“My Church is My Safe Sanctuary”
Imagine that you are a small elementary school child and something at school has upset you to the point that you do not feel safe. Now imagine that your church sits right across the street from your school. Would you be tempted to run away from school to your church?
Recently in a small town in South Carolina, that is just what a little boy did. When asked why, he responded “my church is my safe sanctuary”. Of course, I do not advocate running away from school, but what a wonderful testament to what is happening in that church!
My church is my safe sanctuary
All of our children should see the church as a safe sanctuary. The church should welcome them as Jesus welcomed the children when he spoke to the crowds in Judea. We are people called to care for our children, and we must make a concerted effort to do all that we can to create an environment where our children feel welcomed, loved, and secure.
How many children in your church community can say “my church is my safe sanctuary”? How many adults in your church help to make your church a “safe sanctuary”?
RESOURCES:
Safe Sanctuaries - Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church for Children and Youthby Joy Thornburg Melton
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
