GOD’S HEART FOR  CHILDREN

AN ALARMING STATISTIC FROM THE WORLD BANK IN 2020 REVEALED THAT 50% OF THE POOR ARE, IN FACT, CHILDREN. 

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Naturally, children depend on adults – not only to make things right for them but also to teach them about their place in the world. 

This devotional resource seeks to encourage believers to do just that. 

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Thank you for downloading this devotional guide to Viva’s recent collaborative book, God’s Heart for Children: Practical Theology from Global Perspectives, and following webinar series which took place throughout 2023. 

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Discover more about God’s Heart for Children by reading sections of ‘God’s Heart for Children’ (GHFC) together and rewatching key clips from the six-part webinar series, which unpacked themes from the book. Why not look to equip your small group or ministry team with insights into ministry with and for children and families in a variety of different contexts. The content of the webinars draws upon the unique intersection of childhood, development, theology and mission studies and practice, with the experience of children in difficult and complex situations running throughout. 

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GHFC has a unique authorship, with the majority of its collaborators writing from Asian, African and Latin American perspectives. Nineteen unique nationalities are represented, each adding their understanding of children’s place in society and the conditions that allow them to flourish. 

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On top of that, there’s also the wisdom gained through decades’ worth of combined experience from 22 different organisations that specialise in child theology or are actively engaged in child and youth work globally. 

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Viva believes that adding these perspectives as a follow-up to the 2007 edition of Understanding God’s Heart for Children paints a more well-rounded and inclusive picture of child theology. 

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Our hope is that this resource will help you take the book’s key messages and translate them into actionable practices that would strengthen your ministry to, for and with children. 

The devotional resource is great for individual use and for congregations as it provides a platform and questions to help you reflect and prepare to lead others. Still, it is far more ideal to be used in a participative group setting, such as a Bible study group allowing for discussion. 

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While we recommend using this devotional resource alongside the GHFC book, the material was also created to be used independently. There are references within the devotional that redirect readers to the relevant sections of the book, but this is just to allow those who own the book to use the two resources alongside each other. 

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The devotional has been broken down into six sections, with enough material for a half-hour devotional or a one-hour group study. We encourage you to do one chapter over the course of a week to allow each of the affirmations to sink in and to allow you time to consider how to build each focus into your life. 

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• A chapter summary for each of the GHFC  

Each devotional is laid out in the following order: 

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book’s chapters 

• Links to key sections of the book to read 

• A highlights playlist of video clips of key moments from each of the webinars 

• A Bible Focus with a select reading to 

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support the affirmation 

• Some discussion questions to help you explore and contextualize the topic 

• A challenge for the week to begin to turn the theory into practice 

• Some prayer points to keep on your mind throughout the week 

• Extra Bible verses for further reading and study 

We hope you find this resource enlightening and affirming, and that it helps you see the children in your life through a new lens. 

Find out more about the God’s Heart for Children book and webinar series at: 

Order the book, God’s Heart for Children, by Langham Publishing at: https://langhamliterature.org/god-s-heart-for-children

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Find out more about Viva at: www.viva.org

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Words: Lucy Hefford, Hugh Stacey 

Viva. CMS House, Watlington Road, Oxford OX4 6BZ | info@viva.org | www.viva.org Registered charity number 1053389 

SUMMARY 

Every child is created with God-given dignity. Children are fully human beings – not human becomings. Each child is individually valued by God and He calls the Church to make dignity an “experiential reality” for all children. But what does dignity mean? 

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‘Dignity’ comes from the latin word dignitas, which means being worthy. Dignity is about being worthy of respect, of honour, being of value. Dignity of children is not something we can ‘give’ or ‘take’ from children – it is something that children are born with. This is because the Bible teaches us that God created all humanity, and “crowned them with glory and honour”. Nothing can reduce or increase a child’s innate God-given dignity – not their social socio-status, level of education, ability or disability, gender, age, beliefs. 

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In God’s Heart for Children, Jan Grobbelaar challenges us: “Our views of children influence our behaviour toward them.” (GHFC p5) And so despite being born with irrevocable God-given dignity, not all children are treated like this is true about them. Some children therefore find it hard to believe that they were created by God and “crowned them with glory and honour”. 

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This could be because of the way they are treated – maybe it is because they are ignored, neglected, exploited or abused. 

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The ways that we think, speak and act in relation to children can either affirm their God- given dignity, or not. As the salt and light of the earth, Christian all have the opportunity to be intentional in making children’s God-given dignity their experienced reality. 

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More content which could help you and your group to reflect on this topic include a section of the book relating to the theme of dignity (available to read here: http://learn.viva.org/ghfc/ghfc-1-dignity/ use password 65THRP4 to access), and clips from the webinar which include an interview with the author, Jan Grobbelaar; a case study of a local project working towards promoting children’s dignity in Bangalore, India with Santa Sylvia from Viva India; and a talk from Hiba Al Jamal, Director of SKILD centre in Beirut, Lebanon; aimed at exploring dignity through the lens of children with special needs, grounding what has been discussed in a practical setting. 

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Watch the playlist of key moments from the webinar here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4MNJL4Kxlp81wmpMkePGUuVzL4QMfaCI 

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You may want to watch clips together as a group and have a discussion after each section of clips, or watch them individually and reflect as a wider group together on the clips that spoke to you most prominently. 

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BIBLE FOCUS 

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Psalm 8 

Lord, our Lord, 

how majestic is your name in all the earth! 

You have set your glory in the heavens. 

Through the praise of children and infants 

you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 

When I consider your heavens, 

the work of your fingers, 

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 

what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 

You have made them a little lower than the angels 

and crowned them with glory and honor. 

You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: 

all flocks and herds, 

and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, 

and the fish in the sea, 

all that swim the paths of the seas. 

Lord, our Lord, 

how majestic is your name in all the earth! 

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FOR DISCUSSION 

Jan Grobbelaar writes: “One way of degenerating children is to label them.” (GHFC p8) 

1. What do you think about this? Has anyone ever labelled you in ways you didn’t like? 

Sometimes we label children as ‘orphans’, ‘child prostitute’ or ‘street children’. 

2. What can be problematic about these labels? 

Jessy Jaison writes: “Intellectual classifications of children as less human or less mature or less able have been a fault in our stories, traditions, language, and mindset.” (GHFC p17) 

3. Can you give examples when this can be true? How do we sometimes 

think, speak or tell stories in ways that dehumanise children? 

The Psalms say that we all, children and adults, are ‘crowned with glory and honour’ (Psalm 8: 5). 

4. This is a beautiful, dignifying description of humans. How can we live like this is true? Do you find this easy to accept about yourself? 

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CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK 

As you listen to/read the news, or just in conversations with people, notice any labels that people are given. How many did you spot in a week? 

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PRAYER POINTS 

Pray for: 

• Children who have been given labels to know their full worth. 

• Us all to be more aware of labels we use and the times we don’t dignify children, and to take opportunities to say and do things differently. 

SUMMARY 

God’s plan has always been to place children in families so they are provided with a safe and protective environment. 

Jesus himself was born into a family. 

God extended this opportunity to the whole community of faith so that no child is left “outside the door.” 

In Chapter 2 of GHFC, the authors explore the reality that although all children are born to a biological mother and father, many groups of children around the world are not in families – left to fend for themselves and exposed to increased risks. 

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Not all children ‘outside the door’ are abandoned. Some choose to leave the home to live on the streets or in gangs. Others are forced into situations ‘outside the door’ by circumstances such as war, migration or the death of parents. The Church can, and in many places, already do, work to place children in families. In the chapter, extended family is considered (such as grandparents, uncles, aunties, and cousins). 

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Churches can sometimes be extended families for children too. Being part of a family is a means of grace, and can provide the space a child needs to develop holistically so that they can flourish, as God intends. 

The content which will help you and your group to reflect on this topic include a section of the book relating to the theme of placed in families (available to read here: http://learn.viva.org/ghfc/webinar-2-placed-in-families/ use password 73ROCV9 to access), and clips from the webinar which include an interview with the authors Rosalind Tan and Nativity Petallar; a case study of a local project ensuring children are placed in families in Uganda; and a conversation between Home for Good and Casa Viva which aimed at taking what we have heard further, and grounding it in practice. 

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Watch the playlist of key moments from the webinar here: 

You may want to watch clips together as a group and have a discussion after each section of clips, or watch them individually and reflect as a wider group together on the clips that spoke to you most prominently. 

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BIBLE FOCUS 

Psalm 68: 6a 

God sets the lonely in families, 

he leads out the prisoners with singing; 

but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. 

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FOR DISCUSSION 

1. What is God’s vision for families? Look up some of the following Bible passages to discover God’s heart for children to be placed in loving families and homes: 

• Deuteronomy 6: 4-8 

• Luke 1: 26-38, Luke 2: 33, 39-41 

• 1 Timothy 5: 4 & 8 

2. In GHFC, the authors write about ‘children outside the door’. (See GHFC p37-45). In your local context, who are these children today? 

3. Thinking of your own church context, does the church function as an extended family in any way? How have you experienced this? 

4. How can you play a part in being extended family to children in your church and wider community? What might it look like for this to be done in a safe way? 

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CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK 

Can you find one small way to bless another family in your community who might need to know God’s blessing at this time? 

Perhaps that is something as small as a text asking how things are, or inviting them to join your family for a meal, offering an hour of free babysitting… 

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PRAYER POINTS 

Pray for: 

• ‘Children outside the door’, that God’s vision for them to be placed in families and homes would come to pass, and for Viva’s work in this area to flourish. 

• Your own family – who/ what can you find today to thank God for in your family? 

• Families in your community who need strengthening, for the local services and charities that provide support for families to have the resources needed. 

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OTHER BIBLE VERSES 

Genesis 33: 3-4 

John 13: 34 

Ephesians 6: 1-4 

SUMMARY 

God gives children to communities as a gift to welcome and nurture. Society has a God-given responsibility to advocate for the well-being of children and families. Advocating for children and childhood surmounts to advocating for the sacredness of human life. 

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A healthy community is a place where its residents create a safe environment for the children amongst them. And yet the reality for many children is that they do face abuse. 

In chapter 3 of GHFC, we explore what it can look like for Christians to play a shining role in making our communities safe for children. Chapter 4 of GHFC explores how churches and Christian communities often have opportunities to be effective at advocating for children in local, national or global contexts. As GHFC author Bradley Thompson writes: “If the vulnerability of children is a concern of the heart of God, then advocacy for, to, and with children is an important expression of the Kingdom of God.” (GHFC p109)

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One author, Ambe, explains how the rise in urbanisation across Africa has brought new challenges to the African concept that ‘it takes a village to rise a child’. On GHFC p73, Ambe writes “the local church can be the new village”. 

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This can sometimes mean that community members take on roles that a child’s immediate family aren’t able to, as with the case study of this chapter: 

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“Since the mother was not able to take responsibility for the children and had abandoned them, the community took up the role of caregiver.” (GHFC p89)

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Alongside praying, we are also called as Christians to play our part in building God’s Kingdom reality ‘on earth as it is in heaven’. 

As GHFC author Menchit Wong states: “International organisations such as the United Nations have esteemed the role of religious organisations in advocating for the well-being of children and families.”  (GHFC p100) 

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More content which will help you and your group to reflect on this topic further include two sections of the book relating to the themes of community care and advocacy (available to read here: http://learn.viva.org/ghfc/webinar-3-community-advocacy-and-care/ with the password 25PUDL8) and clips from the webinar, which include an interview with the author Roseline Olumbe, case studies of two projects in The Philippines and Guatamala, and a keynote talk from Phil Green, CEO of Viva. 

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Watch the playlist of key clips from the webinar here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4MNJL4Kxlp85E7T5wwQH7yFXCkMaeMPo 

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BIBLE FOCUS 

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Acts 2: 44-47 

All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. 

They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour 

of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 

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Proverbs 31: 8-9 

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy 

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FOR DISCUSSION 

1. If the local church is to be the new village, what could it look like? 

2. How does Acts 2: 44-47 help us to understand God’s vision for 

Christian community/’village’? How is this different to a secular view of how communities should work in your context? What are the challenges of living like this in the modern world? 

How can we overcome them? 

3. What do you think the church’s role should be when it comes to keeping children safe; in their own communities and wider society? How might they be involved more? 

4. Thousands of children are still living in extreme poverty, hunger, and various kinds of abuse. How can your own local church, seminary, or NGO actas champions for children? Identify concrete ways. 

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CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK 

Spend some quality time this week with someone in your community who is of a different generation to you. Ask them what they think a healthy community’ should look like. What did you learn?  

Who could you advocate for this week in a small or big way? Could you sign a petition, or stand up for someone at work or school who is being bullied? 

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PRAYER POINTS 

Pray for: 

• God’s help to live in community in the way He envisioned for us. 

• Viva partner networks, for their members 

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SUMMARY 

God welcomes all children fully into the family of faith. Intentional nurture and discipleship of children allows them to fulfill their vocation as God’s people. Children must be welcomed, integrated, loved and protected in churches. Children are able to be not only recipients, but also agents of God’s mission.

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The Mark 10:14 mandate to ‘let the little children come near’ is not always fulfilled in churches. “How is it possible that the gospel is being preached and spreading throughout the world, but does not liberate these children and their families? Are the children being welcomed in our faith communities.” (GHFC p178) 

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Children’s participation is essential to the mission of God. As Harold Segura writes; “Children are a task and a gift: a task to fulfill (the mission toward children) and a gift to welcome (the mission of children).” (GHFC p211) 

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It is not only to children who are born into church-attending families who should be welcomed into the Church. Children at risk, including children on the move, need also to be included in churches in these ways. This section of GHFC helps us explore how we could be better at welcoming children on the move in the Church. 

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As one author writes: “Caring for the orphan along with the widow and the alien are to be at the ethical center of mercy and piety, care and worship.” (GHFC p177) Furthermore, including children in the formation of our theology is also something this chapter explores – allowing the Church to be blessed by children’s voices, questions, gifts, and hopes. 

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The authors emphasis that: “children as part of God’s fold need to be theologically grounded in understanding the cost of following Jesus” (GHFC p216). Therefore, “the local and global church needs to do more to prepare children and their parents to endure persecution and provide them with strength to withstand it.” (GHFC p201) For example: “the church in hostile environments needs Sunday school curricula which incorporate teaching on persecution.” (GHFC p202)

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Some further content which will help you and your group to reflect on this topic include two sections of the book relating to the themes of being included in church and mission (available to read here: http://learn.viva.org/ghfc/webinar-4-church-and-mission/ with the password 47NIGY9) and clips from the webinar, which include an interview with author Shantelle Weber, a case study of a local project ensuring children’s voices are heard about things that concern them, and a Keynote talk from the Child Participation team at World Vision International, aimed at taking what we have heard further and grounding what has been discussed in practice.  

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Watch the playlist of key clips from the webinar here:  

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BIBLE FOCUS 

Leviticus 19: 33-34 

When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. 

John 16: 33 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

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FOR DISCUSSION 

1. The Holy Spirit has no ‘age restrictions’. 

Do you agree? 

2. How are children being affirmed by the church community where you live? 

Is there any room for improvement? 

3. Which groups of children might not experience ‘welcome’ into church in your context? 

4. What practical steps can the Church make to welcome children on the move? 

5. How do you feel about this topic of children suffering persecution? What questions does it raise that you would want to ask God? 

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CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK 

As you go about your week, notice the ways in which children you come across act and speak. What are they telling you? How can their voices and questions be a gift to your church? Can you invite a child or children to take part in a ministry in your church which is usually only reserved for adults? 

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PRAYER POINTS 

Pray for: 

• Children on the move – for churches to 

embrace and welcome them. 

• People and organisations who advocate for and work with children on the move. 

• God to show how your church could be blessed by children’s voices, questions, gifts, and hopes. 

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OTHER BIBLE VERSES 

Deuteronomy 24: 19-21 

SUMMARY 

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Hope is the essence for survival in children living in difficult situations. “Hope is the lifeblood of resilience.” (GHFC p129) 

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For children around the world, there are so many reasons they need hope. It is estimated that a billion children a year experience some kind of abuse, violence or neglect. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this only increased. 

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In these situations, practical help alone is not sufficient – children need spiritual, psychological and emotional support too, to foster hope and resilience. As one GHFC author writes: “Nurturing children’s spirituality is key to engender hope.” (GHFC p143) 

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The Bible shows is that God is active in human history, offering hope to individuals and communities. Having hope in God’s promises is something that kept the exiles going when they were under oppression in Egypt. (Exodus 3) 

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Biblical hope is grounded in the love that God has for his people – the loving nature of the triune God is the reason why children can have hope too. “Hope helps children to realise that in this world we will face such situations. But we remember that our Lord, Jesus Christ, overcame death, and that is why we are not hopeless.” (GHFC p151) 

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The content which will help you and your group to reflect on this topic include a section of the book relating to the theme of keeping children safe in emergency contexts (available to read here http://learn.viva.org/ghfc/webinar-5-secured-in-hope/ using the password: 64HDRP3) and clips from the webinar, which include an interview with author Maria A. Andrade V.; and a deeper keynote conversation between practitioners from Viva, Food for the Hungry and Merath, working in the area of children in emergencies, aimed at taking what we have heard further, and grounding it in practice. 

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Watch the playlist of key clips from the webinar here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKjbPMEg6Nk&list=PL4MNJL4Kxlp9htJhnOihhsC5_Rg6yTaI4 

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BIBLE FOCUS 

Romans 15: 13 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in 

believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

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FOR DISCUSSION 

“Hope is an intuition, an expectation that something good will happen, that the worst will be over, and a new beginning will dawn. For children facing difficult situations, hope builds patience and imagines possibilities. Hope heals. Hope is the essence of survival. Hope is the lifeblood of resilience. Hope prevails when everything else is lost.” 

(GHFC p128, Maria’s definition of hope) 

1. What do you think this definition of hope? 

2. Can you write your own definition of 

hope? What is hope NOT? 

3. Can you think of children in your community/locality who need hope? 

4. How have you experienced hope recently? What helped you to be resilient in hope? 

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CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK 

Read these quotes from p. 129-30 of GHFC. 

“Children’s hope is often hurt and needs to be cared for…” 

“We cannot really build children of hope without building communities of hope…” 

“Hope is an undeniable ally for children at risk…” 

This week, how could you put one of these into practice in your context? Either on your own, as a family, or as a wider community like a home group or church. 

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PRAYER POINTS 

Pray for: 

• Children who are persecuted for their faith to have the strength to stand strong with Jesus. 

• Pray for churches to take children’s ministries and gifts seriously. 

• And thank God for contributions that children make to our families and churches. 

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OTHER BIBLE VERSES 

Matthew 5: 43-48 

John 15: 20 

Acts 9: 15-16 

Acts 14: 21-22 

1 Thessalonians 3: 2-3 

1 Peter 2: 21 

SUMMARY 

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Creation care is a Biblical mandate for the whole Church. Educating and engaging children to play an active role as stewards of God’s creation is an essential outworking of this mandate. 

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Nearly 90 per cent of the burden of diseases attributable to climate change, such as dengue, is borne by children under the age of five. 

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Our health and wellbeing, and that of our children, are inextricably tied to the health and wellbeing of the planet. Children do not simply see themselves as victims of climate change. Particularly in the age of social media, they are gaining broad awareness of the climate crisis and its causes. 

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Children are also realising that they have a voice, and many are compelled to take action to protect our increasingly fragile ecosystems. What is critical here is fostering children’s empowerment. 

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Adults have the main responsibility for transforming our unjust and unsustainable economic systems, and must listen to and work with children for a chance of a future. 

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Exploring the benefits of the natural world goes hand in hand with children’s Christian spiritual formation. For children to thrive in the fullness of Christ, they should be enabled to live in connectedness with God and his creation as fully as they can. 

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The content which will help you and your group to reflect on this topic include a section of the book relating to the theme of engaging with children and creation care (available to read here http://learn.viva.org/ghfc/webinar-6-engaged-in-creation-care/ with the password 19BTUG4) and clips from the webinar, which include an interview with author Athena Peralta; and an in-depth conversation with three organisations working within the field of Children and Creation Care. 

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Watch the playlist of key clips from the webinar here: xxx 

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BIBLE FOCUS 

Genesis 1: 31 

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning — the sixth day.