Children and the Kingdom of God: Engaging Faith

World Vision and Viva Network recently conducted a study on children and their experience of the Kingdom of God in order to learn how to engage children in their faith. 

For this purpose, World Vision International and Viva Network conducted a Listening Exercise on children’s understanding of the Kingdom of God. The participants comprised 82 boys and 111 girls ages eight to 18 years from six countries (Armenia, Burundi, Mongolia, Philippines, Tanzania, and Thailand). All of the children had experienced war, forced migration, extreme poverty, and/or displacement. 

The study explored the children's understanding of the Kingdom of God, how a “Kingdom of God” functions in a community, what children can do to build the Kingdom of God and how adults can help children to be Kingdom builders. 

Findings from the data analysis showed that children's awareness and understanding of God’s rule and his Kingdom can ignite their desire to actively advocate for improved living for themselves, their families and their communities. Children's participation in community life is influenced by their faith values and cultural norms are direct expressions of Kingdom life. When asked to describe the Kingdom of God, children stated that when God is soveriegn, there is order in nature and the environment. People experience positive relationships and the climate blesses the people with good harvests. While not explicitly describing themselves as “Kingdom builders,” the children demonstrated attributes and behaviours aligned with this role. They are conscious of their self-worth and shortcomings. With God as king of their community, they hope He will help them overcome their limitations.

Facilitating children to be Kingdom builders is a long-term commitment to Christian care and nurture. Furthermore, understanding how children think of God and his kingship in the community and how they see themselves as significant players can help faith-based humanitarian aid develop advocacy strategies to help children realise their calling as Kingdom builders.