A Child is Waiting for Hope. Will You Help?

“And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.’”
— Mark 10:13–14

 

A dear friend and longtime HIM board member often says, “It’s all about the children, isn’t it?” And the longer I walk this road of missions, the more those words echo in my heart. Because when everything else is stripped away — the meetings, the miles, the projects — it really is about them.

It’s about the little ones who will grow up knowing Jesus long after we’re gone. It’s about the next generation who will teach, lead, and love in His name — if only someone will show them how.

I see it even in my own family. I watch my children pass down their faith to their children, teaching them Scripture, modeling prayer, and showing them what it means to follow Christ. And I realize — this is what legacy looks like. This is how the Kingdom moves forward.

In a few days, I’ll step off a plane in Africa once again. My first stop will be Kaduna, Nigeria, where I’ll join our Country Director, Dr. Rev. Albert Samson, to speak at a leadership conference at Theological/Technical College. There, in a place where following Jesus can cost you everything, believers are standing strong — serving and leading with courage and faith in the midst of poverty and persecution.

From there, I’ll travel to Lusaka, Zambia, for a gathering of leaders from four nations, hosted by our friends at AWANA Global Mission. Their work is extraordinary — sharing the Gospel in over 90 countries and discipling nearly 10 million children every year. And as I prepare to speak there, I can’t help but think of the faces I’ll see — the children I’ll meet — and the stories they carry.

 

Some of those children will greet me with shy smiles, hiding hunger behind their eyes.
Some will cling to their siblings because their parents are gone.
Some will have already seen more pain and cruelty in their short lives than most of us can imagine.

Many will not know where their next meal will come from.
Many will be vulnerable to traffickers, abusers, and exploiters.
And many will wonder if God has forgotten them.

 

But Jesus hasn’t forgotten them. He looks at them and says, “to such belongs the Kingdom of God.” And that truth — that breathtaking, hope-filled truth — is why we go. It’s why we exist.

Through orphan care and safe housing, through education and vocational training, through meals and mentorship and the message of Christ, we are telling these children that they are seen. That they are loved. That their lives matter — not just for today, but for eternity.

 

We invite you to be part of their story, because we can’t do it without you.

Your prayers can wrap around a child who feels forgotten.
Your generosity can place a meal in hungry hands.
Your support can open the door to education, safety, and a future anchored in hope.

 

This is not charity. This is Kingdom work.
And it begins with one simple, powerful choice: to not turn away.

 

Will you help us make sure nothing hinders these precious children from coming to Jesus? Together, we can feed them, teach them, protect them — and lead them to the One who calls them His own.

Give Now — Change a Child’s Life Today (www.globalhim.org)

 

To God Be the Glory

Byron