Transformation: An International Journal of Holistic Mission Studies

The author encourages the Church to conceptualize children-at-risk as whole, complex humans, who actively participate in their own development and experience multi-directional influences within the contexts of families, communities, cultures, and histories. This view of children requires an expanded understanding of the whole gospel moving past children-at-risk as subjects of evangelism and advocacy. Children are seen as vulnerable agents of God, participants in their own development, and co-participants with the Church in the missio Dei. Using a hermeneutic of inclusion, a model of integral mission ‘to, for, and with’ children-at-risk is offered.

How can churches empower children-at-risk as ‘vulnerable agents of God’s mission,’ while also protecting them from potential risks for manipulation, exploitation, or spiritual abuse? What is ‘appropriate participation’? What types of manipulation, exploitation, or spiritual abuse might occur in this participation? This essay seeks to define ‘appropriate participation’ in the church and mission, drawing substantially from Hart’s ladder of participation to analyze the participation of children-at-risk as agents of mission. With this as a foundation, spiritual abuse is defined, and a discussion of how this might happen within the realm of child participation in the ministry of the church and mission is presented. Finally, it presents principles and guidelines that the church should consider as they seek to protect children and youth from potential abuse during the process of participating in God’s mission.

This paper examines the vulnerability of boys and young men to trafficking and sexual abuse/exploitation globally as an often-hidden problem. Exploration of the story of Joseph in Genesis and how he was trafficked to Egypt by his brothers and then sexually harassed by Potiphar’s wife will challenge a number of assumptions about vulnerability. The research that has been conducted in Cambodia and the Asia region demonstrates that boys and young men are indeed vulnerable and require our attention. Awareness and response must go beyond stereotypes of what boys should be like to understanding their real context and needs.

The paper will emphasize the importance of the Church and Christian faith-based organizations being driven not by donors or current political correctness, but instead focusing on a biblical mandate to work with the most marginalized. Further research is needed to identify exploited populations better, including diverse persons of age, gender, ethnicity disability/ability or sexuality.

In addition, the paper will describe the importance of encouraging men in the church towards an authentic biblical masculinity where there is transparency and a deep respect for females and sex. It also promotes the idea of a community where boys and men, in and outside the church, can experience prevention and long-term healing. The restoration of men is needed in relation to buying sex, sexual abuse, pornography and other addictions, which drive the demand for exploitation and trafficking. This includes models of genuine father figures in the church and examples of Christian faith-based organizations that are seeking to challenge men to be better husbands, fathers and brothers.

This essay concentrates on the term ‘children-at-risk’ taken on its own. However much risk and need are intertwined in practice, they are distinguishable as concepts. ‘Children-at-risk’ is not a virtual synonym of ‘children in need’. It is theologically suggestive and worth exploring because faith is always seeking understanding. All children are at risk in some way. Risks take various forms, each calling for an appropriate response. All risks are components of the ultimate risk of being human, of falling short of the glory of God, of failing to be, to become and to persist in being, truly human, as measured in the fullness of Christ. Thus all risks have theological significance, unless God is denied totally, or restricted and stifled in a religious cave. God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit share the risk of being human mysteriously, really and unreservedly. This understanding of risk comes to us from our lived experience and from the revelation of God in Christ, as witnessed in the Scriptures. Action for children-at-risk and in need is obedience to the core of the Gospel in Jesus Christ. Engaged concern for children-at-risk brings us into practical difficulties, which are also theological.

The general pattern of Christian children’s ministry has been for adults to deliver structured programs to children. Drawing on the biblical imperative of hospitable space, a more profound understanding is to provide bounded opportunities for children themselves to engage in missional ministry. Implications are suggested for local church ministry and Christian parenting.

The purpose of this article is to describe the operation of a four-year prevention and awareness campaign organized by an evangelical social action network that mobilized Brazilian local churches to confront the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents before and during the FIFA 2014 World Cup. The aspects explored in this article are: (a) the birth of the campaign; (b) the manner in which an evangelical network served as a catalyst to mobilize the church to confront sexual violence; and (c) the lessons learned from this experience. It was found that the problem of sexual exploitation of children and adolescents can be addressed through an enlightened and engaged church that accepts the biblical mandate to act with justice and mercy to the “least of the least” in our society: children. The church is a sleeping giant that must be awakened to break the silence of sexual violence and be a strong advocate for vulnerable children.

Throughout the history of Christianity, children have often been overlooked in the life of the Church. Since its beginning, the Church of the Nazarene International has gone through a journey from ignoring the value of children, to ministry engaged in permanent advocating on behalf of children and youth. As a Christian, Holiness, and Missional people, Nazarenes around the world have developed their perspective on children and youth through the establishment of specific ministries that include children and youth in their core values, and by emphasis on intergenerational connections and making historical changes to their procedures manual. All of this has been critical to the meaningful inclusion of children in the active life of the church. Today the Church of the Nazarene together with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries are actively advocating and educating new generations of pastors and leaders to better understand the importance of children and youth in the life of the church.

The article discusses the work of the Orthodox Christian churches (mostly the churches in Eastern Europe) with children and especially children-at-risk. This work is new for these churches and is not yet theologically grounded or systematically organized. Observing the various activities of Orthodox Christians with children-at-risk, questions are raised, such as: is this missionary work, or is it ministry, or is it a task fulfilled by individuals and not by the Church at large? These questions are explored, yet readers are left to make their own conclusions. What becomes evident is the necessity for the Orthodox churches to cooperate with other Christian churches and organizations that are engaged in work with children, and particularly those at-risk, so that all learn from each other and continue their ministry with children in more innovative and successful ways, for the glory of God and the salvation of people, especially the ‘little ones’.