Reaching Africa’s Next Generation
Did you know that 85% of people who come to Christ and continue in their faith are those who make decisions for Christ when they are between the ages of 4-14?* This age group is a strategic window for the Kingdom of God, not unlike the 10-40 window.
If we focus on children between the ages of 4 and 14 in our evangelistic and discipleship programs, we are likely to make true, genuine, life-committed followers of Jesus Christ, and we are likely to have a generation, or multiple generations, that can transform the world! Jesus himself focused on the 4-14 window when he said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14) This project expands that window from 4-14 to 3-18 to be sure!
Along with Jesus, we want to see the Church mobilized, sensitized, challenged, motivated and even resourced to focus on this age group. "God’s Precious Little Ones" is one of the exciting Africa children's programs we are working on currently. "God’s Precious Little Ones" is an awareness and prevention program educating people in Africa about the reality and dangers of child trafficking. Annually, 1.2 million children become victims of human trafficking.** Over decades, the numbers multiply into an atrocity. Human trafficking is “the acquisition of people by improper means such as force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them.”***
Through some recent investigative journalism, we came to hear of Thulani’s story. A brilliant soccer player, he was approached by an “agent” who offered to place him in a professional football club in France. His friends and family scraped together the money for an air ticket and bid him farewell. Arriving in France, he was beaten, drugged and forced into male prostitution. Of the many others who are living with Thulani he says, “They are not playing soccer, and they are never going home. Neither am I.”****
Please prayerfully consider a gift of $100 so you can be a part of us reaching the strategic age window in Africa.
* http://4to14window.com/
** http://www.unicef.org/rightsite/sowc/fullreport.php
*** http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/index.html
**** Angelique Ardé (Freelance Journalist & Editor); Loryn Tuffin; Graham Sayer; Justice A.C.T.s – Alliance of Christians Against Trafficking