1. How does one approach ministering to children, especially orphan children?
According to the Bible, Proverbs 22:6, says that “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart it” Among the many other approaches a person may think of in approaching child ministry, we approach it with a Holistic Child Development (HCD). In holistic child development we cater for all of the child’s aspects of life including the spiritual, cognitive, socioemotional and physical aspects of life. Here a child is ministered to holistically. This will help us to come up with fulfilled Christian adults who shall be the agents of change in their respective communities.
2. How does one talk to them about Christ?
Since orphaned children tend to have passed through times of grief, pain and sorrow, we present Christ to them as one who holds their future in his hands through skits, songs, Bible study, memorizing short Bible verses, Bible quizzes. We endeavour to let them put their faith and hope in Christ. But prior to these, we must love them by getting closer them daily as well as practical demonstration of interest in their lives. When children sense that you’re not interested in their lives, they get demoralized and in the same way loose interest and trust in you. Their interest to a mature person is a reciprocal of your interest in them.
3. How do the orphan children receive love?
By practical provision of their day to day needs which includes clothes, food, shelter, beddings, scholastic materials and school fees among others. Also by meeting their spiritual needs by praying and counselling them.
4. What is the hardest part about ministering to orphan children?
Delinquent behaviours in orphaned children. This happens when a child has lost parents, passed through hard situations without sufficient care, they develop delinquent behaviours which are difficult to reverse. Also, the other hardest part is lack of sufficient financial support to adequately cater for their day-to-day needs.
5. What are the children thinking about Jesus?
They think that he loves, cares, heals, provides and gives them knowledge at our school.
6. What have you learnt from ministering to children?
A child is either a big man or a woman in a small body! They reason, understand and have strong memory as well as imaginations. They need people to follow as their model in life which requires us to behave well before them since in most cases they directly copy what we do into their lives.
7. Why do you think God chose you to lead this orphan school?
God put a strong desire into my heart to help these children who were wandering in our community without any one caring for them. These children had no chance of going to school and their parents and caregivers who’re members of our church could not write and read the Bible in their local language. This prompted me to establish this orphan’ and neediest school project called Good Samaritan Community Nursery and Primary School.
8. How has God prepared you for this ministry?
It all began with seeing a gap for a Sunday school teacher for children in my former church where I grew from. I ministered as a Sunday school teacher for three years and thereafter I was appointed to be a youth pastor for five years. In all this period I developed much love and compassion for child ministry. My heart was getting prepared for child ministry which the Lord had already put into my heart.Therefore, I’m sending my humble request to all people, families, companies, organisations, churches and the government to come on board and support this work of child ministry which the Lord Himself has begun in our community.
God bless you.
Yours faithfully;
Pastor Joseph Tumwebaze