Contending for Children Initiative (CFCI) is a faith-based program of In The Word Ministries, a 501C3 organization, designed to recapture the hearts of our children for the Kingdom of God.
The Contending for Children Initiative (CFCI) is a program that focuses on helping children reach their full potential-"their capacity to become!" There are two areas that are currently threatening children's potential. One is reading illiteracy and the other is mental health. Both of these areas can impact not only our children's current position in society today but can also dictate the quality of their future.
As a community, we can continue using traditional methods and approaches to address the needs of our children or we can create new partnerships and approaches that redirect our children to "healthier outcomes". Contending for Children Initiative is about identifying healthier outcomes.
Awareness
Raise the awareness of the reading literacy and mental health crisis within the faith community.
Understanding
Help congregations understand the crisis and the future impact illiteracy and mental health issues will have on our families and communities.
Resources
Find ways the faith community can better access resources that address the literacy and mental wellness issues for children and youth.
Why does it Matter?
Sociologists offer a variety of perspectives on the future development of children and youth,
shaped by factors such as economic conditions, technologicaI advancements, sociaI changes, and political climates. The world our children and youth live in is constantly evolving. New challenges and opportunities are emerging all the time. Therefore, we need community TODAY to help create a "future and expected end" for them. (Jeremiah 29:1 1 )
"Safety and security don't just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
- Nelson Mandela, Former President of South Africa
"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."
- Stacia Tauscher, dancer and artist
"lt is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."
- Frederick Douglass, abolitionist and statesman
"Every child you encounter is a divine appointment."
- Wess Stafford, President Emeritus of Compassion lnternational