"At Risk" Children

Ps 27:10- When my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will lift me up."

Psalm 27:10 speaks to little children born into a messy situations that were none of their doing. We see all too many of these "At Risk" children in our church outreach!

"At Risk" Children - The gentlest definition of an "At Risk" child is one who is less likely to transition successfully into adulthood. In most cases that is a gross understatement! Some of the children I deal with at church have bigger problems than I do! I once led a young boy to the Lord who was growing up under difficult circumstances. I gave him extra attention because he desperately needed Jesus to survive - let alone thrive! Consequently, I worried whether his salvation was real or not ... until he told me a story the next week.

"The other day I called a boy at school a bad word because of the color of his skin. And God told me (his eyes grew big at this point!)

"You shouldn't say that to anyone!"

He was astounded that God had spoken to him! The Lord showed me that the young boy's story was for my benefit. If the child had told me about some vague "warm fuzzies" I would have remained in doubt. But this was not a "lukewarm fuzzy" story. And it was NOT the kind of story a young child would make up. The child's story was God's way of assuring me that his salvation was genuine. So I could stop worrying. Shortly afterward he moved away and I lost all contact with him. But someday I will see him again and find out how it all turned out!