It takes a village: Church hosts bible school to feed the youth

To shield children from the grip of substance abuse and gangsterism, the Nazarene Church held its annual bible school during the school holiday.

President of the Nazarene Disciple International, Leeanne Fritz, stated the church hosted the bible school from July 7 to July 11, between the times of 09:00 and 12:00. The theme of this year’s school was ‘I know who I am’.

Children enjoyed the teachings of the Word, and they played games throughout the day. Leeanne added that the less fortunate children were fed a generous breakfast and lunch to keep their stomachs full during the school holiday.

“Many of these children only receive food at school, and since the schools have closed, they have nowhere else to obtain the needed nourishment. Most of these children come from a household where they have to deal with issues that they cannot handle. Some of them resort to criminal acts and lose their identities. That is why we decided to host the school as it helps to build a Christian foundation with God,” she explained.

The church decided on this year’s theme since a lot of children do not know who they are. Leeanne noted it is common for children to grab the first identity they see, which usually evolves with peer pressure from unwelcoming friends or habits from parents.

“In Toekomsrus, you see many children adopt the behaviours of criminals and parents, which results in substance abuse and gangsterism. The youth are influenced the most, and therefore it is time that children be taught right from wrong at an early age.”

She emphasised the importance of communication within a household, adding that communities should return to the old ways of raising children.

“It takes a village to raise a child. Parents need to go back to helping each other raise their children. If you need help as a parent, reach out. Do not be afraid to get the help your child deserves.”