God's Heart for Child Protection and Safeguarding: Practical Theology from Global Perspectives

In the New Testament, Jesus is explicit in communicating God's heart for children. Yet what does it look like for that heart to encounter the contextual realities of life in the twenty-first century where children facing abuse remains a persistent global crisis?

Exploring the biblical and theological basis for child protection and safeguarding, this book raises awareness of the often-ignored reality of child abuse in churches and Christian organisations. Contributors from across the globe do not shy away from the most challenging aspects of exploitation, and encourage readers to develop attitudes of advocacy for the most vulnerable members of our society. Addressing issues such as gender-based violence, child trafficking, online sexual exploitation, child marriage, domestic and family violence, fostering and adoption, inclusion care for disabilities and special needs, amongst others, the authors offer practical tools developed from lived experiences. This exceptional resource is a provoking call to action for the children who face abuse, and opens our eyes to the truth that safeguarding is not an optional extra for Christians, but a gospel imperative.

NATIVITY A. PETALLAR has worked with children in both church and academic settings for more than twenty years. She has a DTh in Christian education and practical ministry from Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary and currently serves as the associate dean of PhD studies at the Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary, Philippines.

ROSELINE OLUMBE has a PhD in holistic child development from Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary, Philippines. She serves as lecturer and coordinator for the Institute for Child Development at Daystar University, Kenya.

MARTIN MUNYAO has a PhD in missiology from Concordia Theological Seminary, Indiana, USA. He is a Global Research Institute (GRI) scholar with Fuller Seminary, California, USA, and currently serves as a senior lecturer in the department of peace and international studies at Daystar University, Kenya.