let the little children come to me
DESCRIPTION
Let the Little Children Come to Me. Breaking Cycles of Poverty Where They Start. Overview. Who are you?. Christian. New Yorker. Father. Writer. Educator. Entrepreneur. Who shapes a child more than anyone else?. Parents. When do parents wield their greatest influence?. Birth to 5. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Let the Little Children Come to Me
Breaking Cycles of Poverty Where They Start
Overview
Prayer
Early Childhood Development
Scripture and Mission
Promising Paradigms
Putting it in practice
Who are you?
Christian
Father
Educator
New Yorker
Writer
Entrepreneur
Who shapes a child more than anyone else?
Parents
When do parents wieldtheir greatest influence?
Birth to 5
Brain Development: Speed
Brain Development: Sensitivity
Parenting MattersSource: The Brookings Institution StudyThe Parenting Gap
Parenting Matters: Income & Parenting QualitySource: The Brookings Institution StudyThe Parenting Gap
The Income GapSource: Pew Economic Mobility Project
Return on InvestmentSource: James Heckman, Nobel laureate in EconomicsUniversity of Chicago
Connecting the Dots
Parenting
Networks
OpportunityIncome
Education
Scripture and Mission
What does Luke recount was the mission of John the Baptist?
“And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before [Jesus] in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
Luke 1:17
The Great Reconciliation
God
Growing in the Story
Initiation
IndoctrinationIndwelling
Do habits matter?
"It makes no small difference, then whether we form habits of one kind or of another from our very youth; it makes a very great difference, or rather all the difference."
Aristotle, Ethics Book II
Love and Latency
Love
LiteratureLanguage
Worship
“It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.”
Galatians 3:1
How can we make our public worship welcoming to children?
Honoring the Poor
God has chosen them“Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?”
James 2:5
Honoring the Poor
Their Gifts Matter More“Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.”
Mark 12:43
How do we honor the poor?
Community
“If you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? . . . You therefore must be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:46,48
How can we grow in community with the poor?
Promising Paradigms
Jeremiah Program• Safe, affordable housing• Parent education• Life skills training• Career development• Child care• Preschool
Promising Paradigms
Talitha Koum• Therapeutic nursery• Baby mentoring• Disability testing• Parenting classes• Job training assistance
Promising Paradigms
Believe to Become• Baby Scholars• Parent University• Public Health• Public Education• After school programs• Summer learning• Gatherings of Hope
Putting it in Practice
Turn to your neighbors and discuss in your places your experiences of:1. Early Learning Initiatives2. Multi-generation/parenting programs3. Creative family engagement
Conclusion
1. Early childhood is the critical period2. Parents are the key stakeholders3. Christ calls us to families4. Our work is formation, not just education5. Promising paradigms are holistic
Questions?
Thanks for coming!
Resources: grahamscharf.com/mercy