Children
- Hilda Castillo-Landrum
- Jan 10
- 4 min read
Throughout Scripture, Jesus makes something unmistakably clear; children matter deeply to God.
Jesus did not treat children as an interruption or a footnote. He welcomed them, defended them, and used them as living examples of faith.
“Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” - Matthew 19:14
“Whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me.” - Matthew 18:5
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.” - Matthew 25:40
Over the last couple of years, the Lord has been gently but persistently placing this truth back on my heart. When I read Scriptures about children now, they hit differently. They stir something deeper and make me want to do more.
James reminds us that faith is not meant to remain theoretical.
“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” - James 2:17
And Jesus reminds us that serving Him often looks far more ordinary than we expect.
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” - Matthew 20:28
Not everyone is called to physically go out on the mission field. But every believer is called to be part of the mission. Whether from our homes, our communities, or through organizations already doing faithful work, we can all be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Before we look outward, it is also worth remembering that the first children God entrusts to us are our own. Scripture speaks clearly about the sacred responsibility of nurturing, teaching, and protecting them.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” - Proverbs 22:6
And beyond our own homes, there are children right where we live. In our neighborhoods our schools & our local communities. Loving children is not only a global calling; it is a local one.
If you have felt this stirring too, if these Scriptures have been weighing on your heart lately, the list below shares specific ways we can respond to that pull.
World Vision
Ministry focus: Child sponsorship and long-term community development that addresses poverty, education, clean water, and health through a Christian worldview.
Orphan’s Promise
Ministry focus: Christ-centered care for orphans and vulnerable children through family preservation, adoption and foster care support, education, medical aid, and long-term community programs rooted in biblical compassion.
Compassion International
Ministry focus: Christ-centered child sponsorship working through local churches to provide holistic care for children living in poverty.
Samaritan’s Purse
Ministry focus: Emergency relief, medical care, and children’s aid delivered in the name of Jesus, including Operation Christmas Child.
World Relief
Ministry focus: Serving vulnerable children and families through refugee care, anti-trafficking work, and community development in partnership with churches.
Holt International
Ministry focus: Caring for orphans and vulnerable children through ethical adoption services, family preservation, and child nutrition programs.
International Justice Mission (IJM)
Ministry focus: Protecting children from violence, trafficking, and exploitation by rescuing victims and strengthening justice systems worldwide.
Children’s Hunger Fund
Ministry focus: Delivering food, medical aid, and Gospel-centered support to children and families in extreme poverty.
Feed My Starving Children
Ministry focus: Mobilizing volunteers to provide life-saving meals to malnourished children around the world through Christian partnerships.
Convoy of Hope
Ministry focus: Faith-based disaster relief and feeding programs that bring hope and practical aid to children and families in crisis.
World Concern
Ministry focus: Christian humanitarian aid focused on long-term solutions for poverty, with special care for children and families.
Save the Children
Ministry focus: Global child advocacy and humanitarian aid rooted in Christian origins, now serving children through education, health, and emergency relief.
Helping children is not about doing everything, it is about doing something. Jesus never asked His followers to help or serve the entire world on their own. He asked them to be faithful with what was placed in their hands.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” - Luke 16:10
Whether that looks like sponsoring a child, supporting an organization who helps children, volunteering locally, praying intentionally, or loving the children who are already in your care with renewed patience and presence, every act matters.
“Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” - 1 John 3:18
The needs can feel overwhelming, but obedience rarely requires us to see the full picture. It simply asks us to take the next faithful step.
“What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” - Micah 6:8
If God has been placing children on your heart, act on that prompting. Ask Him where He wants you to respond. And remember; when we care for children, we are not just meeting needs. We are also reflecting the heart of Christ Himself.
“Whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me.” - Matthew 18:5
Let’s pray…
Lord,
Thank You for the children You place in our lives; those in our homes, our communities, and around the world. Soften our hearts to what softens Yours. Help us not turn away when You invite us to notice, to care, and to act.
Give us wisdom to know where to serve, courage to respond in obedience, and compassion that reflects the heart of Christ. Teach us to be faithful with what You have entrusted to us, remembering that whatever we do for the least of these, we do unto You.
Amen.
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