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10 things you must know when ministering to the child of divorce

 
 

Tiny terrors

One must be aware of many things when ministering to children in divorced homes. However, ten important things are a must. Here are what I have found to be the ten most important items to know.

Children need:

  1. Caring adults who understand that children from single-parent homes may constantly fear for their safety
  2. Adults who will not leave the children at the foot of the cross but continually teach them about a heavenly Father who will never leave them or forsake them
  3. Adults who understand the child standing before them may attend two churches in two entirely different denominations and be very confused about two different sets of belief
  4. Adult leaders who understand the mourning process a child of divorce experiences
  5. Adults who understand the grieving process single parents experience when they become single parents
  6. Adults who understand that the child from a single-parent home may live in two separate homes
  7. Church leaders who understand the need to develop caring relationships with not only the child but also the single parent
  8. Adults who understand the single parent does not always have control over when the child can attend various church events
  9. Adults in children’s ministries who minister to the single parent as well as to the child
  10. Children’s leaders who understand the stages single parents experience as they parent their children alone

Above all, these children need to know they are loved despite the complications surrounding them.

 

This article is updated and adapted from an article originally published on the Kids & Divorce blog on January 16, 2014.

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