Child Sponsorship

Emergency Relief

Philippines

Through Grief to Hope in Guatemala

aheckman — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 17:46:43 +0000

Through Grief to Hope in Guatemala aheckman Fri, 04/28/2023 - 17:46

Through Grief to Hope in Guatemala

APRIL 28, 2023 · BY AMY HECKMAN

Evan*is a 7th grader in Guatemala who attends the child development center in his town. Evan’s mother experienced complications with childbirth and passed away four years ago. Since then, Evan and his seven siblings have had to face life without her love and care. The teachers at Evan’s center report that despite this tragedy marking his life, Evan is a hard worker who loves to improve. He strives diligently to overcome the obstacles he faces. Evan also attends the local Nazarene church that hosts the child development center, where he participates in children’s church and youth services.

Making ends meet is not easy for Evan’s family. Evan is one of the ten percent of children in Guatemala who work in order to help out at home. He spends a few hours each day in a local bakery to cover his educational costs, as school is only free in Guatemala through the 6th grade. Sometimes, Evan uses his income to help pay for the needs of his younger siblings. To balance all of his responsibilities, Evan goes to work in the morning before school. After work, he goes to school, then to his center in the afternoon, and studies in the evenings.

Being part of the child sponsorship program means that Evan is able to attend the development center for free. There, he receives help with his homework after school, along with spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and social care that is designed to develop all aspects of his life. Evan’s sponsor is a Nazarene church in Wisconsin, and Evan regularly writes notes to the church to shares gratitude and updates. In a recent letter, he expressed how happy he was to be a part of the center.

“I thank God first of all for putting in your hearts the will to help me,” he wrote. “I know that our God will multiply you in abundance.” Evan is not the only one in his family to benefit from sponsorship; two of his younger sisters attend the center as well.

The care given by the staff is impacting each of Evan's family members with the help needed to thrive despite both grief and economic challenges. In a country where only 79% of children complete primary school, the center’s activities help keep children engaged and learning. Most importantly, the center is built on a foundation of faith.

“We take the opportunity to pray with [students] and remind them of how important they are to us, to the church, and above all to God,” said Arnoldo, center coordinator. This kind of encouragement can give children confidence and a reason to hope for a bright future, no matter their current circumstances.

That encouragement is echoed in the care felt through the sponsorship relationship. “I am very grateful to my sponsor,” said Evan. “Even though I do not know them, I feel a great love for them because of the support I have received.”

When you sponsor a child like Evan, committing your financial resources and prayer support, you are making a tangible difference. Learn more here.

*Child’s name is changed for protection.

Caring for Children Around the World

aheckman — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 19:27:14 +0000

Caring for Children Around the World aheckman Wed, 04/05/2023 - 19:27

Caring for Children Around the World

APRIL 5, 2023 · BY AMY HECKMAN

In Nepal, the children at one Nazarene child development center share a common experience—many have never celebrated their own birthdays. For families in this area who struggle with ongoing poverty, there’s no time or money to spend on play or celebrations. Instead, parents have to stay focused on earning enough to eat and have housing. Many of the children have worked alongside their parents to support the families’ needs. When they are enrolled in the center, though, not only are children given opportunities to grow spiritually, educationally, and physically, but special moments like birthday and Christmas celebrations with their classmates help shape their emotional development.

The local church that hosts the center has noticed an increase in relationships between community members and their members thanks to this ministry.

A child development center in Romania provides a safe environment so children and teens can develop positive self-esteem, grow spiritually, and improve their academic skills. The center provides Bible teaching, meals, clothing, tutoring, access to health care, and a place for kids to play together.

Sometimes the benefits a child takes home from their center are intangible, yet no less impactful. “To be part of this program helped me to see myself with different eyes,” said one teenager who attends the Romanian center. “I learned to control my emotions.”

Life in Nicaragua can be difficult for children. At least 42 percent of the population lives in poverty, and that widespread unemployment, poor infrastructure, and other stressors leave many families struggling to survive. At one child development center, parents are educated on helping their children grow through proper nutrition and food preparation. A water well provides clean water for children and their families to use. Younger children receive academic coaching, and teens are supplied with vocational training. These activities are in addition to the regular spiritual guidance and extracurriculars like music and art lessons that make up the rest of the center’s activities.

Still, the stressors outside the center are sometimes a strong pull. Because of this, last year, several teens stopped attending. The center staff are committed to praying for the teens' safety and that they would be able to make wise choices for their futures. Due to work shortages in the area, some families had to leave for a season to harvest coffee in the mountains, taking their children with them. Other parents were concerned with earning enough money to pay fees for their children to graduate from school.

“God supplied all the needs,” reported one leader.

Last May, two teens who also attend the church graduated from a baptism class. After their baptism in a nearby lake, the church and center community enjoyed a celebration together.

The center staff continues to press into their mission to help children and teens develop and grow. “The task ahead of us is very challenging,” said the leader. “We are praying and fasting that the Lord will help us continue in the race of compassion. We have seen God's support in everything we have done for his work and for his beloved children.”

When you sponsor a child, you help them attend a child development center like these. To learn more about making a difference for children living in poverty, visit ncm.org/sponsor.

Perspectives from Both Sides

aheckman — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 18:52:02 +0000

Perspectives from Both Sides aheckman Thu, 07/28/2022 - 18:52

Perspectives from Both Sides

JULY 28, 2022 · NCM STAFF

Divya*, age 15, lives with her family in Nepal, where her father works as both a Nazarene pastor and a brick-layer. This story is all too common for many families struggling with limited opportunities for income. Often, school fees are unattainable after basic living expenses are paid. To address this, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries has a specific ministry that assists pastors' children with their primary and secondary educational costs. Like all NCM child development programs, the ministry is holistic, helping support families spiritually and physically as well as meeting their educational needs.

“Because of the [child sponsorship program], it is reducing the financial burden of my parents,” Divya explains.

Gregory and Armig Ekmekjian live on nearly the opposite half of the globe, in Los Angeles, California. Since 2016, they have been supporting Divya through NCM child sponsorship. Last year, Gregory began to make plans to fulfill a dream of visiting Mount Everest Base Camp—a dream that he thought might take him close to where Divya lives.

Meetings between sponsors and the children involved in the program have been nearly impossible during pandemic-driven safety precautions, unlike normal times. Gregory reached out to NCM, and the director of child sponsorship programs in Nepal, Hari, helped coordinate with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.

“This visit was the first visit of a sponsor with a child [in Nepal],” he explains.

Despite several setbacks, including nearly being cancelled altogether, Gregory was able to meet with Hari, Divya, and her family at an outdoor café, where they could spend time getting to know each other beyond the occasional letters and to exchange gifts. Gregory works in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, and he had brought Divya a camera to practice photography. Divya had hand-knitted a Nepalese scarf for Gregory in advance, explaining that, "I chose to give it because it was knitted by myself.”

Having the opportunity to meet Divya and her family impressed upon Gregory the importance of the sponsorship program. “There should be more,” says Gregory. “There should be more children in the program. ... Everybody has to do their part. They are our brothers and sisters.”

Divya shares that she also has been affected by her involvement with holistic child development: “I would like to give thanks to all of you who are contributing through the child sponsorship program,” she shares. “... My future plan is to help support needy people after completing my studies.”

Armig and Gregory Ekmekjian live and work in Los Angeles, California. They began sponsoring children through NCM in 2015, when Armig moved to the United States from Lebanon and found the sponsorship program to be a way to express her gratitude for God’s blessings.

*Children’s names are changed for protection.

Photos courtesy of Gregory Ekmekjian. This story was featured in the most recent issue of NCM Magazine.

Nepal

Add new comment

Make a Difference Through Child Sponsorship Sunday

aheckman — Thu, 19 May 2022 19:18:02 +0000

Make a Difference Through Child Sponsorship Sunday aheckman Thu, 05/19/2022 - 19:18

Make a Difference Through Child Sponsorship Sunday

Every year, Nazarene churches around the world extend compassion by highlighting the ministry of Nazarene child sponsorship. While this event has traditionally been held in the spring, we invite your congregation to choose any weekend that is most convenient to host Child Sponsorship Sunday!

“I hope that in the year that comes, many more children and people can benefit from this wonderful program and receive great opportunities for life and education.” - A sponsored child in Colombia

Child Sponsorship changes the lives of children living in poverty. Children who attend child development centers benefit from caring teachers and comprehensive programming that nurtures children by assisting their academic, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual growth. In addition, parents are released from the fear of being unable to provide for their children’s needs. Children of Nazarene pastors receive assistance with educational costs, and all sponsored children are connected to caring sponsors who encourage them through financial support, prayer, and letters.

"Receiving a letter makes me very happy, it makes me feel that there are people thinking about me and that I have friends who love me. When a letter arrives, I like to read it first in English and then in Spanish because that's how I'm learning. I [read] with my parents and then I keep it in a place of memories of mine." -A sponsored child

Child Sponsorship is also an investment in the community. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries partners with local congregations to operate child development programs. This partnership resources churches as they seek to serve others, introduce change to their communities, and point people to the love of God in Christ. Many child development centers offer savings groups and financial training for parents and guardians of enrolled children.

Right now, there are 240 child development centers in 37 countries around the world. These centers currently care for 17,163 children.

“The CDC has changed my life. Since I was in CDC, I [did] well in my studies and after graduation, now am helping my parents by earning.” – Graduate of a Nazarene Child Development Center in India

Why should your church host a Child Sponsorship Sunday?

Many do not know about child sponsorship. This is an opportunity to educate your congregation on the ministry of child sponsorship.

Many do not realize that there is a uniquely Nazarene child sponsorship program. This is an opportunity to highlight child sponsorship through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.

Hosting a Child Sponsorship Sunday is itself an act of compassion to care for “the least of these.”

Hosting a Child Sponsorship Sunday provides an opportunity for current sponsors to share how sponsorship has blessed them.

Hosting a Child Sponsorship Sunday creates an occasion to pray for children living in poverty (consider using this prayer video - click HERE to download video directly to your computer.

Hosting a Child Sponsorship Sunday gives children waiting for a sponsor the chance to become sponsored. Church members can choose a child to sponsor right after the service.

"For the future, I would like to be a great businesswoman and to help other children the same way I have been helped.” - A sponsored child from Bolivia

Free resources for promoting Child Sponsorship Sunday are available on our website. There, you can order profile cards of children waiting to be sponsored, posters, brochures, talking points, and more. If you have any questions, we’d love to help. Drop us a note at cs@ncm.org.

"I pray for you. Thank you for all the support you gave me during these years. You will be in my heart forever." - A sponsored child in Panama

“Dear Sponsor, thank you for all you have done for me, because of your love and kindness I feel so much blessed and positive for my future.” – A sponsored child in Rwanda

Add new comment

Finding Joy In and Out of Lockdown: Child Development programs in Nepal

aheckman — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 05:21:48 +0000

Finding Joy In and Out of Lockdown: Child Development programs in Nepal aheckman Wed, 09/29/2021 - 05:21

Finding Joy In and Out of Lockdown: Child Development programs in Nepal

Being a teenager anywhere in the world can be a challenge. For Siva*, a 16-year-old boy who attends a child development center in Nepal, the last year and a half has been in and out of restrictive lockdowns.

Instead of growing frustrated, Siva wrote to his sponsor to tell her that he was using the time in lockdown, “as a great opportunity to learn creative things.” So, always a creative soul, Siva is teaching himself how to play the ukulele.

Siva*

In Nepal, most children have had the same uncertain experience Siva had. Schools were closed for much of 2020 and had only just reopened when they shut down again in April of 2021 during a second surge of the virus. Many children couldn’t access the remote lessons that the government provided.

According to groups like the United Nations and Human Rights Watch, the numbers of children in the labor market in Nepal increased when schools closed; instead of going to school, children were working (often in dangerous jobs like making bricks, crushing stones, weaving carpets, or collecting recyclable waste) to try to contribute at home. Not all of them were able to channel the lockdown into something creative.

The Church of the Nazarene in Nepal operates six Nazarene child development programs that care for close to 400 children. Five of these programs are child development centers that are open during after-school hours to provide educational, spiritual, physical, and emotional support. With the guidance of trained teachers, children who otherwise might struggle to stay in school are encouraged to continue learning.

Students studying quietly in a child development center

The centers provide uniforms, school supplies, homework assistance, food, medical care, enrichment activities, and more. Instead of having to leave school to work, these children are able to focus on school and the doors it will open for their futures.

Sunit also attends a Nazarene child development center. Before the pandemic, the 14-year-old wrote that she loves it when it snows, mostly because she loves to play in it. “Nepal is small in size, but it [has] a lot of beautiful places …” she wrote.

Sunit*

Since the pandemic started, Sunit has worried about school and the safety of her family. While Sunit’s father is an officer, Siva is like many of the other children at the center whose parents are small-scale farmers or day laborers, earning what they can each day. Other parents work as housekeepers for wealthy families, and in some families, one parent will travel to a city or even another country to find higher-paying work, leaving families separated for long periods of times. The pandemic has been disproportionately stressful for these low-income households. In many cases, their sources of income were lost once the first lockdown went into effect.

During the closures, child development centers continued to care for the children enrolled in their programs. Center staff trained parents to access the government lessons that were broadcast online and on television and radio stations, supplementing the training with home tutoring for children who didn’t have enough support at home. On top of regular educational activities, the staff members also made health education calls covering topics like disease transmission, hygiene practices, and how children could stay safe from infection. And to make sure the children and their families had enough to eat, they distributed food packs containing staples like rice, lentils, salt, and sugar.

CDC teacher home visit

Child development centers provide space for children like Siva and Sunit to nourish the things that spark their curiosity and joy, affirming their dignity and helping them grow in Christ.

Sunit wrote that she was very thankful for her center, where she has attended since she was a young child. “Now, I am happy because the [center] and school has been opened,” she said. “I am learning new and different things with [my friends]. … I like to go to the CDC and learn new things and teach my juniors.”

*Children’s names are changed for safety.

Learn how you can sponsor a child on our website.

Add new comment

What the Pandemic Has Taught Me: Reflections from a Sponsored Child

Grace Tia — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 04:36:58 +0000

What the Pandemic Has Taught Me: Reflections from a Sponsored Child Grace Tia Wed, 07/07/2021 - 04:36

What the Pandemic Has Taught Me: Reflections from a Sponsored Child

Emanuel lives in the Dominican Republic. He is 17 years old and a Nazarene pastor’s son who has benefited from child sponsorship.

Here he shares his experience and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a pastor's son, I have learned the importance of planning. With many expectations and things to do, I had everything planned about how my year would be. Not only did I feel bad for my plans and goals, but more for the total confinement of lockdown. Seeing so many deaths in other countries and here , too—people I know lost loved ones, and fear increased every day in me, and around me.

Prayer times with my family helped me a lot. I spent a lot of time with them as our routine changed. We no longer said goodbye in the morning and saw each other only at night. Now we are closer as a family. During the lockdown I spent more time praying, read new books, and watched movies with my family. I like that, and I thank God for that part of this sad reality that has touched the world. Little by little, many establishments have opened, and we have had to learn this new mode of life.

I learned that God can change our lives in an instant like the blink of an eye. I saw how lucky we are and sometimes we don't even realize it. During this time, I helped my church and [Nazarene] district with things like preparing food rations for people in need and preparing things for online services. I really like to see how my dad asks me about technological matters.

“Sometimes we worry so much about what tomorrow will be and do not pay attention to what is in front of us and what really matters in our life.”

Above all the things that this pandemic has taught me, the most important thing for me is found in Matthew 6:34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Sometimes we worry so much about what tomorrow will be and do not pay attention to what is in front of us and what really matters in our life.

I realized that there are many who can go home safely, even have food for many days, while others do not even fit well because of how small their home is.

We brought food to children and adults who were so happy. We were able to help a lot thanks to the generosity of others. I felt so grateful to be able to be the channel that people who have the financial resources can use to God’s glory. We continue to pray and trust that He is in control, and He will always supply what we need as we trust Him and help each other.

Thank you for your great help on our behalf. God bless you and yours.

Add new comment

How Do You Make The Child You Sponsor Part of Your Daily Life?

Grace Tia — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 07:36:42 +0000

How Do You Make The Child You Sponsor Part of Your Daily Life? Grace Tia Wed, 06/16/2021 - 07:36

How Do You Make The Child You Sponsor Part of Your Daily Life?

When you commit to sponsoring a child through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, you learn that the financial support you give will provide holistic, transformative care, and the letter writing relationship you share will help both you and the child expand your worlds. By sponsoring, you know that you’re partnering with a local church, ensuring that children are receiving the tools to flourish and have hope for a better future.

But maybe you want to do more.

How can you further incorporate the ministry of sponsorship into your life? Here are some suggestions that will help make sponsorship, and the child you sponsor, a vital and visible part of your daily life.

Learn About Them

If you haven’t yet, take some time to learn about the child you are sponsoring. Read the information you receive and take note of their interests, family situation, and their area of the world. You can use that information to pray more specifically for them, feel more connected to their life and needs, and establish a rapport in your letters. Mark their birth month on your calendar, with a reminder to mail a birthday card a few months in advance so it reaches them in time. Look up their country and learn about the language, climate, favorite foods or sports, and other characteristics that will help you understand more about their culture and community.

Pray For Them

Prayer is a powerful tool to bless the child you sponsor and help reshape you in God’s image! Consider placing the child’s photo or recent letters on your fridge or another visible area of your house so you are drawn to pray for her or him throughout the day. Check global news updates to find out what might be impacting the child’s country or family so your prayers can be more specific. Ask friends and family to remember the child you sponsor in their prayers, or share prayer requests with your church family for extra support. If you have young children, invite them to include the child you sponsor in their nightly prayers, or encourage them to ask God to bless the child you sponsor when you pray before family meals.

Write To Them

Writing letters is a vital way to build a sponsorship relationship! Using colorful notecards, stationary, and flat stickers will make your letters a fun treat to receive in the mail. Not sure what to include? Here are some suggestions for questions you can ask to get the conversation started.

Letters are another way to incorporate your own children into the sponsorship experience. Elizabeth Graham, a sponsor living in New Zealand, encourages her son to write his own letters to the child they sponsor. She explains, “Now that our own son is old enough, he writes letters and makes art for “J” as well. He has told “J” about our family, our move from the United States to New Zealand, what it is like to start school in New Zealand, and that he loves baseball. Every time we get a letter, we locate where “J” lives on a map or globe.”

Educate Yourself

The issues facing the child you sponsor are probably the same ones impacting of millions of children around the globe. As you find your heart drawn to the child you’ve chosen to support, you may equally feel drawn to increasing your awareness of poverty and how you can understand the issue and make a difference.

Here’s a few recommendations to get you started:

“When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself” – By Steve Corbett

“Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World Than Actually Changing the World?” – by Eugene Cho

“Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development” – by Bryant L. Myers

Advocate for Other Children

Not all children enrolled in Nazarene holistic child development programs are matched right away with a sponsor. For those who are waiting to be matched, the Unsponsored Children’s Fund provides them with the funds necessary to attend a child development center and be supported by caring teachers and leaders in their community. For a unique way to help children looking for sponsors, draw awareness to this need through a fundraiser in your community or local church. Perhaps your children could run a neighborhood lemonade stand, or you could organize a bake sale or dinner. Extra efforts like these will help keep the ministry of sponsorship at the forefront of your mind—maybe you’ll even see friends or neighbors sign up to become sponsors, too!

Add new comment

Child Sponsorship: How Does Letter Writing Make a Difference?

Grace Tia — Tue, 11 May 2021 08:14:29 +0000

Child Sponsorship: How Does Letter Writing Make a Difference? Grace Tia Tue, 05/11/2021 - 08:14

Child Sponsorship: How Does Letter Writing Make a Difference?

This weekend, Nazarene churches joined together to highlight Child Sponsorship Sunday, an opportunity for churches to invite families and individuals (or even small groups) to sponsor a child living in poverty through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries child sponsorship program.

When a child is sponsored, they are connected to a church-led child development center where they receive holistic care that helps them grow spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally. But they aren’t the only ones impacted by sponsorship! In many places, child development centers also offer specific guidance and assistance for parents beyond the programs for children. During the pandemic, centers have been a crucial link to families in need in the community, making it possible for staff to provide resources and food staples.

Once you commit to supporting a child and their family through sponsorship, how can you know for sure that you’re making a difference? While you can rest assured that the funds you send monthly are providing holistic care for the child you sponsor, the letter-writing relationship you will have with your sponsored child is a simple yet profound way to be involved in a child’s life.

When you write a letter to the child you sponsor, either through the mail or through your online account, that letter will be translated (if needed) and sent to the coordinators in the country where the child lives. Several times a year, you will receive various kinds of correspondence back from the child you sponsor. Sometimes that will be a card or a drawing, other times you’ll receive a letter full of stories and questions for you to answer or a newsletter from the child development center.

This pen-pal relationship is key to sponsored children knowing they are cared for by those who sponsor them.

Let’s take a look at three ways writing letters makes a difference:

1. Helps a Child Feel Seen and Heard

It’s only natural that the better we know people, the more we can feel deeply for them and their needs. With each letter you receive, you’ll learn more about the story of the child you sponsor and his or her family. And with each letter you send, you have a chance to share your story (in age-appropriate ways, of course). The child you sponsor will appreciate knowing more about you, and will be thrilled to know that you truly care about their life.

For example, one sponsored child in Ecuador was asked about the letters he receives. It’s very clear in his response what an impact his sponsors are making as they take care to write in a specific and personalized way: "There are several things that I like, for example the decoration they make, I also like that they tell me a little about them. I like to be asked questions. I feel connected because the people who write to me remember the things I tell them."

2. Brings Joy to Children and their Family

Nearly all children enjoy receiving mail; children who are part of child sponsorship are no different! Letters become a fun item to share with friends, classmates, and family. Many children store each letter carefully and save to reread later.

One child shared what she does with the letters she receives, saying, "Receiving a letter makes me very happy, it makes me feel that there are people thinking about me and that I have friends who love me, when a letter arrives I like to read it first in English and then in Spanish because that's how I'm learning. I read with my parents and then I keep it in a place of memories of mine."

Another commented, “Receiving a letter from you, dear Sponsor, is a blessing for me and my family. It makes me very happy to receive a letter. The letters that you send me I keep in a very special place and I share them with my family."

3. Broadens Horizons for Child and Sponsor

While the world has been made smaller by the advances in technology, there are still many divides between different countries and different cultures. If they are old enough, sponsored children may want to tell you about their home life, their country, their favorite foods, holiday traditions, and much more. As you reciprocate and share about your life, you can give children a window into your world just as they gave you a window into theirs. They may have many questions about where you live, what work you do, what the weather is like, and more. Anything you choose to share about your life will be read with curiosity and interest.

You’ll also gain insight into their lives. Encourage them to share about their favorite games or foods. You can build a relationship as children of Christ together through your shared and different experiences.

One child in Rwanda wrote, “Dear Sponsor, thank you for all you have done for me, because of your love and kindness I feel so much blessed and positive for my future.”

You and your sponsored child may also exchange prayer requests with each other. It will be an encouragement to know you are praying for each other’s needs, and it is a prime way that sponsorship a blessing to both sponsor and child.

Add new comment

7 Days of Praying for Sponsored Children

Grace Tia — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 10:20:42 +0000

7 Days of Praying for Sponsored Children Grace Tia Thu, 04/08/2021 - 10:20

7 Days of Praying for Sponsored Children

Children are beloved by God. Jesus showed how precious children are when he prayed for them, saying, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When we show a child that he or she has value, we are following Jesus’ example.

There are thousands of children receiving holistic care through Nazarene child development programs all around the world. Many of these children are supported through child sponsorship, which connects a child living in poverty with a caring adult who comes alongside the child to encourage their growth and development with prayer, the exchange of letters, and financial support. This week, take time each day to pray for sponsored children.

Day 1

Pray that all people would come to appreciate the gift that children are and see them as infinitely valuable.

Psalm 127:3-4 No doubt about it: children are a gift from the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a divine reward. The children born when one is young are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.

Day 2

Pray for the protection of children, that the plans of those who would seek to harm or abuse them or their families would be thwarted. Pray that we would see ways to assume the responsibility of protecting children.

James 1:27 True devotion, the kind that is pure and faultless before God the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their difficulties and to keep the world from contaminating us.

Day 3

Pray that families would be inspired to teach their children to follow the Lord and seek wisdom as they grow. Pray for leaders in child development centers as they seek to do the same.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 These words that I am commanding you today must always be on your minds. Recite them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting around your house and when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when you are getting up.

Day 4

A parent’s love is meant to be deep and comforting from the moment a child is born. Pray for children who have lost their parents or those who have a difficult relationship with their parents. Pray they will find comfort and strength in Christ.

Isaiah 66:13 As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; in Jerusalem you will be comforted.

Day 5

Pray for sponsored children to come to faith in Christ. Pray they would be surrounded by caring adults who help them take the next steps in their faith journey.

3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are living according to the truth.