Dr. Harold Shank, CCFSA national spokesperson

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Series: Reasons Churches and Christians Should Be Involved in Child Care

Harold Shank
National Spokesperson for CCFSA

Caring for Vulnerable Families

Hosts of Christians and dozens of agencies associated with Churches of Christ focus on helping vulnerable families and children. They especially seek to find homes for the unwanted children in our society. Many of these agencies align themselves with Christian Child and Family Services Association, a coalition with a mission to encourage excellence in care of children and families, to train and encourage those involved in such care and to advocate for Christian compassion. This series of articles is dedicated to them

Churches and Christians justify their involvement in childcare in a variety of ways. The large number of vulnerable children represents a substantial need in our communities. Helping children wins wide acclaim from the media and general population. Caring for the vulnerable gives those working in the area a significant sense of making a difference. Some find themselves perpetuating institutions that are dedicated to this task. Perhaps a few take up this cause out of tradition.  

But as powerful as these motivations are, Christians should seek fundamental reasons for their work in Scripture. While rationales based on popularity or social pressure or past activity cannot be discounted, the “Christian” in Christian Child and Family Services Association touches not only a powerful motivation, but bases our work in God’s calling and teaching.

The more clearly we understand the biblical thinking behind the care for vulnerable children, the more adequately we keep our focus. Rather than let our practice drive our theology, this series suggests that our theology should prompt our actions.

This three-part series roots Christian childcare in biblical teaching about fathers. It will suggest that we find reason for caring for children when we more clearly understand the theology behind the word father. Other concepts in Scripture also ground the work with vulnerable families, so that this presentation must not be seen as exclusive, but simply as a line of thinking that forms the foundation for  what those associated with Christian Childcare and Family Service seek to accomplish.

Part I: Fathers in the Bible

Part 2: God as Father

Part 3:  God as Father of the Fatherless