According to the famous Jesuit maxim of St. Ignatius Loyola, “give us a child until he is seven and we will have him for life.”

There is no denying the validity of this, especially today, when media, advertising, and schooling are specifically crafted to influence children.

Children are impressionable and innocent. They come into the world with wonder. There is something infinitely beautiful and precious about childhood.

For some kids, however, childhood is a nightmare. Sadly, some little ones experience only pain and suffering. As a result, they feel unloved and unwanted. If we, as Christians, fail to reach them with God’s love, they will grow up to believe this lie.

The Bible is crystal clear. Jesus loves children and that’s the truth they need to know and experience.

We show children love by pointing them to Christ, protecting them, cherishing them, and being a safe place for them to express their feelings. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He sought to make children feel special and wanted. As followers of Jesus, we carry out the Gospel Commission through lovingly guiding and molding children for God’s kingdom.

In our service to children, we amplify Jesus’ love for them, especially to children who are often overlooked and forgotten. Because in God’s kingdom, children take center stage.