Newsflash: Child Protection: A Kingdom Responsibility

CHILD PROTECTION:

A KINGDOM RESPONSIBILITY

Child Protection Week reminds us that caring for children is a Kingdom responsibility - and not only a social responsibility. Throughout Scripture, God also reveals His heart for the vulnerable, the broken, and the voiceless. As the Church, we are called to reflect that heart through compassion, protection, and practical care.

During Child Protection Week (29 May–5 June), AFM Welfare encourages every assembly and believer to prayerfully consider the role we can play in creating safer environments for children in our homes, churches, and communities. Many children in South Africa still face abuse, neglect, violence, poverty, and abandonment. Behind these realities are children longing for safety, love, belonging, and hope. Too often, they suffer in silence because adults fail to notice, speak up, or intervene.

At AFM Welfare, we see both the pain and the resilience of vulnerable children every day. We currently care for 446 children across 34 Child and Youth Care Centres and 13 Foster Homes nationwide. This includes babies, older children, and children with severe disabilities who entered our care because of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or unsafe circumstances.

This number reflects the formal national welfare projects coordinated through AFM Welfare. Across the wider Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa, acts of care and protection are taking place every day through local AFM Assemblies: feeding schemes, family strengthening, emergency support, counselling, child protection responses, and community outreach. Together, this combined footprint reveals a living network of compassion.

The Church has a vital role in child protection through its members and departments, which include the Children’s Ministry, the Youth Department, the Sisters’ Fellowship, and the Men’s Fellowship. Child protection must be a priority at every level - local, regional, and national. This calls for collaboration across all sectors to protect children in every possible way.

Often, it begins with simple actions such as:

Noticing when a child is struggling and being alert to warning signs.
Supporting families in crisis.
Providing practical assistance.
Mentoring young people.
Creating safe spaces where children feel valued and heard, and
Praying for God’s protection over our children.

Compassion must move beyond words into action. As believers, may we continue to build communities where children are protected, families are strengthened, and the love of Christ is made visible through our care for the most vulnerable among us.

Past. Bongiwe Naile | CEO – AFM Welfare

info@afmwelfare.org.za

INYANGA YOKUVIKELWA KWEZINGANE

Iviki Lokuvikelwa Kwezingane lisikhumbuza ukuthi ukunakekela izingane akuwona nje umsebenzi womphakathi—kuwumsebenzi woMbuso kaNkulunkulu.

Kuyo yonke imiBhalo, uNkulunkulu wembula inhliziyo Yakhe ngokuphathelene nababuthakathaka, abaphukileyo, nabangakwazi ukuzikhulumela. NjengeBandla, sibizelwe ukubonakalisa leyo nhliziyo ngozwelo, ngokuvikela, kanye nokunakekela okubonakala ngezenzo.

Ngeviki Lokuvikelwa Kwezingane (29 May–5 June), Umnyango wezeNhlalakahle we-AFM ukhuthaza onke amabandla namakholwa ukuthi athandaze nge-qhaza angalibamba ekwenzeni izindawo eziphephile kubantwana emakhaya ethu, emasontweni nasemiphakathini yethu.

Izingane eziningi eNingizimu Afrika zisabhekene nokuhlukunyezwa, ukunganakwa, udlame, ubumpofu kanye nokushiywa ngabazali. Phakathi kwalezi zimo kukhona abantwana abalangazelela ukuphepha, uthando, ukuzizwela beyingxenye yomndeni futhi benethemba. Ngokuvamile, badlula ezinhlungwini bethule ngenxa yokuthi abantu abadala bayehluleka ukuqaphela isimo abakuso, ukukhuluma, noma ukungenelela.

Emnyangweni we-AFM weZenhlalakahle, siyabubona ubuhlungu kanye nokomelela kwezingane ezisengcupheni nsuku zonke. Njengamanje sinakekela izingane ezingama-446 kuzo zonke iZikhungo ezingama-34 Zokunakekela Izingane Nentsha kanye naMakhaya agunyazwe ngokomthetho lapho kugcinwa khona izingane ezingekho emakhaya ezazalelwa kuwo ayi-13 ezweni lonke. Lokhu kuhlanganisa izinsana, izingane ezikhulile, nezingane ezikhubazeke kakhulu ezangena ezikhungweni zethu ngenxa yokuhlukunyezwa, ukunganakwa, ukulahlwa, noma izimo ezingaphephile.

Lezizibalo singesemiklamo wezinhlelo zoMnyango we-AFM Welfare ezingeni likazwelonke. Lezizibalo kazifaki phakathi ezinye izinhlelo eziphathelene nokunakekela nokuvikela ezenzeka nsuku zonke emaBandleni kuyo yonke i-Apostolic Faith Mission yaseNingizimu Afrika, ezifaka phakathi ukondla, ukuhlomisa imindeni, ukwesekwa esikhathini sezimo eziphuthumayo, ukwelulekwa, ukuvikelwa kwezingane kanye nokuxhumana nemiphakathi. Uma sihlanganisa konke okwenzeka ezingeni lamaBandla asekhaya nakuzwelonke, sibona uxhungexhunge lwezenzo zozwelo eziphathekayo.

IBandla linendima ebalulekile ekuvikelweni kwezingane ngamalungu alo kanye neminyango yeBandla, okunguMnyango Wabantwana, uMnyango Wentsha, iNhlangano yawoMama, kanye neNhlangano yaMadoda. Ukuvikela izingane kufanele kube seqophelweni eliphezulu kuzozonke izinhlaka—emabandleni, ezifundeni, nakuzwe lonke. Lokhu kudinga ukubambisana kuyo yonke imikhakha ukuze kuvikelwe izingane ngayo yonke indlela. Ngokuvamile, lokhu kuqala ngezenzo ezilula ezifana nalezi:

ukubona lapho ingane idonsa kanzima futhi ukuqaphela izimpawu eziyisixwayiso;
ukuseka imindeni esezimweni ezinzima;
ukuhlinzeka ngosizo oluphathekayo;
ukweluleka abantu abasha;
ukwakha izindawo eziphephile lapho izingane zibona zaziswa khona futhi zilalelwa;
ukuthandazela ukuthi
uNkulunkulu azivikele izingane zethu.

Ububele kufanele kube yinto ebonakala ngezenzo kungabi yinto yomlomo nje.

Njengamakholwa, sengathi singaqhubeka nokwakha imiphakathi lapho izingane zivikeleke khona, nalapho imindeni ihlonyiswa khona nalapho uthando lukaKristu lubonakala khona ngokunakekela kwethu labo abangavikelekile phakathi kwethu.

Umfundisi uBongiwe Naile
Isikhulu esiphezulu – kwi-AFM Welfare

EQUIPPING AFM MEMBERS

FOR MINISTRY IMPACT

Within the AFM, we have often heard the question: “There is training for leaders, but what about training for members?” One of the AFM’s core Missional Actions is to train and equip believers for the work of ministry. In response to this need, the AFM Theological College (AFMTC) is excited to introduce its brand new Short Learning Programmes (SLPs), specifically developed to empower believers at grassroots level for meaningful service within their assemblies and communities.

Pastors are encouraged to actively promote these short programmes within assemblies as part of the discipleship strategy. Healthy assemblies are built when believers are empowered, trained, and released into purposeful ministry.

The AFMTC Short Learning Programmes give pastors a valuable discipleship and empowerment tool that can strengthen ministry within the local assembly.

The following Short Learning Programmes are available. Presented online and in English, the courses make quality AFM training accessible to believers across the country. :

Children’s Ministry 101
Principles of Bible Study 101
The Pastor’s Spouse 101

📖 The course duration is 3 months. | Starting on 20 July 2026.
📖 Language of instruction: English.
📖 Virtual Learning: A Computer & Internet Connection are required.
📖 Cost: R950 per participant.
📖 A Certified copy of the member’s ID (not older than 3 months) will be required.

The AFMTC Short Learning Programmes are non-accredited, affordable, and designed for the everyday Christian who desires to grow spiritually and practically. For more information and the link to register, visit the AFMTC website at www.afmtc.ac.za or reach out to our student support team at info@afmtc.ac.za.

FUELLING THE FIRE 2026 – SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK AND SUGGESTIONS FOR 2027

Your feedback matters to us! As part of the NOB Empowerment visits, we invite every attendee to take a few moments to complete the survey by scanning the QR code provided. Your input helps us to better understand the needs of our churches and communities, and plays an important role in shaping our planning and empowerment efforts for 2027. Thank you for partnering with us as we grow, strengthen, and build together for the future.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NOB2026_