editor and Co-founder

Throughout this magazine the editor & contributors seek to present a balanced and accurate view of Scripture’s teaching. We are all on a journey of studying and understanding God’s Word.

Because of this, all we can offer is as balanced an understanding as the Holy Spirit has offered us at this time. The views or opinions represented in this publication are personal to each of our contributors and may not fully represent those of any other contributor or editor.

Some writers may use UK spelling while others may use US spelling as our writers are from different regions of the world.

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QA &

You have questions we’ve got answers

#YouthSHARE Live Questions

Questions From September’s Show on Marriage Q: What does it mean to be unequally yoked if you are both believers? If you are both believers is that not enough?

A: Paul the apostle in 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” A yoke is a wooden cross piece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plough or cart that they are to pull. Both animals must pull together, the stronger no doubt dictating speed and direction. Paul continued to describe the person we, as believers, shouldn’t be fastened to.

Someone who does not believe, who is unrighteous, who’ve not entered into the light of Christ through the gospel. The person who worships idols in the temple of Belial. Yoking would translate to getting married or entering into a business partnership etc. Some believe however, that an unequal person is not necessarily an obvious non-Christian but could be anyone who’s not at the same place in conviction, walk with God, values or priorities. Though this could cause problems Paul wasn’t speaking here of such a person. As believers we will always differ in some values and priorities or be at a different place in our walk with God or faith levels but all these can be worked through. See Romans 15:1 Q: What does it really mean to put God first? What are the practical ways of putting God first?

A: To put God first is to make Him, His desires and wishes our priority

at all times and in every way. So, for example, we don’t just go ahead and plan our lives based on what we want, where we want to live, the career we’d like to have, the husband we’d like to marry etc.

Instead, we should go to God and His word to find out what God wants us to do. Let the will and purposes of God determine where we live, what our career will be and who we should marry. This kingdom life is not about our dreams. It is instead about God’s purposes and when both clash we must always put our Lord’s will and purposes first.

accepting or yielding to the power or authority of God or someone else that is designated by God to lead us. We willingly yield because we are secure in God’s Love for us, which we have come to know and prove. God asks us to yield to our partners in marriage as they submit to Him. It’s an act of our free will as trust grows in our relationships.

Q: Some people are saying, “the person is a good man or woman and God can use you to change him or her.” What is the Bible saying about that?

A: Find a Christian counsellor who can prepare you for married life through biblical, sound, guidance.

Continuing to live together in a sexual relationship is considered as cheating on God and also cheating yourselves from the blessings that He has in store for those who obey His will.

A: Firstly, we cannot change anyone’s behaviour. Only God can change people’s hearts. It is not advisable to knowingly walk into a relationship with an unbeliever because you are putting yourself at an immediate disadvantage where you will have to be working harder to evangelise them and that should not be the focus of your relationship. You should be working to build the relationship by getting to know each other and seeing how your values and future plans compliment each other.

Q: Please submission.

explain

Biblical

Q: What about couples who live together and plan to marry, but the pastor refuses to marry them or counsel them? What would be the advice for them?

Q: Why are Christian marriages failing?

A: Reasons why marriages fail: Reason #1: Unreasonable Expectations. Reason #2: We Are Selfish. Reason #3: We follow the world’s system - we leave marriages to easily forget it’s a covenant with God first. Reason #4: We do not prioritize marriage. Reason #5: There’s no honest sharing of the realities of marriage to those who will follow on. p

A: Biblical submission is - the act of October - December 2021

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Dying Family Altar The

Its consequences are upon us

but is it too late?

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October - December 2021

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The Family Altar - speaks to the culture and practice of the Family intentionally honouring God in worship, reflection, reading of the Bible and prayer together. Does your family do this?

In Gen. 18:19 God makes this statement about Abraham, “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.” - NASB. God chose Abraham: • The reason that God chose him was so that he would instruct his descendants and his household (including his servants) to keep the way of the Lord.

• His instructions to them would not only be words but they would also see his lifestyle – “…by doing righteousness and justice…”

• God had made promises to Abraham concerning the destiny and effect of his descendants. Those promises would only be realized if Abraham’s descendants kept the way of the Lord.

One of the promises that God made to Abraham was that, “…all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

– Gen. 12:3. Another promise that God made to him was, “And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

(Gen. 22:18 - NASB).

We know that these promises are being fulfilled and we also know that Abraham instructed His household in the ways of the Lord.

One of his sons (Isaac) and one his grandsons (Jacob) continued the same practice.

• Tithing – Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:20), his grandson (Jacob) made a promise to God that if He brought him back home then he would give tithes to God also.

• Hearing from God – Abraham knew how to recognize God’s voice accurately, his son Isaac and his grandson (Jacob) also knew how to accurately recognize God’s voice.

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, was a priest of God and advised Moses in the wisdom of God. Jethro was a descendant of Abraham through a son born to Keturah.

• Circumcision – God instructed Abraham to circumcise all the males in his house. This was a practice for his descendants; to this day.

We see from these examples that Abraham instructed his descendants which resulted in God fulfilling His promise to them. This issue of parents instilling in their children a passionate relationship with the Lord is also seen in Timothy’s life. Paul’s comments to Timothy are very instructive, in 2 Tim. 1:5 (NIV) it tells us, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

Timothy’s mother and grandmother had impacted his life in such a meaningful way that he became an outstanding minister of the gospel.

In the scriptures we read of promises God has made concerning our families being saved.

Consider these examples:

Let us look at two of them:

• Building altars to the Lord – Abraham had the practice of building altars and calling on the Name of the Lord.

• Prov. 11:21 (NASB) says, “…the descendants of the righteous will be rescued.”

• Acts 16:31 (NLT) also says, “They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.’”

• Deut. 11:18 – 21 outlines an activity we need to practice if we want our children to also serve the Lord as we do. It emphasizes that we should deliberately spend time teaching our children the scriptures; we should do it in all our interactions with them.

Verse 19 (NKJV) reads, “You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

What if, as a believer, you have messed up your life terribly, can God still redeem your loved ones?

King David and Bathsheba messed up terribly: they were guilty of adultery and the murder of Bathsheba’s first husband. David was confronted about his actions by Nathan the prophet and repented. There were consequences for his gruesome deeds yet God still caused most of the kings of Judah (his son, grandson, great grandson, etc.) to be righteous kings. A major point of interest is David and Bathsheba are the great grandparents of both Mary and Joseph; the earthly parents of Jesus.

If you have messed up as a believer and as a parent, do not allow satan, the traducer, the accuser to disqualify you from seeing your children serve the Lord. Repent of your misdeeds and begin to spend time teaching your children the ways of the Lord; by your words and deeds. Society may set an age restriction concerning our responsibility for our children, God does not. p

by Pastor David Ferguson Bible teacher, Pastor of Restoration Family Church Int.

October - December 2021

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7

THE PUSH AND PULL

OF INDIVIDUALISM

Is like the game of Jenga 8

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Jenga is a game where you have a pile of wooden blocks, each player carefully takes a piece out and the tower remains intact until someone makes the fateful error and down it goes.

Is the church getting more like a game of Jenga as times go on?

Are Biblical values being removed from Churches bit by bit, so subtly that we don’t necessarily notice. Churches are taking bits out or watering down the gospel to make it more appealing and palatable to the itching ears of their attendees (2 Tim 4:3); some are allowing strange New Age and occultic practices or other faith beliefs to slip in and mingle with Christian values, weakening the structure more. If you question the leadership they may have no understanding that it is wrong on any level let alone Biblically! They, shockingly, can’t see anything wrong and think it’s harmless.

We are living in a time of increasing individualism, according to the Science Leadership Academy, “Individualism is the freedom to do what we want as independent People”.[1] We can do whatever we want in the secular world without the consequences. However, like everything else there can be catastrophic consequences if someone’s rights trump our rights. Are we individuals to think or do whatever feels right, to go or not go to church and choose bits of what the Bible says and reject the rest?

Are churches going their own way, choosing their bits of belief with no regard to other parts of the body of Christ? To me it is almost as if we are accepting things into society as normal, then it becomes normalised and

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acceptable in Church.

There is a responsibility on Churches and leaders today to lead well and get it right. The opposite of individualism is collectivism which can also be destructive, most of us have heard of the harms that can happen where the needs of the many outweigh the few? But when a culture begins to demand that individuals violate their own conscience for “the greater good,” that culture is dabbling in tyranny, not charity; the needs of the individual are taken advantage of and overlooked or not considered at all. As with all things, our sinful nature can use both individualism and collectivism for good or as an excuse for abuse.

Hang on a minute!!! Aren’t we all part of the body? I’m sure that I read that in 1 Corinthians 12, were we not baptised into one body (v13) Does it not say in though if one part hurts, we all hurt? If one part makes good then we all rejoice(v26) then on the very next verse it says “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” So that being the case, the divisions that are occurring throughout all Christian, Bible believing Churches, hurting all of us? How can some people and leaders of churches not believe in the Bible, the divinity of Christ (or following a different Christ), or the sanctity of its word and outrageously don’t even believe in God but call themselves a disciple of Christ? We are most definitely seeing the evidence before us of the Biblical definition of “Living in the last days”. (2 Tim 3:1-5) Another question springs to

mind, a more worrying one, what is going to happen to our children or our children’s children? So much confusion is being spread in schools as to who they are and what value the Bible holds them in. We even hear that the Bible and Christian principles are mocked, ignored or cast aside as oldfashioned! Are our youngsters in danger of losing sight of who they are in Christ or never knowing it in the first place? The devil wants to lessen our family values and exchange them for material, worldly values.

How do we fight back and turn back the “Spirit of the age”?

Salvation is not an individual “ticket” to heaven. Paul explicitly says of Jesus in Titus 2:14. He did not die to rescue isolated individuals; he died to create the church. In Ephesians 4:12 the whole church is responsible by working together to bring growth and maturity to its members. 1 Cor 12:7, isn’t the Holy Spirit given for the common good, we need each other.

We need to put the Jenga Bible standards back in and understand we are valued in Christ, He has a plan and purpose in our lives. We must get on our knees, get into our Bibles and spend more time with Jesus than we have ever done and study the word together. The end is in sight but you need to fight for your loved ones! p

By Teresa L. Randle Married, preacher and Bible teacher.

[1] https://scienceleadership.org/blog/why_individualism_is_important. 27 May 2011

Should we be individualistic to the point of thinking or doing whatever feels right to us, to choose bits of what the Bible says and reject the rest?

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The Changing Role of Women

Women in careers and its impact on the home 10

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Throughout the ages, men and women perform different roles in ensuring that the family is cared for. Women were traditionally socialized to be in the private sphere or the home. They are natural nurturers who mainly stayed home and looked after the family. Men were socialized to be in the public space, to work, and take care of the family. Over the years the roles of men and women have changed as more women entered the world of work.

Industrialization in one instance brought new opportunities for employment that changed the ideas of work. During this period, women’s roles changed dramatically as they were redefined in relationship to the home. Industrialization opened up new opportunities for women as industrial wage earners.

Another defining period was the 1960s when women began to enter the workforce in greater numbers. Women also replaced men in workplaces during World War II, when male soldiers were away fighting. They supported their families and keep their local economy vibrant.

Having this newfound freedom, women began to get more educated and launched out into careers that enabled their economic freedom. This enabled them to share in the economic responsibilities alongside the men. While this was happening, some men abdicated their responsibilities, and women had to pick up the slack. Some became heads of households. Some men were also unemployed, were low-wage earners, and therefore women were forced to support

the family financially.

necessary for proper growth and development.

The role of women has changed over the decades and will continue to change given the dynamic social, political, and economic climate. Women are now in various careers ranging from factory workers, lawyers, doctors, consultants, the armed forces, just to name a few.

Women being in these various careers have impacted the home in many instances as many work outside of the home now, and are sometimes affected by lack of support from other working women who previously provided family support. There are positive and negative impacts in the home as more women are engaged in careers.

On the positive side, women’s employment have a beneficial effect on their families as some contribute significantly or are the main bread winners. More women feel a sense of satisfaction and higher self-esteem while pursuing careers. It is said that they raise more independent children and are less likely to suffer from depression.

On the negative side, some children are either neglected, rejected, have to care for themselves, are cared for by siblings or caregivers who may not be able to provide that nurturing as well as pass on the right values.

Some fathers are absent from the home and do not necessarily share in the nurturing role and so the children are affected because their mothers have to work outside the home. This can leave the children deprived of the care that would be

Any altering of women’s traditional role will definitely impact the home. Focusing on women in careers as having the greatest impact on the home is not necessarily the women’s fault and is not the only reason for the breakdown in certain values and standards. Men too have to take their home responsibilities seriously.

The family was introduced in the Bible from the very beginning in Gen. 1:28. It is the smallest unit in society and the bedrock of the Church and the nation. It is the primary socializing agent which is also responsible for nurturing. God intended for the family to function effectively and for it to maintain the standard of righteousness. The Christian family is one in which the beliefs, values and standards are influenced by the Word of God and grounded in love and care within the home. Both men and women should play their part in managing the affairs of the home to the glory of God. The solution is for both men and women to partner together prayerfully sharing the responsibilities in the home so that the changing environment can benefit the entire family. A home must be built by the Lord because “unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain” Psalm 127:1 p Jennifer Williams A Christian for 44 years. Bible teacher, Writer, Administrator, Intercessor.

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CHILDHOOD TRAUMA T

The title of a 2019 article, Marriage gets cold shoulder, caught my attention. As I continued to read, I realized that Corey Robinson, a Jamaica Gleaner staff reporter was referring to data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) which was presented by the Director-General, Carol Coy. The data revealed that there was a steady decline in the number of marriage ceremonies and an increase in divorces in Jamaica between 2015 and 2018. I am aware of similar trends in other countries.

As an associate counselling psychologist, who specializes in working with children, I immediately thought of several of my young clients. I recalled stories of the pain, trials, and trauma many of them report when their parents separate or divorce. In my experience, when parents decide to separate or divorce there is very little that I as a counsellor can do to change that decision. I usually wish I could help these parents see how devastating their decision will be to their child or children. This is because the consequences of divorce are immediate and may last for a lifetime.

The pain may be less as the years pass but it almost never goes completely.

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So, who is minding the children when parents separate or divorce? Ideally, the same parents should do so, provided that they develop a healthy system of coparenting. Counselling can help them to do this. If this does not happen, children are left feeling insecure, unloved, and unsafe. In some situations, children have been aware of violent arguments, physical fights, and constant quarrels between their parents late into the night. Some children have reported having to cover their heads with pillows to block the noise. Others have cried themselves to sleep over and over. Still, others have rushed into their parents’ room and begged them to stop or go see a counsellor. Many children have difficulty understanding and talking about the changes they experience. In an effort to get attention and help, they begin to behave differently. Some regress while others grow up fast and take on adult roles.

Observant caregivers of children under four years of age may notice any or all of the following behaviour changes: they eat too much or too little, they sit by themselves and stop interacting with the other children or they begin to hit other children or speak harshly to others. They

October - December 2021

FROM DIVORCE may sit and stare or cry and throw tantrums. Some who are potty trained may revert to wetting and soiling their underwear. They may request to be fed instead of eating independently. In my practice, I have noticed more violence in children’s play or the stories in their play may convey themes of conflict.

School-aged children and adolescents may be angry and defiant. They may also devise schemes and ways of getting their parents together. As reported to me, their greatest wish is to have happy parents, who love and talk to each other peacefully. In over twenty years of practice, I can only recall that there were children from two families who said that they were happy that their parents were not together.

If you are a parent who has separated or divorced, and you are thinking that the content of this article is unsympathetic or discouraging, please don’t despair. There is life and hope after separation and divorce.

There is so much that you can do and you can definitely trust God to help you.

So, how can you mind your children after separation or divorce? Continue to love them unconditionally, even when you don’t like their other parent and you have decided to separate from the person. Teach them selflove and self-care skills. Assure them that they did nothing wrong to cause the separation or divorce. Seek support for the children and yourself from informed and reliable persons: a supportive relative, a trusted friend, a community-based worker, a teacher, a pastor, or a counsellor.

Above all, as co-parents, make the effort to talk to each other and make a workable and practical plan to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of your children. Finally, pray always, your Heavenly Father is at hand. p

By Pauline Bain. Associate counselling psychologist at Family Life Ministries Jamaica with focus on counselling and play therapy for children.

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The Case For Mentorship &

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Foster Care

Here I am, 50, single and childless, praying earnestly for a family of my own, instead, God has been positioning me to be salt and light in the lives of a few of His masterpieces through service in the areas of Mentorship and Foster Care.

Mentorship For many years, I played a lead role in the philanthropic strategy for a multinational entity whose focus was on education. This gave me an opportunity to touch the lives of thousands of youths in Jamaica. I was able to impact lives through the creation of a mentorship programme

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wherein scholars who indicated that they needed a mentor were matched with an employee who was screened, trained and supported throughout their involvement with the programme.

As Coordinator of the programme though I was not assigned to only one scholar, I bonded with many, and a mentee group morphed into a family. We enjoyed various activities periodically which included dinners, lunches, barbecues and beach trips.

This family became one that facilitated the achievement of dreams and goals as it provided a major source of encouragement,

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an avenue of self-expression and escape. Moreover, the mentees were now exposed to the vast possibilities outside of their seemingly bleak situations which ultimately caused them to rise to achieve their promising potentials.

Their testimonies leave individuals inspired and awestruck at their accomplishments against all odds.

This Family inspired a burgeoning strategist who despite seeing the violent death of her father while battling the debilitating scoliosis illness, was able to achieve the coveted Governor General’s Award for scholastic excellence.

She continued maintaining high grades throughout high school and university while caring for an ailing mother all the while negotiating life in the inner-city community of Western Kingston. She is now a wife, expectant mother of twins and strategist with one of Jamaica’s premier companies. This family also nurtured and mentored a visionary community leader, who upon witnessing the death of his best friend was inspired to commit himself to show youths in his community and in communities across the globe that there are alternatives to a life of idleness and crime. He is now a global activist, entrepreneur and Private Sector executive. He has demonstrated that through faith in God, hard work and determination, goals can be achieved.

This same family was a source of encouragement to an aspiring musician, who was tasked with the responsibility of supporting a family of six during his teen and young adult years. However, he never lost sight of his dreams and is today a successful gospel musician and husband.

This family again, provided added support and encouragement to a brilliant mind as he traversed the harsh streets of Down Town Kingston, peddling his goods to help his mother feed a family of nine until he got to the halls of a Michigan University. Today, he is a qualified Engineer working for one of the largest car manufacturers in the world!

There are many more stories to be told, and although I did not give birth to these young lives I played a

role in nurturing them. What is clear to me now, is that if I had a regular nuclear family, I would not have been able to bring this extended family together and would’ve probably lost the opportunity to be God’s hand extended in the manner I was able to. This was perhaps the ‘mothering’ role God purposed for me in that season!

to deprive the fatherless of justice” and when they are harvesting their fields, leave enough for the fatherless and the widow with the promise that if you do “the Lord your God will bless you in all the work of your hands”. Additionally, Psalm 68:5 states that God is a “Father to the fatherless…God places the lonely in families”.

Foster Care

It is poignantly clear that God expects His people to care for children in need! This is a clear mandate!

In 2019, I became the Director of Jamaica’s first non-Government Foster Care Agency sponsored

by Family Life Ministries (FLM) in Jamaica. The For The Child (FTC) Foster Care programme provides Christian homes for children in difficult circumstances, who are in need of a loving home and counselling support. The programme offers a therapeutic family environment, counselling for foster parents and child as well as a monthly parenting workshop for the families. Parents are recruited from the church community in Jamaica and they must be Christians, residents of Jamaica and meet certain criteria established by the programme.

Christian Communities in Jamaica and the Diaspora are being called upon to support this move of God to rescue vulnerable children in Jamaica.

The Bible is very clear on how we are to treat the vulnerable and the lonely. In Exodus 22:22-23, we are told that we are not to, “take advantage of a widow or orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry”. In Deuteronomy, we read that God “defends the cause of the fatherless…. giving him food and clothing”. Deuteronomy 24, there is a reminder to God’s people “not

In both roles above, I saw the difference it made in the lives of the children/mentees and the parents/mentors. So how should you respond after reading this article? If you feel a call to foster a child, pursue it! If you live in Jamaica contact the For The Child Foster Care Programme at Family Life Ministries (FLM). If you are in the Diaspora, still contact them and see how you can help. If you don’t feel called to fostering but still would like to help the ministry, please contact the Ministry at the details below. God wants us to help the fatherless and motherless in our society. Will you respond to this call? The need is great![1] “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

(James 1:27) p

By Debbie Clue Writer who currently resides in Canada.

1. If you are interested in Fostering a Child or supporting the For The Child Foster Care Program, you can contact the Director Mrs. Holly McFarlane at (876) 816-0889

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15

Godly

PARENTING

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Knowing that the early years of a child (0 – 6 years) are the most impressionable ones, and that if transformation is to come to a Nation, planting seeds of godly principles into the lives of children is one way to bring about that change, led to the beginning of Kings Kid Nursery and Preschool (KKNP). The use of a Bible-based curriculum, The Abeka from Pensacola Florida, which infuses Christian truths into the different subject areas, made it possible to train children not only in academics but in godly principles. 24 years later, the fruit of those principles has become a reality in the life of my past students. Recently, I was contacted by a father of one past students Roger, who wanted to express thanks for the impact KKNP made on his child’s life. He can still recall songs about Jesus that his son was constantly singing. Today, Roger is an accomplished Pilot who speaks boldly of his faith in the Lord.

The impact of Christian education on the lives of children cannot be overemphasized. God in His wisdom, knowing what He wanted for mankind, established a framework where His commands would be obeyed. This would be the blueprint of mankind’s lifestyle.

He gave the first couple a directive, “…be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, reproducing after their own kind…” Genesis 1:27-28. This directive established the family structure - mother and father in a committed relationship raising children. Further directives were given to parents on how parenting should be done when it is to be done and the purpose of parenting His way. These directives were to be taught to children and

repeated on all occasions, Deut.

6:6-9,24.

His purpose was for successive generations to know and obey His Word and seek after Him with their whole hearts.

This responsibility was given to the home, where parents would embrace their roles and nurture the heritage and gifts that God gave them. In doing this, prosperity and long life would come to their children and their children’s children.

However, many parents stepped away from that blueprint, living lives entwined in the world systems, shifting their focus from being the teacher/trainer to living over scheduled lifestyles, concerned primarily about their own path.

Their parenting responsibilities have evolved to being more intentional in the choice of schools and extra-curricular activities, rather than being resolute about their children’s relationship with the Lord.

Consequently, children are confused about what to believe, and are ignorant of what is right or wrong. Their belief and value systems have been moulded by social media, the latest electronic gadgets, nannies, and schools that expose them to curricula that are contrary to biblical principles.

These have contributed to identity confusion, created children with unmet needs, low self-esteem, and other physical influences. Despite this, parents continue to live their lives focusing on self-achievement and self-gratification while children are being cared for by “secondary parents”.

in His Book before they were formed, Psalm 139:16. Parents must realize that they need to cooperate with God to bring forth that plan.

To do so, they need to model a godly lifestyle. Their children need to see the reality of God in them, then using everyday examples teach them about God. Since prayer is the lifeline of all believers, parents need to make the prayer their lifestyle too, thus teaching them to talk to God about anything. When prayers are answered, nurture their faith by sharing answers with them, finally give them the assurance of your faith in God by teaching stories from the Bible, TV, books, and life experiences to convey meaning.

Parenting is a challenging role; it is not for the weak hearted. It requires commitment and a good dose of relationship-building skills coupled with the Word of God. Since God has given us everything that pertains to life and godliness, parents have the manual to parent His way. Psalm 127:4 likened children to arrows and parents to warriors. God wants parents to ready their children through disciplining/training and looking about their best welfare, Proverbs 29: 15,17, then aim/guide them in the right direction, “…by training them in the way they should go…” Proverbs 22:6, then finally releasing them – firing them into the world with rock-like character, becoming whom God has ordained them to be. Parents let’s use God’s parenting blue print! p

God’s plan for children was written October - December 2021

By June Alecia Cooper BA Guidance & Counselling Former principal of King’s Kid Nursery and Preschool

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The case for

HOMESCHOOLING YOUR CHILDREN

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By Faith Clarke Author, consultant & manager of Melody of Autism helping parents run family centered ventures while supporting special needs children.

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What Is Homeschooling?

Homeschooling is any facilitation of learning that happens outside of the four walls of the school building; in your home, in your community, in classes that you’ve organized for your kids, on the playground, or at the museum. It’s helping your kids find resources, people, experiences, and classes that will help them be ready for their adult life. Most parents already do this, even when their kids are in traditional school.

Why I Homeschooled?

I wanted my kids to experience learning, living, and working with humans across a wide range of ages and stages in life. In summary, I homeschooled so that I could understand my unique learner and design learning experiences that catalyze their uniqueness instead of suppressing it, so that they could go as far as they wanted, dig as deep as they wanted, in any area that they loved.

Your Values Matter The conversation begins with knowing your values about living effectively in the world and helping little humans prepare for life. Your thoughts on how your child will become ready for their life and whether the non-homeschooling options will help with this readiness will help you know if homeschooling is a good option for you.

If you’re considering homeschooling, something about the current traditional schooling offer seems to not fit your family, your kids, or your own values.

What’s Important to You and Your Family?

Make a list of what that is. Figure out your ‘must haves’ for learning and

developing readiness in your child.

Those will be the building blocks of the homeschooling experience you facilitate. There are so many benefits to the flexibility of learning that you could offer in your home school for your learner. This could be• The most suitable curriculum • The best fit structure of learning times • The variety of extracurricular activities • Authentic and real-world learning • Real work experiences/ apprenticeships • Specialized therapy and customized, eclectic classes How do we do this?

Homeschool depends on who you are and what your life is like.

Firstly, determine when you would homeschool? For many, the school system also functions as child care while parents are at work. If you work a traditional 9 to 5 job, then you may not want to homeschool on a school day, you could homeschool on weekends and holidays. Figure out a schedule that suits your family.

What type of learning facilitator are you?

Figuring out your own style is really important because your kids won’t do well if you aren’t doing well. Are you the kind of person that feels more comfortable with the textbooks, workbooks, and curriculum guiding you through specific topics? Or are you more of a conversationalist who would love documentaries and short videos of interest that you and your kids will then discuss? Or do you just figure it out as you go? You might be the person that loves to be creative and hands-on. You could then outsource the more traditional lessons that you

really want for your learners but just don’t want to do yourself. You could connect with other homeschoolers or join classes with a combination of learners to do those topics.

Resources A wide range of homeschooling styles abound, the library, the internet and Google is your friend.

Research the style that’s closest to what you want, and look at the resources that other parents and educators have already created that fit that style. Resources like audible and YouTube are invaluable and can add a variety of content and that pulls on the creativity of many amazing teachers. You don’t have to do this on your own. Homeschooling coops provide an opportunity for you to share with other homeschoolers.

You contribute by teaching and your kids get to build community.

Again, this entire journey is about knowing your learner and knowing what combination of guidance and self-directing they’re able to benefit from at any stage of their life.

The Legalities It’s important for you to know the legal requirements for homeschooling in your area and to figure out what you need to provide to a government entity to make sure your home school is compliant.

They’re many Facebook groups and other communities off-line that you could join that will help you in your area.

The Pro’s of Homeschooling • Flexibility - you design a learning experience that fits your learner, your family routine, and your values.

• Variety - Having a learning experience that gives your learner a wide range of experiences Continued on page 40 >>

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19

Father Me

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“A Father to the fatherless, a Defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

God sets the lonely in families…” (Psalm Chapter 68, verses 5-6a) It has been said that children receive their sense of identity from their fathers. It’s true. This sense of identity rightly received, stabilizes the child’s personality, and allows them to rightly relate to themselves and others, producing confidence and the capacity for empathy/compassion.

A Nation of Orphans I was born in a nation with the secondhighest rate of children born out of wedlock in the world (over 80%). A local university study also discovered that a great percentage of children in this nation either do not know or do not have a good relationship with their biological fathers.

There’s even a notorious gang known as “The Fatherless Crew” - reflective of the deep crisis this beloved country has been stumbling through over the decades; manifested in blood-soaked streets, rampant sexual immorality, thefts, corruption, debauchery, and broken homes, hearts and bodies.

Effectively, We Are a Nation of Orphans.

And yet, our national anthem, a prayer to the Lord, begins: “Eternal Father…”.

The Lord, in His foreknowledge of the crisis we would face, put it into the minds of our forefathers to pen a prayer to God, petitioning Him to take us up as His children. The Lord is our Father, and He takes up the cause of

the fatherless, and the woman with no husband.

God Isn’t Like Your Father It can be difficult to think of the Lord God – the Creator of the Universe, and Sovereign Ruler of the ages, as a father.

Partly, because, we tend to project a concept of fatherhood based upon our experiences with our own earthly fathers or father figures, upon Him. But God is not like your earthly father; He isn’t even like the good ones. As the songwriter says, “even the best of them, are just broken people.”

The Bible teacher, Corey Russell, declares that God is not a middle-class, working, well-meaning dad, who just doesn’t have the time or energy to deal with his children.

The Eternal Father never has an ‘off ’ day.

He never grows weary of his children, or tires of their prayers. The Everlasting Father is never too busy to attend to our cry and He isn’t balancing competing priorities. He always hears and is always moved by the sound of our voices.

Our feeblest efforts to reach out to Him touch His heart. Our Heavenly Father never snaps at us, holds grudges, abuses, manipulates, or compares us to our siblings. He is always present, never absent, and is ever contending for our greatness. He is our biggest champion, best friend, leader, defender, provider, and protector.

acceptance of the atoning work of Christ Jesus on the cross. We take His name.

No longer orphans covered with shame, we receive the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry, “Abba”, “Father”- literally “Daddy”.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father has for us, granting us the awesome privilege of being called children of God!” (1 John chapter 3, verse 1) The Father’s Heart I believe that one of the things we all desperately need is a right view of God. In seeing Him rightly, we perceive ourselves and others rightly and are able to relate to the world appropriately.

Today, perhaps for the first time, hear the truth of the Word - the Lord longs to father you, and receive you into His family. You have a place in His heart and home that can be filled by no one else.

Allow the Lord to Father You Oh Abba, open the eyes of our hearts that we might know the vastness of your love for us in Christ Jesus. May we receive afresh Your Spirit of sonship, Your Spirit that testifies to our spirits that we are Your children. We are not illegitimate children, but we have been accepted fully by You and in You. Reveal to us Your heart toward us - as Father. p

By Francesca Tavares An attorney-at-law and an avid reader who loves Jesus and is determined to fulfil His purposes

It is His identity that we assume when we become His children, through

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Single Parenting Support Needed

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“There is a high and increasing proportion of single-parent families in Jamaica. This has raised concerns about the potential impact of single-parent families on the social, cognitive and behavioral development of children, including their sexual relationships.” These words from the opening of the publication of research conducted by Cambridge University Press in 2016. The study found that 41% of Jamaican families are single-parent families.[1] Regionally

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October - December 2021

(Caribbean), one source describes the phenomenon as being at a higher level. Forty-eight percent of black Caribbean families have one parent, as do 36 percent of black African households.[2] The situation in the United States is relatively similar, with one researcher reporting it at 33%.[3] Across Atlantic Britain’s stats are closer to 50%, according to the same source for the Caribbean’s numbers. With all of the above said, in my view, the more significant statistic for the purposes of this article is this: Nine out of ten single-parent families are headed by mothers.

That aspect of the data is being singled out because of what the research is consistently pointing towards in terms of the ways in which the effects of single parenting on children become exacerbated by the absence of fathers. This article seeks to raise the challenges of single parenting with a special focus on that factor in the hope of reconnecting the hearts of our men to the children and igniting a burden in the heart of the men of the church towards spiritual fathering, mentoring, and discipleship.

Single parents face myriad obstacles, not the least of which are: Shelter: Lone-parent families are three times more likely to live in rented accommodation than couples with children and are also more likely to live in homes that fall below minimum standards.

Poverty: Single-parent families are far more vulnerable to economic hardships than couple-led families. ‘Having just one income is likely to affect the child.

‘It is also likely the parent is going to have to work longer hours so it minimizes important contact between parent and child.[4]

A full list of the challenges of single parenting would read like a list of side effects for one of the TV medication advertisements: • •

•

• • •

• • •

• • • •

• •

Coping with loss (of a partner, lover, friend, and fellow parent) Battling societal prejudice and stigma of single-parent homes and care-giving Maintaining self-confidence in the eyes and judging of others (stereotyping) Feelings of doubt, low self-esteem, and inadequacy Balancing effective parenting with career (work/home) life Assuming additional roles and responsibilities (being everything to everyone) Enabling and Adjusting to the new role and circumstances Dealing and coping with own emotions and changed condition Dealing with the rest of the family, stepfamily, new romantic interests, dating and support networks[5] Visitation and custody problems.

The effects of the continuing conflict between the parents.

Less opportunity for parents and children to spend time together.

Effects of the breakup on children’s school performance and peer relations.

Disruptions of extended family relationships.

Problems caused by the parents’ dating and entering new relationships.

A careful examination of the above reveals a common thread, the ripple effect of the absence of fathers from the family structure. Apart from these matters arising there is much more to be said about that deficit in and of itself. Stephan Baskerville of Howard University has expressed; that “Virtually every major pathology has been linked to fatherlessness. Violent crime, drug

and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, suicide – all correlate more strongly to fatherlessness than any other single factor.” The authors of, The World Needs A Father, a manual for addressing fatherlessness indicate that recent research concludes that dysfunctional family life is the biggest problem in the world and fatherlessness is at the center of the problem.

Understanding the complex situation faced by single-parent families is an important first step. If we are convinced that the family is an institution established by God and that in God’s scheme of things the family is designed to be the first building block of every society it should mean that we are prepared to follow God’s guidelines as we make every effort to support those in such situations.

I submit to us that we need a corporate and individual commitment to reaching out to such families. Start with just one of the challenges highlighted here and find practical solutions. I suspect we each know of at least one such family. What will you do to help?

Reach out to one such family and forge a partnership of support. p

By Teddy A. Jones Public Theologian, Author and Life Coach

1. https://globalvoices.org/2020/05/27/has-covid19-worsened-or-improved-jamaican-familydynamics/ 2. https://metro.co.uk/2007/04/10/race-divideon-single-parents-251523/ 3. https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/familyliving/single-parenting-challenges-rewards/#gs. bh2ihr 4. Michael Scanlan. https://metro. co.uk/2007/04/10/race-divide-on-single-parents-251523/ 5. https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/familyliving/single-parenting-challenges-rewards/#gs. bh2ihr | Child Development Institute

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TESTIMONY TEENAGE

PREGNANCY A case of bad parenting?

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I am Crooxcine Cooper-Mayes, I am from the Island of Jamaica, the eastern parish of St. Thomas, where I was raised by my single-parent mom with 8 siblings including my twin sister.

Growing up in rural Jamaica, fondly called ‘country’ by Jamaicans, wasn’t easy without the presence of a father figure in the house. My mother was the breadwinner, leaving early to come home late, taking whatever work available from bartending to hard labor in a factory, to provide for us.

The opportunity arose and 4 of my siblings traveled overseas for work, which resulted in a more spacious living arrangement and less financial strain on my mother. We had cable TV back then this was a status symbol

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and I was living my best life.

Yet with all of this, there was still an aching void that nothing could fill. I questioned my mother but her angry expletive-filled reaction to my outspokenness did me more harm than good. This behavior compounded my notion that she preferred and loved my twin more than me, nothing I did was ever good enough. I longed for praise and recognition, I needed her attention.

Rejected, I could either be found by myself or playing with my brother.

The void grew deeper especially the feeling that she didn’t love me and my father didn’t want me.

She wasn’t a Christian, but she had one rule that she lived by; church was mandatory for us. We would attend two different churches arriving for

Y

Sunday school and staying for the entire service. With the turbulence at home and mom being so strict, church became a nonjudgemental haven for me. I was amazed that I could ask questions and get answered without hostility. I felt peace, joy, and happiness. This sense of peace connected me to God. I can still remember my first encounter with God, it was through His words Psalms (KJV) Psalms 24:7–8 “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.”

This resonated with me as I was desperate for someone to defend me.

Once again my life changed, a new family moved into the community with a son aged 17. He was the talk of the town, he was handsome.

Every girl in my age group dreamed of him. I was shocked when he asked me to be his friend.

My inner yearnings were realized; I felt loved and wanted, I was SPECIAL. I was head over heels in love. However, there was never enough time, based on my upbringing the only time I could see him was during church or before Mom came home. My commute was school, church, and home. So church soon became our meeting ground.

In March 2005 there was a crusade that deepened my connection with God, tears were streaming down my face and I couldn’t keep still, I went to the altar and the elders prayed over me. The feeling only intensified and I was baptized by the end of the crusade period.

All was well in my world, I had a boyfriend who adored me and God who loves me. What more could

I ask for? That void didn’t ache anymore. I became active in church, I sang in the choir, I glorified God in song and dance. Yet, I harbored a secret, away from prying eyes, we were having sex.

In August of the same year, my bubble exploded, the Sunday I was dancing to Alabaster Box and on Monday my world crashed at my feet at a doctor’s appointment.

I was laying on the table when the doctor made the announcement that would change my life forever.

“You’re five months pregnant.”

There was absolute horror and anger on my mother’s face. She simply walked out of the office with these words, “I am not paying for this.”

I was so devastated and crushed; I wanted to disappear. I was never more ashamed, so embarrassed I did not know how I would walk out, as my life just crashed and burned.

My only little hope, I believed would be my boyfriend, but when I finally shared our news I realized then that I was truly alone as his response was, “So what are you going to do?”

I was broken, unable to come to terms with what was happening to me, I was five months pregnant.

There was no one to offer me comfort as my mom no longer spoke to me, she gave me the silent treatment. The community was unkind, I was treated as though my pregnancy was contagious as though I could infect others with just my presence. I was utterly alone, for days I could not eat, or sleep.

My new normal was sitting at the back of the yard under a tree, I wept… I questioned God. I considered suicide. I researched ways to abort the thing growing inside me so that my life would go back to normal. The only light in the darkness was my bigger sister who encouraged me.

In September, my heart was once again ripped apart when my twin and other friends from the community were going back to school and I had nowhere to go.

My mother’s only words to me were, “You Nah stay in here and hide.”

There was nowhere to hide, I was now the talk of the town, I was openly criticized and ostracized there was no one to defend or protect me. I became bitter and callous, with the pain and hurt that I felt, I had no outlet.

My turning point was when I went to the Women’s Center of Jamaica and met a woman of wisdom, she empowered me with stories of women in similar situations who were able to go back to school and excelled. She gave me the hope I didn’t know that I needed, that it was not the end, that I could survive, and being pregnant at 15 was not my entire story.

To my teen moms and other young women out there, your situation does not define you. Do not hang your head in shame. Believe Psalms 3:3 (KJV) “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”

Today, I am married and serving God, my child is doing well, we are a blessed, blended family. Resolve to emotionally and spiritually nurture your children and not just provide materially. What matters is the promise and potential God has blessed you with. I know this process hurts and you may feel alone, but you are never alone. Look to God, He is your comfort and your peace.

You cannot see it right now, there is purpose in your pain. p

By Crooxcine Cooper-Mayes Motivation/Empowerment speaker Christian Life coach and mentor, Sunday school teacher

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ROLLING OUT THE WOMEN

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As Women we are carriers of the purpose of God, we have the divine nature of God in us. We are not defined by who men say we are but we are defined by who God says we are. We are God’s masterpiece, fearfully and wonderfully made by Him ( Eph 2:10). Women are on God’s agenda for kingdom endtime purposes.

The heart of the Lord is to pull his daughters out of obscurity, out of insecurity, out of hiding, out of the shadows, out of complacency, out of all forms of bondages. The Lord has broken the old mold that has kept us captives for years. He has released the limitations of us so that we can function in the way He wants us to. It is roll call time. Are we on duty? Are we in position?

There is an upper room waiting for us when we are in one accord.

There is a mighty rushing wind that has come as in the book of Acts of the Apostles. The cloven tongues of fire are there and it is already sitting on the heads of our women to equip us for greater service and power in this kingdom season.

I would like to focus on three kingdom roles that women can and should function in: 1. Women were created to help exercise authority and dominion over God’s creation. We were born to have dominion. This mandate was given to both Adam ad Eve. When God made mankind God called his creation Adam- Mankind. It was Adam who called her name Eve. In Gen 1: 26-28- There is a mandate for us to have and to take dominion.

This is an authoritative order from God given to Adam and Eve. They were to exercise authority

together. The fall came and women lost status but this did not alter the plan of God for our lives. This was never God’s original idea or intent for women not to exercise authority. Jesus has restored that which was lost during the fall. There is a wonderful redeeming work that was done on the cross. The blood of Jesus is efficacious (efficient). It is time for us to launch out into the deep where the Lord wants us to be. There is a great catch of fish as we let down our nets for a draught.

In the Kingdom, there is neither male nor female Gal 3:28. It is a new season, it is a new day fresh anointing is coming our way. It is the kingdom season of power and authority.

• We can’t be spectators • We are active citizens in the kingdom of God • Our primary goal is to establish the Kingdom of God on the earth.

Let us function in that God-given authority and mandate. We must partake in the dominion and restoration authority given to us co-laborers in the Kingdom of God. As women, we must prepare the earth for the return of the Lord.

This is the appointed time.

2. The second rolling out for our women is in the area of Leadership. Leadership is the ability to influence others to achieve organizational goals or desired objectives. This involves giving guidance and direction and leading by example. Effective leadership in the world and in the church is in high demand.

Women have and will continue to be used by God to lead His people. Mic 6:4 I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you

from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron, and Miriam. Neither Miriam nor Aaron walked perfectly before the Lord but that does not say negate the fact that she was chosen as a leader. In Exo 15:20 she took the timbrel in her hand and all the women followed her.

She sang a triumphant song unto the Lord.

Leadership is part of the dominion authority given to us and demonstrated also in the lives of a number of women such as Deborah, Esther, Huldah Come on Women of God, what area of responsibility is the Lord calling you to? If you already know your area of responsibility, I challenge you to function at the highest dimension.

3. Women were used to Publish/ proclaim/declare the word of the Lord. Ps. 68:11- the Lord gave the word/command and great is the company of women who published it. Celebration of victories over the enemy as they stood ready to publish the Word of the Lord. Publishing comes through various means that the Lord will avail to us such as preaching, teaching, prophesying, evangelizing, praying, training and disciple.

God is calling women to a purpose greater than themselves.

The Lord is calling us to accuracy.

Sisters, what are you hearing? Is it the voice of the Lord? We must hear correctly so that we can speak on behalf of God. p Jennifer Williams A Christian for 44 years. Bible teacher, Writer, Administrator, Intercessor.

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World In View

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The Nanny State vs Parents!

The SOGI Curriculum COMING To A School Near You UNLESS we STOP IT IN the SPIRIT! There used to be a time when parents did not need to think about what is being taught to their children in school about gender. In those days the school and parents agreed that humans are created, male or female. You can no longer assume that this is so. According to the SOGI curriculum introduced in British Columbia, Canada in 2016, gender is not about what you were born with or identified as at birth. It is about how you feel! Kids are being taught that it is ok to be transgender, bi-sexual, homosexual, or whatever you feel like at the time. They say it’s not indoctrination but about learning to accept people the way they are. I say this is a war against fundamental Christian beliefs and the innocence of our children.

We can no longer sit idly by and send our children into the school system trusting that they are being taught our beliefs. Check the curriculum when it comes home. Check the homework that is given and make informed choices.

Whether that means homeschool or Christian school, believers may want to start making these choices now so their children are not indoctrinated to believe that nothing is sinful anymore and our sexual preferences are our choice and nothing to do with how God designed us.

Predators online When it comes to technology, parents are way behind the curve and need to 28

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start looking at everything their children see including video games and chats.

The hidden messages and pornographic images being subtly introduced to our children should cause us to review and play any game we introduce to our children before even allowing them to see it.

Not that I am saying technology is bad.

Cellular phones are quite useful but also can be used for bullying, accessing websites, and advertisements that are inappropriate. “A survey of more than 6,000 10 to 18-year-olds from June to August last year found that about 50% of children had experienced at least one kind of cyberbullying in their lifetime, according to a report published in February by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). In the 11 European countries included in the report, 44% of children who had been cyberbullied before lockdown said it happened even more during the lockdown. (February 2021).” https:// enough.org/stats_cyberbullying .

According to https://www.guardchild.com/ statistics/ 116,000 child pornography requests are made daily on the internet and 70% of children between the ages of 7 to 18 years old accidentally encountered pornographic images while on the internet completing homework.

Parents, I am calling upon you to be actively involved in what your children see using all the technology available to them. Filtering or blocking software may be helpful but will not be not as effective as ensuring that what our children see or access is monitored.

October - December 2021

Gay choir coming for your kids https://youtu.be/ArOQF4kadHA Youtube is a popular “babysitter” for many of our children today. As parents, we need to be vigilant. In this video “A Message From the Gay Community” Performed by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, the singers inform parents that they are coming after our children so they (the gay community) can inform them on how to become more ‘respectful and caring human beings.’

Apparently, they see it as their job to teach kids not to hate. Teaching God’s moral laws to our children is now seen as offensive and outdated. The “gay agenda” according to this song is to convert our children and then the children in turn will then convert the parents. This should cause you to sit up and take notice that now more than ever “your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). He is trying to devour our children and as parents, we need to stand up and teach our children the truth of God’s word from the womb.

Further Reading-British Sex Education https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/relationships-educationrelationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-healtheducation/introduction-to-requirements Relationship and Sex Education for Primary https://cwpresources.co.uk/ resources/rse_pri/ Cheryl Williams Author, Educator and Church Administrator.

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I was once a member of a Christian Facebook group that had many hundreds of members.

I remember once posting a question as follows. If one day (for whatever reason) you had to request a baby-sitter from an agency for your 11 year old daughter and the man that eventually turned up, sent by the agency, had a prison record for female child molestation but, the agency assured you that he was now reformed and would be okay to child mind your daughter for the day and while speaking with him your daughter came into the room and the way his eyes glanced up and down her made you very uncomfortable.

Would you allow him to be alone with your daughter for the day?

The resounding answer was, NO. I then posed another question.

As a church leader, a young man, someone you do not know, forwarded an application to be accepted as a member of your church. (Members can hold offices in the church like councillor or youth leader etc.)

Upon investigation you discover that he is in an unmarried relationship with another female and has a high rate of partner turnover. Upon questioning this young man stated that he had no problems with premarital sex and that he had no plans to change his present lifestyle.

When I asked if they would give membership to this person they said, YES. I could hardly contain my shock when I realised how little people cared about the welfare of God’s children. Everyone was vigilant

in protecting their own children but would, without a second thought, let a predator loose among God’s precious sheep. Do you now understand why there’s such a HIGH RATE OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE CHURCH? Based on these alarming facts the more pertinent question might not be, ‘Who is minding our children?’ Taking care of our children is normally maternally and paternally natural, but...

‘WHO IS MINDING GOD’S CHILDREN?’

Throwing God's Children to the Wolves

God left His children in our care and we have handed them over to predators in the interest of increased membership and tithing intake. “I urge you then to see that your “flock of God” is properly fed and cared for.

Accept the responsibility of looking after them willingly and not because you feel you can’t get out of it, doing your work not for what you can make, but because you are really concerned for their well-being.” 1 Peter 5:2 (Phillips) ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: “As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock...”’ Ezekiel 34:7-8 God’s children are abandoned and left to be devoured by wolves, yet there’s no outcry or emergency plan to rescue them.

Something is terribly wrong. p

The

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WHO IS PARENTING

YOUR CHILDREN?

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As a mother of four adult children, the grandmother of five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, I am deeply saddened since watching this video[1] with a little boy who, when interviewed and asked what he wanted to be when he grew up answered, a murderer.

It was clear that he was not joking and had given it much thought and would not be easily convinced otherwise. The News reporter asked him what influenced his decision. He said that his older brother’s games and movies had lots of killing and he loved to kill and will make it his mission in life. He said he would kill everybody who dares to cross him except his mother and father and brother of course but everyone else will die. Where did we fail this little boy?

Too long, have some of us as parents relinquished our parental rights to: • The Daycare Providers • The Babysitters • The neighbor(s) and or an older sibling.

Unfortunately, even in a sheltered and nurturing home environment, both our male and female children are being sexually abused.

Some children never shared their abuse with their parent(s) for various reasons.

Chances are, in some cases; the folks we deem capable of being a safety net and a shelter base to facilitate our absence, literally destroy the future of our precious and innocent children.

Could It be, that we’re also experiencing a ‘Pandemic’ of the Un-protected minors?

Please don’t think I am being naive in saying, some parents have to provide for their child or children (family) as the breadwinner(s) in most situations however, what I am saying is: There are not enough loving, caring, and compassionate home environments for our children in our world today, and; the buck should stop at you, you, and especially you.

I remember as a mother and a Clergy Officiate, that on Sundays, our Sunday School was like an unpaid Daycare Center for the day.

Here, the child/children was provided one or two meals and some healthy snacks while the parent(s) attended Church.

In some cases; the child/children was dropped off and You guessed it; the parent(s) took off, I mean, they left the Church Grounds.

This Is Not A Guilt Trip. Here’s another scenario, we have gone through different ages and stages of parenting: • The Latch Key parenting.

• The Drop off systems.

• The Play Dates Systems etc.

Whichever seemingly works best on an individual basis is what we sometimes inflict upon on our future Presidents, Prime Ministers, Judges, Doctors, Nurses, etc. Yes, these are some of the great men and women that God has blessed us with, stop and think about this if you have not received anything else from this article, please.

In many instances, the Clergy Officiates and Congregants stood as Godparents for the babies that were and still are born in each designated Ministry.

While this is a divine blessing, some of these selected Godparents have a family of their own and lovingly nurture and educate our children born in the Church willingly.

Being a Godparent should not be a ‘Life Sentence’ however, a God-given role to be administered in the life of the parents and the child/children and not a burden.

I truly ask that we reverse the role of children having children. As parents, we become accountable and responsible for the lives we usher into our church and communities today.

Let us think long term about the nurturing and mentoring process as parents. The things and investments we implement in the lives of our children today will produce lifelong results in the future of our men and women of tomorrow. p

By Tiveen Perry Pastor, Certified Life Coach, Certified Breast Cancer Mentor.

1. https://youtube.com/shorts/HCex7wQcjyo?feature=share

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India’s Abandoned Children Who Cares for Them?

Hello beautiful people!

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Children are the heritage of the Lord. They bring joy and give meaning to the life of the family.

Today, I would like to share with you about the forsaken, suffering, neglected children who are in the streets. I grew up seeing street children and now work as a social worker for them. I would like to share my first-hand experience.

Why are they on the street?

Sometimes we take things for granted, basic things which they long for like- parents and a roof over their heads. When I was a teenager I was on the bus to school, I was holding a bar of chocolate.

A boy was begging for money. I said, “I am sorry, I do not have any money on me.” That boy asked me if I could give him my half-eaten 32

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chocolate. I gave him the leftover, I could see his sad face changing into happiness, not because of the taste of the chocolate but because his acute hunger was relieved.

That incident changed my life.

That face and smile still convict me whenever I take things for granted.

It reminds me that I can share my blessings. What feels unimportant to me becomes their essential.

Maybe that’s the reason I became a minimalist.

So, who is minding the street children?

Now, it’s people like me, Christian

October - December 2021

youths with the heart for them. My family has been in the children’s ministry for the past twenty years. We call ourselves a “HEBRON” family, the shelter for many. My father and uncle rescue the children from the railway stations and under the bridges. Once rescued, we bring them home to a good meal, a shower, and a place to stay.

Children are so forsaken that no buses or vehicles take them in due to their appearance, no Barbers are ready to cut their hair because they scorn them.

We work on the basis of three things: 1. Soap 2. Soup 3. Salvation Firstly, we treat them as fellow human beings by respecting them.

We rescue them, buy them soap,

ask them to shower, give them a hot meal and buy them good clothes.

That is how we show the love of God to them. Good news proclaimed to an empty stomach is never good news. We share the love of God through food and care, create a rapport with them, and invite them to our house and ask them to stay with us. We show them who Jesus is, how caring He is by feeding them, clothing them, and providing them a good education. That’s all a child needs. Love and care expressed.

A small hug is what they want.

Being in the streets makes them vulnerable; they are hurt. It takes time for them to accept us. It takes time for them to heal. We provide the necessary medical treatment and counselling to reverse the things in their mind.

They clean the compartments and the toilets of the trains, moving every day scared for their lives and feeling left out. When they have a roof over their heads, when they are given a bed and towel, they see Jesus through us. That’s who Jesus is. He came to rescue us from all our sins and bondages. Actions speak louder than words.

When Jesus was surrounded by people, some people carried a paralytic man through the roof and dropped him directly to Jesus.

Jesus saw their faith and said “Son, your sins are forgiven” an individual was not able to do this but with the help of the others, they were able to. Similarly, I encourage and invite

you to be the person who carries the burden of the children to Jesus. A helping hand is what we ask for to show them who Jesus is. With your small intervention and contribution, we together can partner and care for the beautiful souls living on the streets.

Who is minding the children?

It’s your and my responsibility to take care of the children in our surroundings. Let’s do what we can to make life beautiful for the street children. Mother Teresa once said, “You may not be able to feed 100 people, but we can feed at least one.” May God bless us all! p Arun Bonkke - Childre’s social worker and Writer SHARE Magazine and #YouthSHRELive team member, India

To contribute to the work of ‘Heavenly Home’ among India’s street children contact us at thesharemagazine.com

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# youth

SHARE

The changing face of family Received 78 responses from 9 countries

What does the changing face of the family look like?

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We had 78 responses to our survey [81.1 Females & and 18.9 Males] hailing from the Bahamas, Canada, India, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, UK and the US. We asked respondents to describe their experience and understanding of what a family is. #Youth Share is trying to ascertain what is the root cause of the emotional pain, psychological trauma, and dysfunction that is being experienced

by Youth. The youth are often generally described as rebellious, could it be that the family is failing to meet their needs?

of God together for their lives and others who join their unit later by natural increase or choice. This group of people live and work together for their common good and to achieve their collective dreams and aspirations. Family isn’t based on blood ties only but on adoption, marriage, and the choice to protect and nurture loved ones.

Summary of the answers - The basic unit of the family is a man and woman in the covenant of marriage under God, with shared biblical beliefs and values, who set out to achieve the will and purposes SHARE|MAGAZINE

Yes No

Answers - 81.9% Yes ,12.9 % Maybe, 5.6% No.

Q1. From your experience define family?

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Answer- 61.6 No, 38.4% Yes

Q2. Is starting your own family a goal?

These were our findings:

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Q3. Were you brought up by both parents living together in a loving relationship?

October - December 2021

Yes No Maybe

Q4. Were you brought up in a singleparent household?

Mother/father/ Other...

Answer - 47.9% No, 38% Yes, Mother insert pie chart There were other single household arrangements includingbrought up by mother and stepfather, grandparents, Grandmother, Auntie and uncle, and extended family but mothers are predominantly the head of single parent house holds.

Q5 Do you consider your family dysfunctional or broken?

Yes No

Answer - 54.2% No, and 45.8% Yes. Interestingly it seems that the family arrangements don’t seem to necessarily reflect the emotional security expressed or experienced in the home. This correlates to the responses to Q1. that families come with different faces.

Q 6. As a child, did you experience love within your family?

Yes No

Answer - This was a very encouraging 84.9% Yes, to 15.1% No. This reinforces the belief that family can serve its emotionally stabilizing function of

creating a sense of belonging even if it is structured in varying ways.

Q7. During your childhood were you faced with any type of rejection that forced you to go looking for love outside of your family?

Yes No

Answer - 64.4% No, 35.6% Yes. This result shows that there is still room for improvement in giving emotional stability and confidence to children even if material and structural provisions are in place they can still want to leave home prematurely.

Quality time, consistent expressions of love, a harmonious environment with clear values and standards are what seems to be needed to improve these results.

Some Outstanding Further Comments to questions 6 and 7.

• The greatest family unit is one that involves God in everything they do, a family that prays together, stays

together. Most if not all ills in society stem from broken and dysfunctional families, therefore to solve the issues in society we need to attack them in the family structure.

• Oftentimes parents did the best they did with the tools they had so some attention needs to be placed on parent training.

• This was what contributed to me getting pregnant as a teen. My mom wasn’t the easiest person to talk to.

She’s always shutting me down or too busy for me.

• Never knew my birth parents, though my adopted family showed me love and acceptance I still felt unqualified and incomplete.

• My Mom was too busy trying to make ends meet to spend time with us and therefore at that time I felt rejected • I was not seen as a part of the family due to my skin color and as such, I started seeking approval and appreciation outside the family.

• My parents were always fighting and it was quite frustrating which drove me to look for love elsewhere. p

By Cypriana R. Parkinson, Construction Engineer (B. Eng., MJIE), Youth Vice-President.

Team leader #YouthSHARE-Live

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PASSIVE WOMB

THE

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An indication against the church’s failure to nurture every child within its sphere of influence – Every child matters.

The Lord has made an everlasting covenant with his firstborn, “the Church”.

The second half of Isaiah 61:3 says “…that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified”.

The Church has been given a mandate by God, to regulate and enforce mandates of righteousness in the earth realm until the heavenly government takes its final place in the earth; according to the book of Revelation chapters 7 through to 9. If we understand foundations and the beginnings of things, we must understand that foundations are extremely important to sustain and continue whatever is built upon them. It is on this premise that the baton must be successfully passed via the next generation, starting with the children.

If the baton is dropped or improperly passed during a relay, the athlete could be in jeopardy of disqualification. The concept of the relay is said to have been originated in ancient Greece, where a message stick was passed along by several couriers. Now that we have discussed the responsibility of the church at its base, and the concept of the relay, we can now use these analogies to determine whether the womb of the church, (that place responsible for the conception and nurturing of life), the carrier, and passer of the message, is functioning as it is supposed to. Or

is it passive, especially as it relates to the children?

We can agree that accurate and successful parenting manuals are yet to be written, except for one, the Bible. Okay, if you are an unbeliever, you might say, “I lost you here,” but stay with me a while longer. Can we agree that on planet earth, the assumption of most, if not all, is that the young of all species including animals, plants and trees, should be protected and nurtured until they are able to assert themselves in the paradigm of life? Rules and laws have been historically put in place to protect this paradigm. This concept was specially established and reinforced

by Christ, as He rebuked His disciples in the book of Luke 18:16, He rebuked those who forbade infants to be brought to Him for a blessing. The disciples might’ve thought that they were interrupting “adult business”. Jesus told them “Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not: for such is the kingdom of God”. He went on to explain in Luke 18:17 that whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. Can we assume; therefore, that, we the church, have dropped the baton and must quickly take corrective measures for restoration and restitution to enter the kingdom of God? Advocates arise, teachers of the scriptures arise, moral and righteous guardians arise. How many suspects, (from the clueless distracted babysitter to the sharks in the pews) will we continue to allow unlimited access to our children.

Children used to be reasonably raised by the village, is this concept now obsolete? Will we continue to ignore our responsibilities to the children and hide behind laze a faire concept that allows us to step away from our responsibilities to the children?

The Church needs to step back into its role as nurturer and protector of the children as mandated by God, or we will be in danger of the judgement as declared by the word of God. According to Luke 17:2 “It were better for him that a millstone was hung about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”

Righteous Destiny must not be denied. We must revisit and remove the shackles of the ambiguity of the law, as we look the other way. Our position can no longer be that of an observer, bereft of responsibilities.

True leaders must now pay more attention to the children and all that concerns them.

We have in a lot of cases, left the fox to guard the henhouse.

Ephesians 1:4 & 5 must be enacted to reawaken our spiritual wombs “According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” (KJV) p

By Rev. Dr. Claudette Simpson UN Peace Ambassador, mentor and advocate of humanitarian and social development causes.

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ThinkFilms!

CUTIES (French: Mignonnes)

CUTIES - A Netflix Original

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Cuties is a French coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Maimouna Doucoure that sparked controversy when it debuted in 2020. Doucoure decided to do the film after walking into an inappropriate talent show and recognizing the hyper-sexualization that was happening with pre-teens.

Although the film received a lot of harsh feedback, it was her intention to show people what was happening with young girls in society and in social media. Doucoure the young actress’s mental health was protected by hiring a psychologist to assist throughout the filming process. The movie is very intense and heart-wrenching, focusing on the traditions of the Muslim way of life versus a young girl looking to be accepted by her peers.

The main actor, Amy (Fathia Youssouf), is an 11-year-old girl who has relocated and does not know any of her peers. She is raised in a Muslim home, whose family is from Senegal. Amy is the oldest with 2 brothers and their mother is waiting on her polygynous husband, who just marries a second wife to return home. Amy is in a new school and becomes intrigued with a group of girls who are dancing. The girls assume she is weird because they catch her continuously watching and following them, therefore they begin to treat her badly. She disregards every moment that she is bullied by the girls and is determined to do whatever it takes to befriend the girls. Upon her success in befriending them, and her determination to be accepted, she agrees to walk into the boy’s bathroom to take pictures with a phone she previously stole. She becomes with watching the young girls on a social media platform and often times lock herself

in the bathroom teaching herself their dance routine and learning how to twerk. She goes as far as to hide inside of her hijab during prayer to listen to and watch videos of what appears to be video dancers and strippers. In her desperation to be accepted, her personality begins to change, and she would leave her home dressed properly but shortly after, practically naked.

She becomes successful in befriending the girls and becomes a part of their twerking dance group leading them into provocative dancing, while also finding out about her dad’s second wife while hiding under her mother’s bed and overhearing her mother crying and heartbroken. This causes her to spiral out of control and become more rebellious. Amy goes as far to prove a point to her friends that she is not a little girl by taking a picture of her vagina and posting it on social media. She was unaware that her actions would bring more chaos and judgement. Her mother, Miriam (Maimouna Gueye), and aunt realize that she has lost her way from her home teaching and that she is behaving inappropriately. They isolate her while throwing water on her and pray over her. They call the Imam (Muslim Pastor) to see if she was possessed and response was that she was not, but it was the stress of what was going on in the home.

In all of Amy’s desperations, she

becomes successful and accepted and partakes in a public talent show. The mothers in the audience are covering their daughters faces due to the provocative nature of the routine. Amy gets an epiphany while she is dancing and messes up the whole routine by running off the stage and going home and finally being embraced by her mom in her time of needing her mother’s love and acceptance. In this moment she realizes her actions have been wrong and she and her mother connected as her mom protects her from the comments of her mother’s aunt and without question embrace her daughter.

A young girl became rebellious due to the hurt caused by her dads’ actions, and wanting to be accepted by her peers, while trying to find herself. She strayed from her belief system but while going through her acts of desperation, she finds herself back home like the prodigal son and just as the father embraces the prodigal son, so does her mom.

We have strayed from God doing things that are not pleasing and even immoral and defiling, yet God accepts us back into Himself when we realize we have gone to far. Doucoure, used an experience to shed light on the truth of what young girls go through as well as how what happens in the home cases an effect on young children.

Although, it may be a difficult movie to watch, it also sheds light on the truth of todays young culture, social media and the relationship we have with our children. May God be the guide and may our hearts listen. p LaQwonna “Lady Q” Glaster Evangelist, Prayer Warrior, Poet, Visual Artist, Sisters of Faith Founder & Event Planner

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within the community really prepares them for real-world interactions. If your learner resists traditional academics.

Forcing students to participate in learning that feels irrelevant and that strips their developing sense of mastery and autonomy significantly contributes to the mental health crisis that we’re seeing in the world right now.

• Social-emotional development.

Interacting in the real world, dealing with real situations give kids early, safe opportunities to build psychological capital and grit. These experiences don’t have to be contrived they just happen as humans live life together.

• The biggest pro for me is the relationship I built with my kids.

I understand them really well and have been on the inside of formative moments I didn’t hear about them from the teacher or from my kids secondhand, I was there, and that’s made a world of difference in my relationship with them. Similarly, their relationships with each other, as sibling rivalry and quarrelling and competition

just wasn’t there.

Some Cons to Consider • Time commitment - For you, this may mean more time with your kids and more time away from traditional work. For some this is a pro for others it is a con.

• Working in traditional spaces and homeschooling younger kids is hard without help. Finding the support that you need might be more challenging. Daycare isn’t an option for many kids older than 4.

• It’s harder to participate in traditional school group activities like Sports and Music and Theater. You can do that but you have to put some effort into finding groups that are available to homeschoolers to create some of these experiences.

• Homeschooling can get expensive. It takes some effort to be smart about using publicly available resources, social media, and the Internet, and available free activities. It’s tempting to buy a lot of books and curriculum and to pay for lots of interesting classes but this adds up over time.

I have Homeschooled 3 special children who require ‘out-of-thebox thinking.’ I hope this helps. p For more Homeschooling advice - Faith Clarke blogs on: www. homeschoolingoutsidethelines.blogspot.com

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Who is Minding

the Children

Who is minding the children?

Who is minding the children?

Are they not God’s heritage?

Who is guiding them along life’s way?

Who is caring for them as selected arrows?

Who is rescuing them from paedophiles?

If not me or you then who?

From traffickers and sexual exploiters?

Someone has to do it, is it me or you?

Helpless they are and bound by fear and grief

Who is minding the children,

Who is minding the children?

As they go from day to day?

As they lay destitute by the wayside or in the home,

Some suffering ones need our help;

In alleys and streets, motherless, fatherless, helpless!

Let’s hear their cry and see their struggles,

Begging and crying for love and attention;

Rush to meet their needs.

Their cries have touched the Father’s heart.

Who is minding the children?

Who is minding the children?

Some are lonely, abused, rejected, and neglected,

Who may need a kind word or a loving touch,

Some hungry, naked, and abandoned,

A good deed done or to be pointed in the right way?

Some dysfunctional, some confused,

Allow them all to come to Jesus who loves them,

Hear their cry reach out to them without delay.

Give them God’s love, show them the Father’s heart. © Jennifer Williams | September 2021 October - December 2021

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In Praise of Hymn

When Mothers of Salem

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4

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Reviewing Great Christian Hymns

When mothers of Salem Their children brought to Jesus, The stern disciples drove them back And bade them depart; But Jesus saw them ere they fled, And sweetly smiled, and kindly said, “Suffer little children To come unto Me. “For I will receive them And fold them in my bosom; I’ll be a shepherd to these lambs, O drive them not away; For, if their hearts to Me they give, They shall with Me in glory live: Suffer little children To come unto Me.”

3

How kind was our Savior To bid these children welcome!

But there are many thousands Who have never heard His name; The Bible they have never read; They know not that the Savior said, “Suffer little children To come unto Me.”

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O soon may the heathen Of every tribe and nation Fulfill Thy blessed word, And cast their idols all away; O shine upon them from above, And show Thyself a God of love; Teach the little children To come unto Thee.

Author: William Medlen, Hutchings, UK, 18271876, wrote this hymn, for the anniversary service of St. Paul’s Chapel Sunday School, Wigan, in 1850. It was revised and republished in the Juvenile Missionary Magazine of June 1850.

Available on

The perfect, pocket book-sized, practical marriage handbook on how to have a successful marriage. A case study of biblical marriages written with quirky humour and sensitivity. A great bedtime companion for couples or those engaged to be married or useful also as a group study guide.

C. A. Williams

© SHARE Magazine - Produced by SelectArrow Publishing www.TheShareMagazine.com