He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
- Micah 6:8
Safe Families for Children
Find out more about Westminster's Safe Families for Children program by clicking on the Safe Families image on the right →
Children’s Aid Societies in Ontario reported receiving 156, 000 calls in 2008/09 of suspected child abuse or neglect. Of those, 78, 500 calls were serious enough to require an investigation, and more than 27, 000 children met the province’s criteria for abuse or neglect, thus activating services.[1] What happens to the remaining 129, 000 families? Someone who knows them or knows of them was concerned enough to make a report to authorities, yet their situation remains unchanged. And what of the additional countless families that are in crisis but are not identified? Who do they turn to for support?
Safe Families for Children is a program which allows for God’s people to give meaningful, life-changing support to families in crisis by extending and strengthening the community safety net for at-risk families. Christians open up their homes to care for the children of struggling parents, giving the parent(s) time to sort out their crisis and stabilize their home once again. Newborns through parenting teens can be placed in safe homes while the parent(s) maintain custody of their children. Safe Families proactively takes steps to 1) deflect children from the provincial welfare system, 2) prevent child abuse and neglect, and 3) provide a family in crisis with the necessary support while demonstrating the love and compassion of Jesus Christ.
The welfare of the poor, needy and sick is of central concern in scripture and was once in the hands of Christian families with a vision for ministry to every area of life. Children who were discarded or neglected found a safe haven in the Christian church. In this modern age, the church has surrendered its role to a state bureaucracy. As the government has stepped up, the church stepped back to the point of becoming irrelevant to the real and significant needs of hurting families. What has been lost is the uniqueness of Christian charity: a personal, voluntary act that flows from a heart redeemed by God’s grace and compassion and creates community bonds, leading to changed lives. Indeed, a handful of Christian families brave the foster care system, but there is no longer a visible presence of the Church in helping the very groups we are commanded to help: the orphans and the widows (James 1:27, Psalm 82:3). God’s law commands justice (this includes charity) and as kings and priests unto God in Christ (Rev. 1:6), we are His justice people, His law defenders. The most effective charity begins at home with believing families. The family is God’s ordained unit for the welfare of children. A safe family environment can literally mean hope or despair, life or death to a child. Safe Families is a ministry opportunity that will transform lives forever.
Benevolence
The church has created a benevolence fund to assist individuals and families with immediate, short-term financial needs. For example, needs such as rent, food, clothing, children's expenses, etc., which could be caused by loss of employment, health related issues, family crisis situation, etc.
Please consider giving to this fund. You can make your donations to the church office as long it is designated to the Benevolence Fund. On the first Sunday of every month after communion a Benevolence donation box will be located at the back of the auditorium.
If you have need of assistance, please pick up a request form at the church office or speak to Jennifer Forbes or one of the Deacons.
Community Service
Westminster is starting up community service teams to help serve in our community through practical means. This could include shovelling snow, picking up groceries for shut-ins, cleaning graffiti, assisting local shelters, home fix-ups, etc.
If you are interested in being involved in this ministry or finding out more about it, please e-mail westminstercommunityservice@gmail.com
For more information on any of the above or other areas of Justice & Compassion Ministry,
please contact Jenny Forbes: jennifer.forbes@westminsterchapel.ca
please contact Jenny Forbes: jennifer.forbes@westminsterchapel.ca
[1] Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies, Child Welfare Report 2009/10, p.4.
