40 Days of Prayer - Day 21

Day 21 – Life Centres

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
– John 10:10

A Life Centre is not simply a physical place, but it is an emotional, spiritual and relational place where the most vulnerable people can come knowing that they are loved, accepted and cared for. Our dream for the most vulnerable children and their families is that they will experience healing and restoration from their trauma and brokenness. Pray for more Care Points to be transformed into Life Centres across Africa. Pray that in their time of brokenness, they will experience the love of Jesus and desire a personal relationship with Him.

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Hands at Works envisions these different aspects of a Life Centre that, when thriving, transform the lives of the most vulnerable.

3 ESSENTIAL SERVICES

The basic physical needs faced by the most vulnerable children are access to food, education and basic health care.

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BASIC FACILITIES

A crucial physical aspect of a Life Centre is safe and easy access to basic facilities for the children to use such as a toilet, a fence surrounding the Life Centre, and a secure and clean water source.

CHURCH MOBILISATION

Hands at Work identifies local churches within the communities who demonstrate a passion for serving the poorest of the poor, and challenge them to develop a locally operated Community Based Organisation (CBO) uniting the church and mobilising congregation members to take action to care for the most vulnerable.

Hands at Work begin a long-term partnership serving those organisations and work to increase their ability to provide effective, holistic care: physically, spiritually, emotionally and intellectually.

HEALTHY LEADERSHIP

It is vital for a Life Centre to have healthy leadership among the Care Workers and those involved from the local church as they work together and stand in unity to serve the most vulnerable.

HOLY HOME VISITS

At Hands at Work, the foundation of the care is Holy Home Visits. A home visit is beneficial, not just in assessing and understanding the external needs, but in spending quality time with a child and his or her family, therefore bringing them value and worth. Home visits may carry a high personal cost of time, emotion, and energy, but like the gospel, they bring transformation.

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MARANATHA WORKSHOPS

At Hands at Work, the foundation of the care is Holy Home Visits. A home visit is beneficial, not just in assessing and understanding the external needs, but in spending quality time with a child and his or her family, therefore bringing them value and worth. Home visits may carry a high personal cost of time, emotion, and energy, but like the gospel, they bring transformation.

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PLAY

Many times children defined as the ‘most vulnerable’ are put in positions requiring more maturity than would be expected for someone of such a young age. A Life Centre gives children the freedom to play, laugh and smile. It provides them with a safe place where children can be children.

PRESCHOOL

A healthy and necessary element of a Life Centre is for young children to have a safe space where they can come to learn from teachers who love and care for them.

RELATIONSHIP GROUPS

It is crucial that Care Workers, Primary Caregivers and children have a place where they can share their challenges, fears, hurt and pain with others who have been through similar situations. Hands at Work helps to create safe spaces called Relationship Groups which are a daily practice at the Life Centre.

SUPPORT FOR CARE WORKERS

Many Care Workers and their families are vulnerable themselves and so it is essential that they are properly supported in caring for the most vulnerable. The type of support that Care Workers receive looks different in each community. It can be discipleship, emotional support or help setting up income generating activities which benefit the Care Workers and the Community Based Organisation.