Children across the world are living in need, in conditions of poverty, fear and pain. How can these vulnerable children in need be given the hope and comfort they need and deserve?

Sadly, millions of children across the world have been born into misery. Some are victims of poverty, whether in city slums or drought-ridden villages. Others are victims of mental or physical abuse, war or simple neglect. There is nothing sadder than a child in despair thinking, "No one cares."

But, thankfully, many people DO care.

These are the people involved in children’s ministries, who not only offer help to the world’s most disadvantaged children, but also offer them hope for the future. Christian children’s ministries exist to do God’s work and improve the lives of youngsters everywhere. And they touch the lives of children in need not only in practical ways but in spiritual ways, too.

Thanks to the tireless work of children’s ministries, children in need learn how precious they are to God and how to trust in His love. Perhaps for the first time children in need gain a sense of self-worth and the knowledge that whatever happens they are not alone.

A children’s ministry exists in almost every country in the world, doing God’s work to touch the lives of children in many different ways. They are true to their original purpose, which is to teach children about God and help children in need. But the work of each children’s ministry has grown and diversified over the years.

Thousand of children’s ministries are involved in working with children in need, who live in conditions of poverty. These include the homeless, the starving, the orphaned and the sick. Children’s ministries work in countries such as Ethiopia, India, Peru and the Philippines, doing God’s work to touch the lives of children where it is needed most. Other children’s ministries are involved with helping those who live in prosperous countries, but suffer emotional poverty. They may have suffered abuse and neglect from a young age so that they lack any sense of self-worth. Some may have turned to drink and drugs and need help to get their lives back on track.

The most respected children’s charities could not do God’s work without Christian ministry. It is a vital to their aims that children learn about Jesus Christ and about the Bible. They don’t believe in "quick-fix" care, but in touching the lives of children in need for long-term transformation.

One such children’s ministry, which has saved the lives of thousands of children in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, states simply: "We believe the most loving thing we can do for children is to introduce them to Jesus Christ." The charity does much of God’s valuable work through an extensive child sponsorship program. Kind people send a set (and modest) sum every month to ensure that an individual child receives proper nourishment, clean water, regular health care, education, life-skills training, and Christian teaching.

In this way, the children who are sponsored are touched by God’s love in action. As they learn about Christ and His message of "love thy neighbor" they see the evidence of God’s work through Christian care and charity all around. Lives are changed through children’s ministries, which touch the lives of children in need by bringing hope and comfort to replace despair. This is one of the most powerful and life-changing ways of God’s work in action that can and does make a real difference to children around the world.