Compassion for Kids in Crisis

The Bible shows several examples of young people who went through extremely difficult days. We could name Joseph, Moses, Samuel, King Josiah, Daniel and his friends among others who lived at times of national crisis.

Throughout Latin America children carry a great burden in homes where family violence deeply affects their emotional and spiritual development.

When we lived in Brazil, the plight of young boys living on the streets of major cities captured the hearts of people around the world. It was common for single women, or divorced women, to take up a second relationship. The "new" man in the house often was hard on boys ages eight and up. Beatings were common. After a time, children left their homes and became "street boys".

We witnessed first hand the lives of many of these children and thankfully, Brazilian Christians reached out in love, in practical ways. I am reminded of the words of James 1:27. "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Pray for homeless children all over Latin America, from Mexico to Argentina. We can all put them in our prayer journals. We can sometimes give through our local churches or ministry groups. And sometimes, our personal involvement can make a permanent difference.