Save The Children

It seems like more and more lately I'm getting these messages on my phone about an amber alert in my

area. In case you don't know what that is, it's an alert that warns of a child abduction. Usually, the child's name and description are given, along with a description of the vehicle in which the child has been abducted. Whenever I see that, I immediately begin to pray for the child to be found and returned safely to his/her parents. I want to encourage you to do the same if you ever receive such an alert.

I am thankful that we live in an age of technology where very little goes unnoticed, but unfortunately, if something is taking place within a person's home, it is hidden from the eyes of the public. I don't have to fill you in on a bunch of statistics to show you what you already know. Child abuse is a serious matter. Every day children are abused in their homes by a parent or some other relative, at school by teachers or other students, and in the community by strangers.

In most cases, child abuse survivors carry the scars with them for life. They may have difficulty   concentrating in school, may exhibit antisocial behavior and may even suffer from depression and other mental disorders.

Child abuse is not something we talk about in church. We tend to sweep it under the rug, hoping no one will discover it. But even Jesus spoke out about child abuse. He said, " But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" Matthew 18: 6.

In other words, Jesus was saying He would not look the other way when offenses are committed against children. And neither should we. As Christians we can and should

•  pray that God will raise up men and women who will advocate for the safety of these innocent children.
• volunteer in treatment centers and shelters for battered women and children.
• support organizations that work with these children by donating money and/or other resources.
• become advocates ourselves. Advocates For Victims of Assault is an organization that runs self-paced courses that will help prepare you to minister to victims in your church or community.

Let's be vigilant where our children are concerned. They are the most at- risk group in our society today, but they are also our future. Let's save our children!

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I would like to recommend to you my first novel Coming Out Of Egypt, the first in a three-part series,  which deals with the effects of sexual abuse on the victims. In the book I show that no matter how painful your past may have been, you can find hope and peace in Jesus Christ. Get it now while it's on preorder for only .99 by clicking here.