“Let the little children come to me”

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

On the 8th July in 1884 the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was founded in London.

This all came about because of one man; Thomas Agnew a business man from Liverpool visited New York on a trip in 1881 and whilst he was there, he visited the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (founded in 1874, and the world’s first child protection agency). He was so taken with the work they were doing, that he returned to the UK inspired to provide similar help for children in Liverpool. So in 1883 he set up the Liverpool Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (LSPCC).

Soon, other towns and cities followed, and in 1884 the London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (London SPCC) was founded by Lord Shaftesbury, Reverend Edward Rudolf and Reverend Benjamin Waugh.

Five years later Parliament passed the first ever UK law to protect children from abuse and neglect in 1889. This was a great triumph for the organisation and the culmination of their many years of tireless effort in changing the way society in Victorian times saw and treated children. By 1889, the London SPCC was renamed the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children due to having many branches now that covered Great Britain and Ireland.

It’s work did not go unnoticed and Queen Victoria became its first Royal Patron in 1895 when she granted the organisation its Royal Charter.

It has continued to champion the rights and welfare of children in the UK, often with hard hitting advertising campaigns.

We see that from the above quote from the gospel of Matthew that children are important to God. Another time where we see Jesus’ heart for children is when the disciples are asking about who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus calls a little child to him and explains to the disciples that “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Matthew 18:3-5. He goes on to sternly warn that “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Matthew 18:6.

Another charity that cares for the needs of children is ‘Compassion‘, which has as its motto, “Releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.” Just like with the NSPCC, Compassion was founded by the work of one man.  Rev. Everett Swanson made a ministry trip in the 1952 to South Korea to comfort the American troops, whilst he was there he grew increasingly troubled by the sight of hundreds of war orphans living on the streets, abandoned by society. Out of his desire to save the lives of these children ‘Compassion’ was born.

Its amazing what God can do with one man or woman who responds to God’s heart and call to seek and save the least, the last and the lost.

Do you feel that God is calling you to help with the work that we do at LLYFC?

If you like the Rev. Everett Swanson or Thomas Agnew want to help make a difference in the lives of the young people in North Wales, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

God bless.