- A Church for Every Child -
CHURCH AS A REFUGE
The Church as a Refuge is all about the church being a safe and protected place for all peoples, from every socioeconomic level of life and livelihood. People - and especially children, of all walks of life, need to feel that the church is their place of protection, growth, development, and care. This is the place to understand our loving heavenly father, and know that He loves all mankind and He has a plan and purpose for all. It is our prayer that the global church will be a place where someone can come to know, love, and serve Jesus for their entire lifetime and bring others in their families and community with them. The world is a broken and hurting place, but through Jesus, the Church can be a refuge where lives are transformed, hearts are healed, and souls are cared for as we serve together in His Kingdom. It is from this place, that those who are the most vulnerable can feel safe, those who are trafficked can be rescued and those with some level of disability can feel loved and accepted in Jesus for service.
Church as Refuge
The Church is called to be a place of refuge, a safe and loving community where every child and family can experience the hope and healing of Jesus Christ. As we plant healthy churches around the world, we are committed to reaching those who are often forgotten, unreached with the Gospel, vulnerable, trafficked, marginalized, and living with disabilities.
A healthy church responds to the brokenness of the world with the compassion of Christ, bringing protection, restoration, and lasting hope to those who need it most.
PLANTING HEALTHY CHURCHES HELPS PREVENT HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Human trafficking is the ownership, sale, or control of a person for sexual exploitation or forced labor. It is known as “modern slavery.” There are an estimated 50 million people in slavery today – more than at any time in history. One-third of the victims are children under the age of 18, and another one-third are aged 18-25. Traffickers prey on the vulnerable, including children and those living in poverty.
The Bible says that human trafficking is “evil.” In the book of Genesis, Joseph’s brothers threw him into a well and then sold him into slavery. Genesis 50:20 describes this as “evil.” But God can use His people to “defend the oppressed” (Isaiah 1:17).
A healthy church provides a refuge for children. It removes much of the vulnerability children face. It provides children with a moral grounding and a community of adults who care for them. The pastor and others in a healthy church know what is happening in the community ─ who has needs, and what kids are most vulnerable. A healthy church can meet the physical and spiritual needs of trafficking survivors.
ZimZam serves in parts of the world with high levels of human trafficking. We focus on the most vulnerable: children, and train leaders on how to plant churches that are a refuge for children. ZimZam trains leaders about human trafficking and the church’s role in preventing it.
