A C UTTI NG -ED GE TOO L FO R GOD ’S WO RK WI TH

A C UTTI NG -ED GE TOO L FO R GOD ’S WO RK WI TH CHI LD RE N | IS S UE 7

restore KDN PP 14535/1/2008

Children are vital partners and valued participants in the mission of God on the earth; through their life of faith, they have great potential to contribute towards His redeeming work in this world.

Children & God’s Mission

7

Children are essential to the mission of God God desires every child in every generation across the world to know Him and make Him known. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus calls the whole Church to reconcile relationships: with God, with family, with community and with society.

God intends that His Church be a witness in every community of His transforming power, so that His purpose for every child can be accomplished.

Children & God’s Mission

STATEMENT 7, UNDERSTANDING GOD’S HEART FOR CHILDREN BIBLICAL FRAMEWORK

foreword CHILDREN and young people are powerful instruments of change; and have great potential to contribute towards God’s redemptive mission in the world. Yet, in many of our Christian work with and for children, they are often seen more as objects and recipients of God’s mission than agents and partners.

Statement 7* of the Understanding God’s Heart for Children Biblical Framework points to an often forgotten fact that children are at the heart of God’s mission. Here, we find many notable examples in the Bible: the boy David who saved a nation, the anonymous boy who shared his meager lunch with over 5,000 people, etc. Today, children still have a place in His larger purpose for the world: be it witnessing the gospel, restoring relationships, rebuilding communities or even saving the environment.

In this issue of Restore, Gustavo Crocker presents a biblical survey of children as God’s mission and in God’s mission. Ian de Villiers then considers implications for adult and child responsibilities while Greg Burch shares about the importance and impact of doing mission with children at risk, and how to do good practice in child participation.

Meanwhile, toolkit materials in this issue include a case study on children as peacebuilding partners in war-affected communities; ideas to help children develop interest in God’s mission; a simple tool to discern the context of mission right where you live; and a spiritual nurture activity for children by Karissa Glanville. Finally, Jennifer Orona closes this issue with an overview of where we have been with the Understanding God’s Heart for Children process and suggests practical ways to move forward.

Children can and should be agents and partners of God’s mission in transforming the world. We at Restore pray that as you serve the children in your midst, may God’s redemptive mission reaches their lives and, through them, their families, their communities, their societies, and their generations.

* For the complete Biblical Framework, see www.viva.org/restore.

what’s inside?

Think! (biblical reflection, opinion piece, feature etc)

Children are essential to the mission of God……………..……………… pg.3

by Gustavo CROCKER

Let children be children..….……… pg.8

by Ian DE VILLIERS

Children at risk in short-term missional engagement……………….……… pg.9

by Greg W. BURCH

Understanding God’s Heart for Children: Looking back and moving forward... pg.22

by Jennifer ORONA

Act! (activity toolkits, practical ideas etc)

Football and peacebuilding.……….. pg.13 a case study adapted from material produced by World Vision Africa

Helping children think mission…… pg.16 practical ideas and suggestions

What’s happening in your community?

Discerning the context of God’s mission…………….……………… pg.19 a toolkit activity

Kids Bible Study: God made you to be part of His plan..………………. pg.20 an adult-led group activity for children

by Karissa GLANVILLE

biblical perspective

Children are essential to the mission of God Dr Gustavo Crocker explores some of the biblical premises that place children at the center of God’s mission both as the object of His mission and as the carriers of the mission themselves.

Children as God’s mission In his book “Children of Promise,”1 Bromiley argues that, according to the New Testament, “the Lord Jesus Christ has a concern for children, not merely as living parables but as they are themselves.” This clear concern is evidenced not only by the way in which Jesus used children to illustrate the kingdom of God (the mission of reconciliation), but also by the way in which he directly cared and protected them (the object of His mission).

Bromiley goes on to say: “In the New Testament, as we recall, the Lord Jesus Christ makes some very definite and almost startling declarations about children. Some of them have no doubt a partly parabolic character (Matthew 18:3; Luke 10:21). Even so, it is not insignificant that our Lord selected a child as an illustration of these matters concerning the renewing and enlightening work of the Holy Spirit. In other instances, there is undoubtedly a more precise and direct reference to children as such (Mark 10:14; Matthew 18:5-6). Whatever may be the ultimate thrust or interpretation of these sayings, we may surely say with confidence that Christ himself did not envisage an exclusion of children

RESTORE 7 CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

from salvation or an impossibility of childlike faith in him.”2

These passages help us understand that children are at the heart of God’s redemptive mission. Moreover, children have a missiological value in that God’s redemptive mission reaches their lives and, through them, their families, their communities, and their societies. In God’s mission, children represent a key link in breaking of the cycle of poverty, oppression, and sin.

When Christ gave the disciples the Great Commission, he instructed to “go and make disciples” teaching them all things that they had seen him doing.

That included those who, like children, were vulnerable, harassed, and helpless. In a case for missionary involvement to a well known Christian relief and development agency in the United States, I stated, “It is a tragic fact that millions of children suffer in relentless poverty and misery. They are hungry, sick and hurting. They are the helpless victims of disease, war, and ignorance.

Their lives are an endless struggle to survive. In fact, in a given day in the world, tens of thousands of children die of preventable causes and, in a world where more than half of the population are children and

youth, a vast majority of them suffer from sin, malnutrition, abuse, neglect, and poverty.”3

Seeing them hungry, naked, sick, and abused, the call for Christ’s church is to respond as if responding to Christ himself. “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). Scripture goes on to suggest that vulnerable children and widows as the object of true religion (James 1:27).

In missiological terms, understanding God’s heart for the last, the least, and the lost, is the first step to understanding the missiological imperative for a given culture, people group, or segment of the population. The mandate that mission agencies have in making children a mission priority as the “missionary target of God’s love for those who suffer” alone should be enough for mission agencies, churches, and charities to redesign their ministry strategy and focus on children, as the object of God’s redeeming mission. For those who do not consider God’s heart for children enough for restrategizing the ministry, let me suggest some practical missiological reasons for involvement.

3

Missiological value of children Children represent one of the greatest missiological opportunities today. They are the future leadership of the world and, unfortunately, many of them are already on the streets without guidance and without hope. For example, consider these facts: More than 50 percent of the world’s population is under the age of 18. The majority of these children and youth live in conditions of poverty and deprivation.

However, children are the key for breaking the cycle of poverty. Conversely, lack of attention to children and youth is already resulting in the proliferation of organized crime bands, gangs, and social decay.

It is a proven fact that ministry to children is the most developmental intervention in today’s complex world (“Instruct a child in his path and even when he is old…”).

While many missionary and developmental approaches are divisive, the issue of children unites ministries, denominations, and communities.

In practical terms, children are part of the largest unreached people group considered by missiologists (the 4/14 window). In fact, in the average church in the developing world, nearly 75% of those who today attend church received Christ between the ages of 4 and 14. Ironically, these same churches invest, as an average, less than 15% of their ministry budget in ministering to children and youth.

Ministry to children and youth at risk does not generate dependency.

4

Finally, Jesus cares about children, and donors seem to know that.4

“In practical terms, children are part of the largest unreached people group considered by missiologists (the 4/14 window).”

What would happen, then if churches, mission agencies, and communities would seriously consider children at the heart of the Great Commission instead of the cover pages of their promotional materials? Let me suggest a picture of our society in which the church seriously places children at the heart of the Great Commission: “I have a dream that one day all people would volunteer to help others.” – Brendan (age 6) “One day, there will be no poor people and all children will be happy.” – Beth (age 10) “Pay close attention now: I am creating new heavens and a new earth. All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things for the past, to be forgotten. Look ahead with joy. Anticipate what I am creating. I will create Jerusalem as sheer joy, create my people as sheer delight. I will take joy in Jerusalem, take delight in my people: No more sounds of weeping in the city, no cries of anguish; no more babies dying in the cradle, or old people who don’t enjoy a full lifetime.

One-hundredth birthdays will be considered normal –anything less will seem like a cheat. They will build houses and move in. They will plant fields and eat what they grow. No more building a house that some outsider takes over, no more planting fields that some enemy confiscates, for my people will be as long-lived as trees, my chosen ones will have satisfaction in their work. They

won’t work and have nothing come of it, they won’t have children snatched out from under them. For they themselves are plantings blessed by God, with their children and grandchildren likewise God-blessed.” Isaiah 65:17-23 (The Message)

Children in God’s mission But children are not just objects of God’s mission. Children are more than a people group that mission agencies must strategically target in order to achieve the Great Commission. The Bible has a plethora of events where children have been the carriers of God’s mission itself. They have been called by God to be intermediaries, prophets, liberators, community resources. Most importantly, the perfect plan of human redemption came in the form of the God-child, Immanuel, “God with us.”

The child as an agent of God’s provision: Joseph.

God’s involvement of children in his redemptive plan is recorded as early as the beginning of the Holy Bible. Genesis records how Joseph, when still a teenager, was given the vision of being the intercessor on behalf of his family and his people. While enduring hatred from his own family, being sold as a slave, and ending up in prison because of evil scheming, the young Joseph remained faithful to God’s plan and mission to be the intercessor on behalf of his entire family and country. “…You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children” (Genesis 50:19-21).

In this narrative, God’s plan was for the young Joseph to grow into the intermediary between the economic power of his time, Egypt, and a needy people who were to face hardship in the years to come. Because of God’s RESTORE 7 CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

plan, Joseph was trained in the most reputable schools and the most sophisticated management and production systems of his time. Yet, he did not receive such training for his own sake, but for the good of his own people and his own family.

Joseph’s story has become a key biblical parable for ministries to children that focus primarily on the individual child. The “Joseph principle” is widely used by child sponsorship ministries that believe that by bringing one child out of his/her context of poverty, and by educating him/ her, the child will eventually become God’s tool to lead the way for his/her family and community to leave the conditions of poverty and sin. In fact, there are many leaders in the church today because of the application of the “Joseph principle” in their own lives.

Haroldo is one of such cases.

He was a small child of a very poor family in the barrios of Rio de Janeiro when he found refuge in a pastor’s home that cared for him. He had the same future that millions of children in the barriadas of Rio had to endure.

More likely, Haroldo was destined to be another street child joining the statistics of poverty, crime, and sin in the city. But God used pastor Amadeu to minister to Haroldo.

He took him under his care, trained him, loved him, and taught him the value of education, work, and above all, the love of Christ. Today, Haroldo is a medical doctor. He still lives in the barriadas of Rio (his own choice) where he has built one of the largest Christian health care systems in the city as well as one of the most effective churchbased ministries in the Baixada Fluminense, “el Projeto Crianca Carente.” Following the missiological model of the “Joseph principle,” pastor Amadeu, under God’s guidance, selected Haroldo from among his siblings to be the RESTORE 7 CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

one called to bridge the gap between a past of poverty and sin and a future of abundant life.

Haroldo, in turn, has been responsible for improving the lives of his own family and the surrounding community.

“The Bible has a plethora of events where children have been the carriers of God’s mission itself. They have been called by God to be intermediaries, prophets, liberators, community resources.”

The child as a prophet: Samuel God has also called children to play the prophetic role in order to redeem his people. The book of Samuel narrates the way in which God used the child Samuel to be instructed from his childhood in bringing the prophecy of redemption and victory for the people of Israel, especially in times of spiritual and political hardship. An obedient disciple, Samuel was instructed since his childhood to listen to God’s voice and to serve him in whatever capacity God demanded of him. 1 Samuel 3 narrates the Lord’s calling to Samuel, a boy serving in the temple in times when “the word of the Lord was rare; when there were not many visions…” Samuel grew up in the presence of God and his prophetic record was flawless.

Everyone in Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, recognized that Samuel was the real thing – a true prophet of God. When children are exposed to the word of God at an early age, they become sensitive to God’s mission for His people.

The “Samuel principle” resides

on the premise that children do have the capacity to understand and explain God’s plan of redemption so that people could be transformed. The word and testimony of children who, even though most adults disregard them, have the anointing of the Holy Spirit to prophesize, evangelize, and witness.

Vilma is one of such cases.

Vilma was the oldest daughter of an alcoholic father in the countryside of Guatemala when she received Christ in a missionbased Vacation Bible School. At age 13, she was so enamored with the redeeming grace of the gospel that she decided to spend most of her time at church, learning from the missionaries and learning from the Scripture.

Several months later, Vilma received the mandate of evangelizing her entire family and her community. Nearly 40 years after she committed her life as an agent of grace, Vilma still continues evangelizing to children through radio programs, community-based child evangelism programs, and personal evangelism among working children in the open market. Thousands of children have received Christ because of Vilma’s obedience when she said early on, “speak now for your servant is listening.”

The child as a liberator: David The story of David and Goliath is among the best-known childrelated stories in the Bible. The Bible describes how Samuel had the task of selecting Saul’s successor to fight the Philistines and to bring the people of Israel to freedom and victory (I Samuel 16). While traditional human standards of leadership suggested (as they still do today) that the liberator had to be an experienced adult, a person with knowledge, expertise, and strength to fight the battle, God anointed a child, a shepherd boy, to go in His strength and liberate the 5

people of Israel. This event, crucial in the life of God’s chosen people, challenged the leadership standards of the time just as they challenge the leadership standards of today. The requirements were not (and still are not) stature, experience, and dexterity in handling the tools of war.

God’s requirements were (and still are) summarized in the person of a child “…for the Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (I Samuel 16:7).

We all know the story of the boy David and the giant Goliath.

As with today’s society, this sheep-tending boy is again overlooked by his brothers. Being overlooked by adults, however,

did not diminish David’s liberating spirit. In an exchange between the current king and the child David, he is again told, “you are only a boy and he has been fighting man from his youth” (I Samuel 17:33). David’s reply, however, is the reply that we still hear from children and youth across the world whom the Lord has anointed to be symbols and agents of liberation in their communities, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (I Samuel 17:37).

The Lord, who called and anointed David, continues protecting, saving, and anointing children for his redeeming mission. Many ministers, who today

work in bringing Shalom and liberation to their communities, were preserved by God from the hand of disease, hunger, and abuse when they were infants.

Many of them, survivors of the paws of poverty, were called when still children to mobilize their schools, their parents, their churches so that abundant life could come to their households, their villages, and even their nations. And the calling still continues.

The child as a community resource: The feeding of the five thousand All four gospels record one of the most fascinating feeding programs ever witnessed by mankind. Five thousand men (plus

Practical implications for engaging children in the Great Commission 1. Children are the largest people group in the world. Hence, they represent one of the largest missiological segments in today’s world.

2. Because of their nature, ministries to children are among the least divisive ministry endeavors in missions.

3. Children are key actors in implementing the Great Commission.

4. By employing the “Joseph principle,” mission agencies can educate, disciple, and mobilize children and youth so that they could become the agents of social transformation for their families and their communities. Care must be observed, however, in managing the interpersonal relationships of the “chosen child” and his/her family environment.

5. The “Samuel principle” calls for mission agencies to intentionally evangelize and involve children as bearers of the good news of salvation. Child evangelism programs must emphasize on intentional discipleship and ministerial training for children and youth. Platform-based leadership development is a useful follow-up strategy for those who have been called to carry the Great Commission to their own.

6. While armies and political systems have manipulated children and youth to become the innocent casualties of wars those systems support, ministries must understand the value that spirit-filled children and youth have in leading their communities to justice, righteousness and liberation.

7. Often overlooked by evangelism, relief, and development programs, children and youth are some of the most valuable resources in the community. Because of their energy, their boldness, their creativity, and their ingenuity, children have the capacity to mobilize immeasurable resources for the holistic transformation of their communities.

8. Children are the epitome of the Kingdom incarnated by the Messiah. Christ came as a child and grew into the Rabbi of Nazareth so that people of all ages can experience and carry the redeeming mission of our loving father.

9. Children are more than resources for the mission enterprise. They should be considered as partners in mission. When filled by the Spirit of God, those children can and will discuss with “experienced” ministers the matters of the kingdom. They, too, will respond to us, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be here dealing with the things of my Father?” (Luke 2:49, The Message).

6

RESTORE 7 CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

women and children) were fed

by Jesus, who performed the miracle of multiplying five small barley loaves of bread and two small fish (John 6:9). While there are many elements to the miracle, one cannot overlook the fact that it was an anonymous boy who had the physical resources for the miracle. These meager physical resources, in the hands of Jesus, became the endless resource that people needed.

The same is true in community work. Children and youth are some of the most effective resources in community development. Filled with creativity and energy, children and youth have the ability to network, mobilize, and multiply resources, which in the hands of Christ can bring Shalom to their communities.

Furthermore, children, unlike adults, do this for the sake of the community and the fellowship that it brings and not necessarily to get their names in the inauguration plaques or the history books. Just like the anonymous child in the story, every day there are thousands of children and youth who are flavoring their communities with the vitality and hope that Christ gives them, and they are sharing such flavor with “experienced” community and mission workers so that they could, at times, take the credit for the resources found in the community.

Secular agencies seem to understand and maximize the potential of children and youth in community transformation. Unfortunately, in spite of the biblical evidence that highlights the value of children and youth as a community resource, churches and mission agencies seem to have “professionalized” ministry to extremes and badly overlook the tremendous potential of anonymous children in our midst.

RESTORE 7 CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

The child as the Messiah: Christ God only had one child, and he was a missionary. God’s ultimate act of redemption was incarnated in the life of a child. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, came as a child to teach us the love of God. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). It was God himself who chose to take the form of a child and dwell among us. “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the Only Begotten Son who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

“It is the same child Jesus who taught us how does a child prepare for and engage in the redemptive work of the father since the early stages of human life.”

God accomplished His redemptive plan by fulfilling one of the most tremendous prophecies of the Old Testament, which pointed to the coming of the Messiah in the form of a child.

“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Bromiley again suggests that: “Christ in his humanity was to become an infant, the babe of Bethlehem, with no more self awareness than other infants, yet not on that account deprived of his fellowship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The secondcentury writer Ireneaeus was not altogether fanciful when he suggested that Christ identified himself with all the stages of

human life from infancy to maturity in order that there might be salvation and identification with Christ at every stage. Indeed, is it not significant that we read on the redeemed creation: ‘A little child shall lead them’? (Isaiah 11:6).”5

This assertion is critical for understanding God’s plan of redemption for people of all ages and through people of all ages.

The same God incarnate faced and lived in the environments that children, youth, and adults live so that we can, with his guidance, live out his redeeming mandate as children, as youth, and as mature adults in the soils where we are planted. It is the same child Jesus who taught us how does a child prepare for and engage in the redemptive work of the father since the early stages of human life. Luke 2:52 describes that the child “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men,” a model that most experienced Christian child development agencies use as the pattern for holistic human and social transformation.

Dr Gustavo Crocker is currently the Regional Director for the Eurasia Region of the Church of the Nazarene.

A Guatemalan by birth and an ordained elder of the Church of the Nazarene in the Mid-Atlantic District, Dr Crocker is responsible for overseeing the church planting and development efforts of the Church of the Nazarene in Eurasia. He holds a Masters in Community Planning and a PhD in Organizational Leadership in Business.

Dr Crocker and his wife Rachel have two daughters, Raquel and Elizabeth, and they currently reside in Germany.

Bromiley, G., 1979. “Children of Promise: The Case for Baptizing Infants.”

2 Ibid, pp.92-93. 73 3 Crocker, G. 2002. “Why children? A case for involvement.” World Relief strategic document 4 Crocker, G. 2002. “Why children? A case for involvement.” World Relief strategic document 5 Bromiley, G., 1979, pp. 93 1

7

insights

Let children be children Ian de Villiers highlights the importance of creating a protective and nurturing environment in which children can flourish in God’s purpose.

T

HIS ISSUE is all about children being able to play their part in God’s mission in the world, which is tremendously exciting. However, it also opens the door for adults to manipulate their agendas onto children or to delegate stuff that children shouldn’t have to take (sole) responsibility for.

The following two paragraphs from the US charity ‘Darkness to Light’ got me thinking.

“My child's school has a program to teach children about sexual abuse prevention – but what about adults? Shouldn’t we be responsible for the protection of children?”

“A child’s safety is an adult’s job. Children are often taught how to keep themselves safe from sexual abuse – and that’s important for them to learn – but it’s no substitute for adult responsibility. We make sure children wear seat belts. We walk them across busy streets. We store toxic household cleaners out of reach. Why, then, would we leave the job of preventing child sexual abuse solely to children?”

As with Joseph, David, and the others, we believe that God uses children, of all ages, today, in fulfilling His good purposes in the world. This is wonderfully and exhilarating for us when we see God work in and through children: one who is motivated to look after a school friend in need, another who shares her friendship with Jesus with their playmates; one who reminds Mum and Dad to pick up the litter down the path to look after God’s creation.

However, this tempts us adults, those of us with power, to use children’s willingness and energy for our own ends. A very simple example could be the bored teenager in church persuaded to teach Sunday School to the children when he needs space to explore his faith. We are tempted to manipulate, even for the best of ends. God may use a child for a specific end; in Paul’s language I prefer to think of God working with children as co-labourers (1 Corinthians 3:9).

8

But it is easy to find examples of inappropriate adult behaviour; hence it is very important that adults retain adult responsibility. We must never allow the wonderful things that children can, and even should, do as an excuse to either manipulate or delegate things that should not be delegated, as in children expected to take responsibility to prevent abuse happening of for the safety of younger siblings.

All these things of course are not black and white, and this is why it is difficult and we need to consider it. The teenager may just need the challenge; a 9year old caring for 5-year olds is not the same as a 17-year old looking after 8-year olds.

Our job is to create a protective and nurturing environment in which children can flourish in God’s good purposes.

A couple of questions for you to consider these ideas: How can I allow children to express their Godgiven concerns for their friends, other people in need, the environment?

In what ways might I expect children to fulfill my concerns (e.g. for my ministry)? How appropriate is this?

Do I ever persuade a child to take on responsibilities, for the environment, for someone's salvation, or someone's protection, that may be unfair to the child?

Are there areas where I might expect children to take responsibility for things that I should maintain responsibility for?

Ian de Villiers is Asia Co-ordinator for Viva, working together with networks to find the best ways to enable the Christian faith community to bring hope and transformation to children at risk. He is a qualified social worker and enjoys working with children and young people of different ages, especially in understanding and valuing their stories. He is married to Katharine, and they have 2 small girls, Gail and Joanne.

RESTORE 7 • CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

insights

Children at risk in short-term missional engagement Greg W. Burch shares about the importance and impact of doing mission with children at risk, and how to do good practice in child participation.

Children at risk involved in mission “It is going to be a long night,” I whispered to myself as I laid back in my seat and prepared for our thirteen hour bus ride to the town of Puerto Ayacucho near the Colombian border. It was early morning when I was awoken by the boy sitting next to me. “Hemos llegado al Orinonco” (we’ve arrived at the Orinoco) he told me. The famous Orinoco river was something I was looking forward to seeing, I just was not prepared to see it at 5:30am! Soon enough we pulled into Puerto Ayacucho. From there we hailed a pickup and made our way towards the community in which we had been invited to minister. Upon entering the indigenous community we were immediately greeted by the children of the village. It was obvious that the urban world had made its inroads into this village, for many of the people were dressed in non-traditional wear and some even lived in small concrete homes.

The children and youth who had joined us on this trip immediately re-connected with some of the young people they already knew from a previous trip. We made our way over to where we would be staying for the next few days, set up our hammocks and organized ourselves. Over the next few days we helped with church services in the evening and work projects and games during the day. The community leaders praised the young men for their hard work in the fields during the day. The boys that joined us on this trip played a central role in the ministry assignment.

Each morning, prior to leaving for ministry, the boys would gather together for a team devotional where they would seek God for his guidance as to how they should proceed with their activities.

Following the time of prayer, the youth would begin their time of service in the indigenous community, painting, clearing land and tending to other construction needs like electricity work; some were even involved in cooking. Everything was done in RESTORE 7 y CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

service to the local community where they were ministering. Each evening, upon finishing the service projects and cool baths in a local river, the youth were given opportunities to teach about Jesus with local youth through games and movies. Perhaps the most powerful aspect of this trip consisted of watching God use these boys to minister to the children and adults in the community.

Ministry to street childreni For several years now groups of young people from the ministry Niños de la Luz have been ministering to indigenous peoples in the interior of the country.

The team prepares for such trips through prayer and fasting, raising funds, collecting clothes, toys, medicine and cross-cultural training. The youth and leaders seek to involve the local church community and others involved in the ministry in Caracas, Venezuela. While short-term mission projects have become common place for many youth groups and churches in Europe and North America, this group is different. Niños de la Luz is a ministry dedicated to reaching out to street-living and working children in the capital city, Caracas. As part of their ministry strategy, the mission team responds to the needs of children living under bridges and in dark alleys, shining light where there is only darkness. It is common for children to have drug addictions, and violence is a common survival technique. Each year, several staff members of Niños de la Luz invite a group of interested boys from the ranch to participate in short-term outreaches, mainly among indigenous groups in the Amazon basin. Over the past five years, the boys have ministered primarily among the Piaröa and Warao indigenous communities. Some young people have traveled internationally to attend mission conferences and have become involved in cross-cultural ministry in neighboring nations.

9

Children are essential to the mission of God As we have seen in the story of the young missionaries, God desires to use young people to extend his kingdom. As part of our ongoing look at the seven biblical principles of Understanding God’s Heart for Children, principle number seven focuses primarily on the gifting and responsibility of the children themselves in serving others. This is a critical principle. The principle states that Children are essential to the mission of God. There are two possible ways to understand the place of children in the Community of God: (1) Children are essential in that the Church will never be what God intends for it to be until children become our emphasis in missional engagement and are invited into the Christian community; and (2) Children are essential in that their active participation is required in fulfilling the mission of God to reconcile humanity to himself. That is, we ought to view the mission of God both from a ‘centripetal’ and a ‘centrifugal’ perspective. As children and youth are invited into the Church, active participation in missional engagement should be both encouraged and result as a natural occurrence of their relationship with Christ. Historically, the Christian community has focused on children only as

recipients of mission, that is, it is our role, as adults, to reach out to children. We are now beginning to recognize that such children are created with a potential for being agents of transformation.

What does it mean that children are essential to the mission of God? Like we have seen in the story of the young people participating in short-term mission projects in Venezuela, children and young people have an ability to not only participate with adults, but to be the central actors to spread the Good News, crossing barriers and borders from church to non-church and distinct cultures to regions where the Gospel has not yet been presented and where the seeds of the Gospel have yet to sprout.

Children as co-participants in the mission of God As is commonly practiced, it is one thing to participate in mission work focused on reaching children, but it is another thing all together to participate in mission projects with children and youth who come out of at-risk circumstances. Most consider street children and other at-risk children to be victims of dire circumstances in need of service.

While this is often true, I believe it is time that we

STORY OF HOPE

Duglas “One of the first boys I met while on a short-term mission trip to Caracas in 1993 was a boy named Duglas.

Duglas, while living on the street spent most of his time high on drugs and stealing food and other things he wanted. One day, while making contact with the boys on the boulevard, a colleague and I noticed him nearby.

Duglas immediately showed us some sores he had on his stomach, which later turned out to be scabies. After taking him to see a doctor, Duglas was desperate to leave the street, so we invited him to the Lighthouse Ranch. Over time, Duglas healed physically, but the years of abuse and street life made it hard for him to heal emotionally. One evening, while cleaning one of the boys’ rooms, I noticed a knife under Duglas’ mattress. He had become so accustomed to having to protect himself he still felt the need to have a weapon.

“While living at the Lighthouse Ranch, Duglas began to show an interest in God and committed his life to him. He grew in his relationship with the Lord, yet still struggled with obeying the house rules and structure.

One day, we heard the sad news of the death of one of the boys on the street. Some of us from the ministry made our way over to the funeral home where the boy was being mourned. Hesitantly, I invited Duglas to come with us, knowing that he would want to grieve the loss of his friend’s life, yet worried that he would come into contact with his old friends. As was feared, the group of boys with whom Duglas had spent most of his time on the street also came to the funeral. What surprised me was how Duglas responded to them. He powerfully proclaimed the hope and restorative power that is only found in Jesus. He shared about what God had done for him and how much the Lord loves each one of them. This was a spontaneous reaction to having encountered God! We adults did not have to guide him through this experience. Through this occurrence I learned a lot about how God moves in the lives of young people who have committed their lives to him. I am grateful for friends like Duglas who have spoken into my life through their example.

“Today, as a member of the Niños de la Luz staff, Duglas continues to proclaim the love of God to at-risk children. Duglas and his wife, Ismerling, are parents of two precious boys and are committed believers seeking to restore other children who come from at risk situations.”

Source: Greg W Burch, 2005, pg 153-156

10

RESTORE 7 y CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

consider, given their background, inviting them to participate in cross-cultural mission projects. Many believe that children must be given the opportunity to respond to the message of Jesus Christ, and I certainly concur with this belief, but I also believe we need to think about this from a different angle as children begin to integrate into the Church. One theory of participation that can assist us in our desire to involve children in missional engagement is the ladder of participation by Roger Hart (1992).

Hart uses a ladder illustration to describe the importance of participation in responding to needs of children at risk, but I would like to apply the theory to the subject at hand, focusing on children as co-participants in short-term missional engagement (See Figure 1).

The steps of the ladder of participation develop a progressive approach towards full participation and child-centered action. The ladder progresses as participation moves from tokenism to an authentic child-centered participation. The lower half of the ladder includes Manipulation, Decoration and Tokenism. None of these developments would be considered authentic participation, but rather lead us to the use, and in some cases exploitation of children and youth as puppets of mission. As a caution, we must recognize that spiritual abuse can occur by coercing children and youth to be part of something that does not truly resonate with who they are as individuals. Care should be taken that children and youth are in no way manipulated or coerced into active participation in doing mission.

This must be an authentic and compassionate response on their behalf. There are many churches and organizations that invite children to engage in

short-term mission, but there are few that truly acknowledge the importance of a co-participatory action of engagement. Many prefer to allow children to participate to a certain level without granting a central role in mission involvement.

Moving up the ladder of participation we find what we can refer to as areas of child-centered degrees of participation. These next areas consist of Assigned but Informed, Consulted and Informed, AdultInitiated Shared Decisions with Child/Youth and finally we encounter high participatory involvement through Child/Youth-Initiated and Directed and Child/ Youth-Initiated Shared Decisions with Adults steps.

These areas focus on a progressive approach to child and youth control over the actions and processes. As children and youth progress in their knowledge of God’s mission, their active participation should be encouraged from passive participation to energetic involvement and leadership. In applying Hart’s participatory theory to mission, it would be advisable to consider a progressive approach, one in which children and youth are mentored and guided into the later stages of full-participation. A mission project should not arrive at this point without leadership training and organizational skills development, but there should come a time when the children or adolescents are ready to lead a short-term project. Increased participation, such as Child/Youth-Initiated and Directed or, ultimately, Child/Youth-Initiated Shared Decisions with Adults, should be our goal for children coming out of at-risk situations. In fact, I believe this is a key issue for transformation in the lives of children coming out of high-risk situations. ‘To love thy neighbor’ is probably one of the greatest restorative

Figure 1: Adapted by Covenant House Vancouver (Hart 1992)

RESTORE 7 y CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

11

strategies we can offer these children. Like we have seen with the participation of young people from Niños de la Luz in Venezuela, a progressive development of participation is needed in order to be fair to the young person involved. In Venezuela, the youth leadership has not yet arrived at a place where they are ready to take on the Child/YouthInitiated Shared Decisions with Adults step in participation, but their increased involvement in short-term missional engagement has encouraged their place as agents of mission and empowerment, creating ownership of a very important ministry to people in need.ii The ministry Niños de la Luz is progressively moving toward a higher youth participatory-action response in cross-cultural mission projects and stands as an example for creative solutions by encouraging children at risk to begin applying the biblical principle of caring for their ‘neighbor.’ One young man, after participating in a short-term outreach, said, “It was great to be able to cut the hair of the children and sense all that God was doing in their lives through me.”

Biblical insights tell us that all of God’s children are called to be transformers as well as recipients of love. The kingdom of God paradigm calls for a radical departure from the victim mentality that so many churches and organizations fall into when it comes to ministering to children at risk. That is, they view these girls and boys as simply victims of their environment and that they are the objects that we should invest into, instead of seeing them as givers as well, people who are just as much agents of transformation as the individuals seeking to care for them. While we cannot deny the fact that street children and others are victims, in the sense that they have been subjected to immoral and dehumanizing acts, we should move beyond viewing them as non-participatory victims. Children should be perceived as protagonists in the drama of life, with agency and ability to bring about hope in the lives of others. Ultimately, this kind of interaction with children and youth will lead into a pedagogical relationship, where both children and adult leaders are educated about the mission of God. As we pursue the development of a mission mindedness in young people, biblical resources should be approached as a primary tool for focusing young people toward missional engagement. The Bible has long been a source of motivation for both short-term and career-minded missional employment. I contend that children and youth, regardless of their current levels of social risk, should be led to Bible reading as a key resource for developing a missional approach to life. If literacy is a problem, alternative approaches to Bible reading (audio, story telling etc.) should be pursued.

12

The impact of doing mission with children at risk The current director of the ministry Niños de la Luz in Venezuela remarks about a recent short-term mission trip where she and a group of boys ministered to an indigenous community in the Orinoco river basin of the Venezuelan Amazon: “I can remember leaving from Alto Carinagua. José was crying as we boarded the boat that would take us to town. He asked himself: ‘why am I crying?’ After a few minutes, pondering this question, he said, ‘I love doing this – taking the love of God to these people who have so many needs. I want to go to college and study and then go and share the word of God with people.’” As a result of this short-term mission trip, José was profoundly impacted by the opportunity to participate in this project. This same boy, just years before, could be found sleeping on the streets at night and selling candy and roses during the day.

As children who come from extremely difficult backgrounds involve themselves in mission service projects, they begin to find their true selves in service to others. The ‘neighbor’ begins to become the center of their attention, leaving a deep impact on their own lives as well as those to whom they have been privileged to minister to.

Greg is a PhD candidate at Fuller School of Intercultural Studies and Professor of Cross-Cultural Ministries and Children at risk Studies at ESEPA Seminary in San José, Costa Rica.

Greg’s ministry experience has primarily been focused on working with youth in North America and ‘community children’ in Caracas, Venezuela for a number of years.

References Cited Burch, Greg W. (2005). Community Children: A Ministry of Hope and Restoration for the Street Dwelling Child. Miami, FL: Latin America Mission.

Hart, Roger. (1992). “Children's Participation: From Tokenism to Citizenship” (Innocenti Essays, Unicef, Florence, Italy).

A familiar term to describe children living and working on the street is street children. In the book Community Children (Burch 2005), as the title conveys, I argue that a more appropriate Biblical understanding and term is that of ‘community children’.

In my book I go to great length to discuss why I feel the term street children is not the most appropriate wording for these children, however, due to its common usage in literature I will on occasion use it as well. ii We must take into account basic child development and maturity levels. I am not suggesting that we expect a very young child to plan and implement a complex humanitarian project, but rather we move towards the child/youth led mission project in accordance with their level of maturity and development. The adult project leaders are responsible to oversee the selection process of potential child-leaders. i

RESTORE 7 y CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

case study

Football and peacebuilding Experiences from the Waajid Grass Root Peacebuilding Project in Somalia

This article shares the experiences of World Vision in engaging children to build peace in war-affected communities, and highlights best practices and lessons learnt through the process.

Introduction The East Africa sub-region is known as a hub of violence, wars and armed conflicts. During the last decade, 10 out of the 19 major armed conflicts were in the sub-region – namely, in Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda.

These conflicts have an unbearably huge implications on families, communities, nations, and most notably on children’s growth and holistic development. In these special circumstances concerning young people, the need for their participation in building peace cannot be emphasised enough.

This article attempts to show the importance of partnering with young people and placing them at the centre of peacebuilding work.

Grassroots peace project Located on the Horn of Africa, Somalia is a country that has been ravaged by intra- and interclan conflicts for more than a decade. The struggle over “who should hold political power” left Somalia divided and in a state of anarchy, without a legitimate government. Only recently in RESTORE 7 y CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

Male Youths have not only enjoyed the game, but have used football to reach out to communities with a message of peace. Photo: Courtesy of WV Somalia

2004 was a weak but largely recognised central government authority formed to start the long process of rebuilding the country.

Waajid, like the rest of Somalia, is a region under clan and factional rivalry. The Somali clan system has been manipulated for political reasons; and has become a source of division and fragmentation. People used to fight over water catchments, grazing pasture and the like. It has been extremely challenging for World Vision to engage in any sort of meaningful rehabilitation and development in the community without first attaining some measure of peace and stability.

As far back as 1994, there were several football teams at village level and in schools in Waajid; but they suffered a lot of setbacks due to the Somalia civil war. In January 2004, World Vision Somalia decided to implement the Waajid Grass Root Peacebuilding Project as a means to enhance peaceful co-existence through support of sports and cultural activities. Football, the most popular game in Somalia,

was chosen to serve as an avenue to bridge relation-ships and build peace. Through the Project, a network of 30 football teams began to stir into motion 13 Waajid villages in Southern Somalia with hopes for peace.

The teams, comprising members of different clans, play with other teams in the village and with teams from other villages. For instance, children from Geliyo village have played with those of Gomoriale and Dulmuri.

Complemented by a few girls’ volleyball teams and the cultural efforts of Fanka (Star) Theatre Group, the all-male football teams are knitting peace and reconciliation around villages.

Influence on the wider community The Project is aimed at building the capacity of the district’s sports committee in peacebuilding, mobilising communities to support peacebuilding efforts by leaders and young people; and developing sports leagues and competitions in towns and schools. As a result of the work, the Project has had positive influence on the community: 13

Increased interaction between and within communities and clans – The fact that team members from different clans can cooperate, while playing, shows that people of different clans can coexist, interact and do things together, even after the game is over. This results in increased interaction as children associate across multi-cultural systems, clans and families, leading to gradual improvement in community relations.

Provided opportunities for building relations and friendship – Children playing football together was seen as a long-term strategy

to prevent conflicts in future.

When children played football together, they grew up as friends.

Some friendships have sometimes resulted into marriages.

Promoted cooperation and a culture of sharing and helping – When teams went out for a game outside their communities, community members readily came together to assist in form of food, transport costs and even offering to host the team members from other villages.

A good source of entertainment providing different opportunities for community members to spend idle time – Before, unproductive

youths could be tempted to join the militia or do other social evils; but now they can either play football or watch the games.

Enabled young people to be role models to their peers – Many young people have been role models to younger children who wanted to be just like them. 16year old Hassan Sheikh Abdullahi from Geliyo Village said, “I am a role model in my community because I do sports and succeed at school as well. Some parents send their children to me. I help them with their school work; and I also teach them football.”

Good Practices and Lessons Learnt Good Practices 1. Football is often seen as a male game. One good practice is to deliberately include girls participation through ‘culturally appropriate’ sports uniforms, in line with their culture and traditions.

2. Football has the potential to mobilise people across age, sex and clan. This can be used as an entry point to reach out to adults who love the game.

3. Sports and recreation are important areas of national development and growth. Sports and games unite people of different aspirations and backgrounds; and build in them a sense of togetherness and belonging and ultimately national pride and identity.

Lessons Learnt 1. Children and young people have to be intentionally targeted in any project that seek to partner with them to build peace. Otherwise, adults may leave them out completely.

2. It is important to include gender awareness and empowerment when working with girls, especially in societies that still constrain their involvement in social life. This would help to increase the effectiveness of girls participation.

3. Football can be used as a platform to communicate peace messages. A good method is to use music, dance and drama groups to pass on peace messages during half time, before and after the game.

4. Democratic spaces can be created within the Waajid society as children and young people learn to set up football teams and group associations. This would start a gradual process of sowing democratic practices and attitudes that are necessary for peace.

5. It is necessary to take into consideration young people’s perceptions of peace and their own role in peacebuilding. This is so that age and context appropriate activities can be designed for their effective participation.

6. Games, sports and other competitions have a potential to cause violence. Therefore, there is a need to nurture appropriate skills that honour win-lose situations without resorting to emotional outbursts or violence.

7. A war-torn country has little opportunities for recreation to occupy young people. Interestingly, low or no cost sports and games can be promoted to help refocus their minds, energy and talent to more constructive efforts. At the same time, it also provides these young people the opportunity for fitness exercise and socialising.

14

RESTORE 7 y CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

Influence on young participants themselves Although impacted in similar ways as other community members have been, young participants have enjoyed exclusive benefits from their participation.

They have: Enhanced social skills and values, such as teamwork and cooperation – At the beginning, the players were relunctant to interact. Now they socialise easily and have made many friends from within the community and from other villages.

A realisation of their own roles and responsibilities as peacebuilders – 9-year old Moallim Kuusow from Gomoriale Village, said that playing football has enabled him to mend broken relationships. “I

once fought with one boy called Hussein. But when we started playing football, we became friends.”

Improved discipline and morals – In a society where conflict has destroyed structures and systems that promote law and order, football has given them the necessary nurture to become good and responsible citizens.

“Football teaches one how to work with others. We have rules. For instance, one cannot bring a knife a long; neither can one fight nor hurt or kick anybody intentionally,” stated 17year old Aweis Ali Aden from Gomoriale.

Acquired skills and attitudes to live in diversity – They have learnt to accommodate and appreciate

each other without discriminating. 16-year old As Ali Isaack Bakoule from Geliyo shared, “I play with young people from different clans. This shows that even if we are different, we can still be friends and play together”.

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice.

This case study is adapted from Small Feet, Deep Prints, a World Vision Africa publication by the East Africa peace network (AmaNet) that documents lessons learned from involving children in working for peace. Report Author: Valarie Vat Kamatsiko, May 2005

UN CONVENTION

Some thoughts on children’s participation in peacebuilding “The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child’s choice.” – UN Convention on the Rights of the Child CHILDREN are potentially among the most powerful of peacebuilders. Like adults, they have a responsibility to their communities to build peace, and we should make effort to listen to them, learn from them and support them in their endeavours. In order to benefit maximally from their efforts, we must not only empower them but also give them the necessary space to participate as peacebuilders, as well as support and respect their attempts to build peace around themselves. To ignore their potential and achievements toward peace is to negate their human rights. It is also to curtail the possibility of lasting peace that seeks to break the traditional and cyclical nature of conflict especially in conflict-ridden areas.

Below are a number of principles in understanding children’s participation in their own development and in the development of the communities to which they belong: 1. Participation is a right in itself; it is also a means through which other rights can be realised.

2. Participation should not infringe on the rights of others or one’s own rights.

3. Every child “engages meaningfully” if they are able to participate in decisionmaking and activities related to their physical, social, spiritual and economic well-being.

4. Participation should be informed and voluntary.

5. Participation contributes to the child’s holistic growth and development as well as individual and social citizenship.

6. Participation affirms the right and responsibility of parents, guardians and communities in nurturing children to be responsible and useful citizens.

7. Adults should partner with and facilitate the participation of children in a manner that supports their evolving capacities.

RESTORE 7 y CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

15

toolkit

Helping children think mission Some ideas and suggestions to encourage children to develop an interest in God’s mission

C

HILDREN can make a huge contribution to God’s growing kingdom and effectively impact their generation for God. It is therefore important that children, from an early age, are exposed to the possibility that God might want to use them as partners in His mission for the world.

There are several ways that children can be a part of God’s mission. This article suggests some ideas and ways you can use to help children have a meaningful and important role in God’s mission.

Some ideas and suggestions Here are some ways to cultivate an awareness of mission in children. We suggest that you use them as starting points to help you help children “think mission”.

1. PRAY Children can be the most powerful agent of change through prayer for community transformation. So, encourage them to pray for the world around them. Teach them that their prayers have an impact on the world.

Remember to pray specifically.

Talk about current and global events that the children are familiar with. For examples: an earthquake, flood, a hurting child or school violence. Encourage them to pray for these issues and also those who are suffering.

Remember to pray for missionaries. Be sure to include the children of missionaries. It will be easier for the children to pray for people and needs that they are familiar with. Help them keep a prayer journal and use objects that will remind them to pray, such as missionary prayer cards, bookmarks, foreign coins or stamps.

As a suggestion, use prayer tools such as prayer cards, inflatable globes, and also prayer journals which give helpful and specific requests that children can pray about.

Consider taking part in global prayer events such as the annual World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk. Don’t forget to involve the local community of faith and help mobilise the congregations to pray together with and for children. For some practical advice, see article ‘Mobilising and engaging children in meaningful prayer’ in Restore #6 (Family of Faith).

Bangladeshi kids in prayer

(Sukhen Biswas / Bangladesh / Feb 2005)

16

RESTORE 7 CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

SOME THOUGHTS AND CONSIDERATIONS 1. The idea of God’s mission is more than an event or project. It is God actively working in the affairs of the world in order to restore right relationships with Him, with self, with one’s neighbour, and with the whole of creation. Each one of us, including children, has been given the privilege of being a part of His mission.

2. Children need to know that mission does not just happen in far-flung places. God will want them to be Christ’s ambassadors in their own local communities, such as their school, playgrounds and church etc.

Even better, they can go into their local areas and make friends with children from other cultures.

3. While there are limitations on children’s involvement in the mission field, God may well choose to use a child in preference to an adult in some situations. Never underestimate what God can do through a child, either now or in the future.

4. Adults especially teachers and parents have an important part to play. They can show children the importance of God’s mission, and provide them with opportunities to grow in their love for God and His mission. For parents, they have a responsibility to raise their children to be godly men and women. As such, they need to be prepared to release their children for God’s mission, such as singing with their choir at homeless shelters, feeding the street people, or even considering a career in mission.

5. Children need to be given the space and freedom to choose their level of involvement. Adults should not force, manipulate and coerce children to participate in any missional engagement. Instead, they need to create a nurturing environment for children to develop according to God’s purpose.

2. GIVE

3. LEARN

Children can make a difference by giving to needy projects around the world. Encourage them to give with a purpose and teach them how to give with others.

Learning about what God is doing in the lives of people and communities around the world can be a great way to help children cultivate a vision for the world.

Show children how giving works. Tell them the work of a particular mission agency or project, and share with them the ways that money will be used and how it is going to meet the need.

Encourage them to give to support mission work or a particular need, such as sponsoring a child in another country.

Find and share stories of what God is doing around the world. Keep up with what’s happening around the world and discuss mission needs and opportunities. Encourage children to think of ways they would like to respond.

Find out if your church supports a missionary or mission project. Ask the children what area of service they would like to help. Examples include organising a special offering or holding service-related activities (such as lawn mowing) to raise support.

Instead of money, children can also give in kind. A good example is Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child. This is an easy, hands-on project which provides opportunities for children to give a simple shoe box filled with gifts such as little toys and school supplies to needy children around the world. For information, see www.samaritanpurse.org.

RESTORE 7 CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

Help children to learn more about people around the world. Read books and magazines about other countries, cultures, and languages.

Teach them Bible verses, songs and often-used phrase in other foreign languages.

Encourage children to learn mission-related Bible verses that tell of God’s love for all people. Examples include Psalm 67:3-4, Mark 16:15, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, Revelations. 7:9, and many more.

Check out short missionary biographies and motivational mission stories that can introduce children to the heroes of the Christian faith.

Examples include Amy Carmichael, Eric Liddell and William Carey. Consider activities that can spark children’s interest in mission. For an example, check out ‘The Life of Mother Teresa’ in Restore #5 (Hope for the Generations).

17

4. MEET Introducing children to local missionaries can be a great way to help children develop interest in mission. When children meet missionaries and hear first-hand stories about the people group they serve, they can learn to be thankful and giving at the same time. It also helps them to pray specifically.

Consider adopting a missionary family and introduce children to missionaries and missionary needs. Have your children write them letters or emails, pray for them and think of ways to support them. Parents can take this opportunity to make mission a family affair and invite missionary families to share a meal or stories.

Read or tell stories about missionaries to the children. Focus on the story of someone who is doing significant work for God. It is particularly good to focus on people that are working with children so as to make it easier for children to relate.

(Teoh Phaik Hoon / Bangladesh / Feb 2006)

SOME IDEAS Here are some ideas that you can do together with children.

1. Put a world map on the wall so that children can locate where missionaries are serving. Use the map as a prayer prompter.

2. Dress for missions! Consider wearing costumes and ethnic wear of the people group in other countries. Use this opportunity to teach children about people in the countries.

3. Let children learn to eat native foreign food.

Serve it with a discussion of the people in the country where they eat this food.

4. Encourage children to cut newspapers and magazines articles related to the countries being studied and then share with others.

5. Ask the church pastor to include prayers for

missionaries each Sunday. Your local church can also consider starting a missionary club for children.

18

5. GO Exposing children to missions experience can often lead to lifelong development in faith for the child. In addition to learning about the importance and value of serving other, children also discover that they can do something to make this world a better place.

•

It can be an extremely valuable experience for the child to go into the mission field and see first hand the pressing needs of the world.

Consider taking along a child the next time your church group or ministry team goes out to visit a missionary situation. Later, ask them what they think of the trip and how they would like to respond. Encourage them to find out more and how his or her actions may affect others far away.

In some situations, it may not be practical to take children into overseas mission field. Consider going into domestic outreach instead.

Investigate local needs where you live and plan community projects to minister to people with physical, social or spiritual needs. Make effort to include children in the planning committee and don’t forget to provide them with opportunities to serve others.

Do consider community-building activities where children can help to protect and preserve the environment. For examples, cleaning up parks, making posters to encourage people to keep an area rubbish-free, and recycling used items. Taking care of the environment is one part of God’s holistic mission and can help to teach children to be responsible stewards of the environment and its resources.

Children doing their bit for the environment (Ian de Villiers / India / Nov 2004)

We’d love to hear from you the stories you experience as you lead children to discover and live out what it means to participate in God’s mission on earth. Please e-mail us at restore@viva.org.

RESTORE 7 CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

toolkit

What’s happening in your community?

Discerning the context of God’s mission where you live MANY people think of God’s mission as an event or project that only happens overseas. The truth is one does not need to go to a foreign country, important though the work is, to be involved. It can start by meeting the need of people in your local community. What is the context of mission where you live? Use this simple exercise to engage young people from your church community to think about critical issues affecting their lives.

EXERCISE 1 Process: 1. Gather a group of young people. If there are a large group of people, consider dividing them into smaller groups.

2. Give each group a large piece of flipchart paper. Have them identify and list the different events, issues and realities that have a direct impact on children and young people in their community, society and country.

NOTE: Examples include: environmental degradation, crimes, school violence etc. They may cut out photos and articles from old newspapers and magazines to reflect a particular issue.

3. Have the group(s) spend some time and then facilitate a discussion.

Which events, issues and realities have greatest impact on children and young people?

Which are positive impacts? Which are negative ones? Why? Discuss the causes of each item. List the causes beside each item.

NOTE: It is essential that each one have a chance to express their views.

4. Next, using the findings from the group, identify the areas where your church is actively involved and addressing critical issues of young people.

Explain how and why?

How does this relate to the church’s mission plans?

5. Lastly, identify and discuss the areas where young people need to be engaged, involved and addressing critical issues.

What are your ideas, resources and obstacles to young people’s active engagement, participation in church and society?

What are your ideas for mission?

How can we seek ways to learn more about the issues?

Duration: 45-90 minutes Aim: To identify the context of God’s mission and to reflect upon critical issues affecting the lives of children and young people where you live.

Scripture text: John 10:10, ‘Fullness of life’ Materials needed: Large sheet of paper Colored markers or pencils Optional: newspapers, magazines

This toolkit material is adapted from an original toolkit written by Tamara Walker, former executive for youth and young adults at Global Ministries, a global mission agency of The United Methodist Church.

6. To wrap up, read John 10:10.

What does the “fullness of life” mean to you? How does this relate to your understanding of God’s mission?

Are there other biblical passages that might relate to the discussion? Example: Isaiah 65:17; 21-22.

How can we respond in faith?

RESTORE 7 • CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

19

kids bible study

God made you to be a part of His plan An adult-led group activity for children by Karissa Glanville.

ACT 1: Objective: To realize that God made each one of us unique for a specific purpose.

Ahead of Time: Make yourself familiar with the texts beforehand so you can draw on their examples as appropriate throughout the teaching and discussion.

Materials needed: Bibles Paper Pens or markers Tape or glue A wall or a large piece of cardboard or poster paper In this study, the words in italics are notes for the teacher or facilitator of this lesson.

Study and discussion SAY: God has a plan, a mission to accomplish on this earth. Do you know what it is?

NOTE: Allow them to give answers incorporating them if possible into the following answer:

He is establishing His Kingdom in the earth. He wants to make earth more and more like heaven.

READ: Jesus even taught us to pray this would happen. Matthew 6:9,10 says, “This, then is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (NIV) God wants it to look more like heaven here on earth.

ASK: If God’s Kingdom looks more like life in heaven, what does God want it to look like here on earth?

NOTE: Have the children give their ideas. If they cannot come up

with them themselves, you can have them look up the supporting verses (Supporting verses: Micah 6:8, Romans 14:17-19, I John 4:8,16, Galatians 5:22, Luke 17:21, John 13:35) and/or you can suggest and explain some of the following aspects (their examples could be more specific to situations as well): People are loving and kind to each other, they know God’s love, there is peace, God’s righteousness is seen, justice is shown, mercy is known, there is lots of joy, Families are healthy and happy, everyone worships and prays to God, everyone knows about Jesus and God’s ways.

Record the aspects discussed so they can see them (on a chalk board, paper, etc). Draw their attention to the fact that all of them relate to God’s love for us and for the world.

READ: God loves you, your life is precious to Him, and he made you to be a part of His plan. Psalm 139:13-17 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb…All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” (NIV) SAY: You can be a part of helping with God’s plan, and you don’t even have to wait until you’re an adult.

20

RESTORE 7 CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

ASK: Can you think of any children in the Bible that helped with God’s plan?

NOTE: Allow them to answer. Record and discuss answers if desired. Note that the children they come up with from the Bible may show a way they particularly desire to be used

by God. Encourage them, that they too, can be used just as the child in the Bible.

SAY: I can think of lots of children that helped with God’s plan.

NOTE: You can mention any of the following

that the children did not mention above, and depending on time, you may want to go deeper into one of the stories.

There was a little slave girl who knew God could heal and when her master, Naaman, was sick, she told him to go to the Prophet Elisha to be healed. He did and God healed him. (2 Kings 5) What about David, who killed the giant when everyone thought he was just a young boy? (1 Samuel 17) Or Samuel – he first heard God speak to him when he was just a child and God used him as a messenger to tell people what God wanted them to know. (1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-21) Did you know God could use you to tell other people His messages?

SAY: God looks at our hearts even when we are still children. He desires to let you help with His plans, whether it’s to change your family, city or even a nation or the world!

Look at the different items we discussed that describe God’s Kingdom.

On a picture or drawing of the world, have the children tape, glue or otherwise attach their paper hands on the world.

ACT 3:

Pray Together Ask the children to agree with you in their hearts as you pray out loud. You may want to have them repeat after you or have some of them pray out loud from their hearts.

Jesus, we want to be a part of Your plans to make earth more like heaven. Please show us Your plans for our lives. Help us by Your spirit to know Your love and be Your love in this world. Help us to show others what Your Kingdom is like. We want to be all that You created us to be. We give our lives to You. Amen.

Further Recommendations: On an ongoing basis, encourage the children and young people to be involved in various aspects of ministry and serving, both within and outside the church or ministry. Get to know the young people’s interests and be sensitive to where they might be able to be matched up with other adults who could mentor them in serving in their desired area of interest.

Also continue to encourage the children and youth to seek God themselves, so they might know Him and learn to be guided by Him. The more they know Him and His love, the more they will be able to be His love to the world.

ASK: How could you be a part of God’s plan?

NOTE: Allow them to answer and discuss.

ACT 2:

Activity Give each child a piece of paper and ask them to trace their hand and cut it out.

Have each child draw a small heart somewhere on the hand representing God’s heart working through them.

Karissa Glanville is a PhD student at Fuller Seminary studying in the area of spiritual maturation of at-risk youth.

She received her BA in Social Work from Hope International University, her teaching credential from Cal State Fullerton, and her MDiv from Fuller Seminary. She has worked with and mentored Asian and Hispanic, 1st and 2nd generation, immigrant youth in California for over 10 years.

Then allow each child to choose one of the aspects of God’s Kingdom they want to be a part of and have them write or draw it on the hand.

RESTORE 7 CHILDREN & GOD’S MISSION

21

insights

Understanding God’s Heart for Children: Looking back and moving forward Jennifer Orona reviews where we have been and suggest ways that we can continue the “Understanding God’s Heart for Children” conversation.

How it all started

Dirty. Dishonest. Worthless.

That is how a lot of people around the world view children, especially the children that many of us work with every day. Yet God calls us to a higher standard, a standard of care based on what God has said, how Jesus acted, and how the family of God is supposed to behave.

This standard is what the “Understanding God’s Heart for Children Biblical Framework” seeks to comprehend. Based on an international conversation started in 1999, this framework has served as the theme for the 2005 International Cutting Edge conference, the outline of the Understanding God’s Heart for Children: Toward a Biblical Framework book, and the focus of Restore magazine. Four years on, the conversation has deepened and developed. Let us review where we have been, and where God may be calling us in the future.

Seven affirmations The seven affirmations that follow come from the original “Understanding God’s Heart for Children Biblical Framework.” They are not ‘set in stone,’ nor are they finished products. Each affirmation is designed to reflect several key biblical themes that relate to our ministries with children.

22

1) God creates every unique person as a child with dignity Key Passages: Gen 1:26-31; Ps 139 Why do all children have dignity?

Because God gives it to them when he creates them. This is why each child in our care should be valued, nurtured, and loved. Our beliefs about children begin with creation, when the Creator God made all things, creating us to be in peaceful and complete relationships with the earth, with people, and with God. 2) Children need parental love in a broken world Key Passages: Genesis 3; Luke 2 Sadly, the sin of our first parents causes every human and every family to also be marred by sin.

This means that while God’s ideal is for every child to grow up in a loving family and have all of their physical, emotional, social, psychological, and spiritual needs met, the reality is that many children and families need additional support in order to provide for each family member’s needs.

3) God gives children as a gift to welcome and nurture Key Passages: Deu 6:1-9; Mt 18:1-14 As we see in the biblical accounts of the people of Israel, God not only intends for children to live in families, but He also desires for them to live in community.

“Family, friends, church, and the local community are responsible

for creating an environment that promotes children’s well-being.1” This blessing goes both ways, as adults bless children and children bless adults.

4) Society has a God-given responsibility for the well-being of children and families Key Passages: Psalm 10:12-18; Matthew 25:31-46 God loves orphans, widows, refugees, the poor – all people who live on the margins of society. He calls Christians to protect them. In this affirmation, we see that God’s mission on earth has a broader scope than just individuals, families, or even communities. The Church across the globe must advocate for and with children so that societies change, too, and move closer to God’s ideals of justice, righteousness, mercy, and salvation.

5) Children are a promise of hope for every generation Key Passages: Isaiah 9:1-7; Deuteronomy 11:18-21 Not the only promise of hope and certainly never to compare with our hope in the Messiah, children nevertheless remind us of God’s faithfulness and blessing. Many of God’s promises are for the future, and we can hope for their fulfilment in our lives and in the lives of the children in our care. Though we see children around the world living in difficult circumstances, God’s Word reminds us that the hope that has been passed down RESTORE 7 y CHIDLREN & GOD’S MISSION

from generation to generation – our ultimate hope – is for a future in God’s presence, without sorrow, pain, or need (Rev 7:16–17).

6) God welcomes children fully into the family of faith Key Passages: Luke 18:15-17; Romans 12:4-16 Jesus welcomes children. He welcomed them into his arms while on earth, and He continues to welcome them into the family of faith today. For children in difficult circumstances, these family relationships are especially important because the biological family is often unable to provide adequate care. Affirmation 6 holds both blessings and responsibilities for children and adults, because “in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Romans 12:5, TNIV).

7) Children are essential to the mission of God Key Passages: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Isaiah 61:1-4 God wants all children to spend eternity with Him, and He also wants all of His children (young and old) to be witnesses to the world of His love, power, and salvation. This means that young people are both part of the goal and part of the process of God’s mission. Miriam, Samuel, David, Naaman’s slave girl, Josiah, Mary, and even Jesus Himself played major roles in the unfolding of God’s story throughout history; children today are also valuable participants in the mission of God.

Genesis to Revelation, tracing God’s work in history from Creation and the Fall in Genesis (Affirmations 1 and 2), to life as the people of Israel and the Law given in the Pentateuch (Affirmations 3 and 4), to the impact of the Law on the generations and the forward-looking hope of the Prophets (Affirmation 5), to the early Church as the new ‘family of God’ (Affirmation 6), to the ongoing mission of God, continuing until Christ’s triumphant return (Affirmation 7). Further study is needed in these areas so that the affirmations and concepts can be honed and improved.

2) Learn: Learn more about how the framework affects your ministry.

Our motivation for ministry needs to be based on who God is and what His plans are for human history2. We need to learn more about God’s heart for children in order to become more like Christ, to minister with children more effectively, and to know God more fully.

3) Act: Use the framework. Train your staff, do a Bible study with your children, journal your insights as you read the Bible, or develop your own ideas and share them with others! None of the affirmations are helpful unless we act on them.

Also, many ministries can benefit from hearing about your experiences. Please share the lessons

that you have learned with others by letting us know how you are using the Biblical Framework.

And then?

As we look toward the future, we see that much work still needs to be done in order to better understand God’s heart for children. We need to study, learn, and act, sharing our experiences and insights along the way. Furthermore, we must remember the warning and encouragement of Luke 12:48: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (TNIV). The more we learn, the more responsible we are for this knowledge.

And with God as our help and strength, we can move forward.

God, working through His people, can change the lives of children.

Through our ministries, He can help them move from “dirty, dishonest, and worthless” to “valuable, nurtured, and loved.”

Oh, God, so be it!

Jennifer Orona is the editor for Viva Equip Resources. She co-edited Understanding God’s Heart for Children: Toward a Biblical Framework (Authentic, 2007) with Douglas McConnell and Paul Stockley.

1 From the “Understanding God’s Heart for Children Biblical Framework,” Affirmation 3.

2 Paul Stockley, “Conclusion,” in Understanding God’s Heart for Children: Toward a Biblical Framework, eds. McConnell, Orona, and Stockley (Colorado Springs: Authentic, 2007), 299.

Moving forward What is next? How can we keep on discovering and growing, and keep on improving our ministries with children? I would like to suggest three ways that we can continue the “Understanding God’s Heart for Children” conversation: 1) Study: Study God’s Word. The seven affirmations roughly follow the broader story of Scripture from RESTORE 7 y CHIDLREN & GOD’S MISSION

23

restore

Pursuing God’s Intentions for Children Editor: Advisory group:

KOK Chik Bu VIVA Louie CADAING TEARFUND Paul STEPHENSON WORLD VISION Philippa LEI WORLD VISION UK Richard STELLWAY Ph.D VIVA

Published

on behalf of the Viva Network movement by

Viva Network Asia Centre, a company limited by guarantee, 23-2 Jalan 8/146, Metro Centre, Bandar Tasik Selatan 57000 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA Tel: +6 03 9057 0070 (Fax: +6 03 9057 0071) E-mail: restore@viva.org Website: http://www.viva.org/restore © Viva and the respective authors. International Associates of Viva, churches and charities have permission to use this tool for teaching and non-profit purposes only.

Printed by Akitiara Corporation Sdn Bhd 1 & 3, Jalan TPP 1/3, Taman Industri Puchong Batu 12, 47100 Puchong, Selangor, MALAYSIA

February 2008 KDN PP 14535/1/2008 Restore has been made possible through the financial assistance from COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL and MISSION OF MERCY. Both organisations are International Associates of Viva.

Restore is a collaborative initiative of Viva Network, a global movement of Christians working together to bring better care to more children worldwide.

This issue is the final part of a 7-series volume exploring seven affirmative statements of the Understanding God’s Heart for Children Biblical Framework. For the full statement, visit http://www.viva.org/restore.

How to use this magazine?

This is not an ordinary magazine.

Restore is intended as a cutting-edge tool for anyone who is involved in God’s work with children. This magazine has been designed to stimulate your thinking and structured in such a way as to help you, the reader, find relevant materials for your work with children and decide on how to best utilise them.

Biblical reflection helps you to think biblically about the theme.

Feature articles build on the theme and provide valuable insights on current trends and development in the childcare ministry.

Toolkit sections such as case studies and best practice are handy for experiential learning and application, while practical ones such as kids bible study provide useful activities that you can do together with the children you serve.

Additional resources and suggestions point you to more detailed and relevant information.

If you’re already engaged in holistic childcare ministry, Restore will give you some practical ideas. For those who are new, the collective experience contained here will be a useful learning tool.

We hope you enjoy using and reading materials contained here and find this ‘not-an-ordinary magazine’ useful in your work.

“

God intends that His Church be a witness in every community of His transforming power, so that His purpose for every child can be accomplished.

Previous titles: DIGNITY PARENTING COMMUNITY A JUST SOCIETY HOPE FOR THE GENERATIONS FAMILY OF FAITH

For subscriptions and enquiries, please get in touch with us.

”

Cover photos: (clockwise from top) African children taking part in expressing their view and thoughts (Stephanie Hunter / Hope for the Nations)

A young boy giving a speech during the International Children’s Day (Peter Empson / Cambodia / May 2007)

A girl leading a prayer moment during the 2006 World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk (Teoh Phaik Hoon / Malaysia / June 2006)