As the holidays approach, you see more images of children. From the covers of greeting cards to TV commercials for Toys R Us, Christmas and the surrounding activities seem to focus a lot on kids. Unfortunately, not all children are able to enjoy the season.
Many are in dire circumstances, even homeless. Others live in abusive homes while some kids have loving parents who just cannot afford anything beyond the basic needs of the child. For all of these, the holidays are a time of sadness, a time when it becomes even more painfully obvious what they don’t have.
If you want to get involved in ministry, even on a part-time basis, you’ll find nothing more fulfilling and important than caring for children. So many opportunities exist that you may have trouble deciding where to focus your time and efforts.
Opportunities for Ministering to Children
Here are a few ideas to get you started researching ways you can help kids have a better Christmas this season or to live a better life all year long:
- Angel Tree – an organization that matches donors with kids of parents in prison where they can donate a gift in the name of the incarcerated parent
- Operation Christmas Child by Samaritan’s Purse – donors fill a shoebox with toys and items of necessity to give to a child
- Children’s Books on Wheels – an organization based out of Texas, serving all of the US that accepts books for children and passes them on to schools, libraries or individual kids
- Project Linus – volunteers can donate a handmade blanket to children with serious illnesses or those who have been traumatized
- Big Sisters – volunteers are paired with a child and meet 2-3 times per week to spend time together; may be in a public community location or at a school
In addition to these programs, you’ll find local resources and organization that need your help. What these programs all have in common is the opportunity for you to give more than money. You can give your time, a part of yourself as you select gifts or purchase items or even donate used items. Some even allow you to become involved on an ongoing basis.
Why Children’s Causes?
If you are a mom, getting involved in a children’s organization is the perfect opportunity to have your kids help out. During a season that is often all too focused on what we want or a wish list for the kids to get more toys they don’t really need, ministry reminds everyone that there are those who have no reason to celebrate. Helping out a women’s and children’s shelter or handing out bags and boxes at a food pantry reminds us of what we have to be thankful for.
Most people will admit that children in these circumstances are there through no fault of their own. It’s easy to feel sympathy for kids in poverty or those who cannot read or who don’t have enough to eat or warm clothes to wear.
Children have a special place in Jesus’ heart. As you seek to show His love to a hurting world, why not begin with helping kids? You’ll be forever changed and you’ll change the lives of others who can grow up to change the world.
