The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Children’s Network hosted its September “Together for the Next Generation” webinar, bringing together Christian leaders and practitioners to explore how churches and communities can strengthen families and respond to the needs of vulnerable children.

Opening the webinar, WEA Secretary General Rev. Botrus Mansour thanked participants for their commitment to serving children around the world, particularly those facing difficult circumstances or living without parental care. Referring to Jesus’ words, “Let the children come to me,” Mansour emphasized that caring for children reflects the heart of Christ.

He also encouraged those working with children to persevere even when their work receives little recognition.

The webinar then featured members of the World Without Orphans (WWO) Movement, who presented the movement’s vision and practical roadmap for responding to the needs of vulnerable children and families.

Lubo Hlavacka of the WWO leadership team introduced the WWO vision: “for every child to grow up in a safe, loving family and community, to know their heavenly Father and to reach God-given potential.” He explained that the movement seeks to bring together churches, NGOs, governments, businesses and community leaders around a shared commitment to vulnerable children.

The WWO roadmap focuses on four interconnected areas: prevention, intervention, collaboration and “living refreshed.” Prevention involves strengthening families and communities to reduce unnecessary separation, while intervention provides care and support for children already experiencing crisis, including family reunification, foster care, adoption and other family-based solutions.

Collaboration, Hlavacka said, is essential to sustainable change, while “living refreshed” emphasizes the spiritual, emotional, relational and physical well-being of those serving children and families.

Praveen Gomez, implementation lead for WWO, shared examples of how churches can place children at the center of their ministry. Drawing on his experience in Sri Lanka, he described how one church changed its priorities so that children were given greater attention in its budget, facilities and ministry. He also emphasized that children are not only the future of the church but are active participants in its life today.

“When we think of a child, we generally think of them as the future,” he said. “But the truth is they’re also the present.”

Andrii Fedun from WWO highlighted Orphan Sunday as an opportunity for churches to move from awareness to prayer, action and collaboration. In Ukraine, an Orphan Sunday initiative that began with more than 6,000 churches eventually grew to involve more than 18,000 churches across denominations. In Jordan, Orphan Sunday began in 2017 with four churches and subsequently expanded across several countries in the region.

The webinar also highlighted practical examples from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Nisreen Hawatmeh, founder and managing director of SANADAK Orphan Ministry, described church-based ministry in Jordan and other communities affected by poverty, trauma, conflict and displacement. She emphasized the importance of listening to families and developing culturally appropriate responses rather than imposing outside solutions.

One example was a trauma-informed program adapted for families in the region. Following a year-long adaptation process, the program was implemented in a community experiencing severe poverty and displacement. According to the evaluation shared during the webinar, after 12 months, violence against children had decreased by 66%, caregiver mental distress by 49% and high-risk child behaviors by 57%, while safe and positive parenting increased by 23.6%.

Rebecca Goropevsek of the WEA Children’s Network presented the WEA’s recently published statement on family-based care, which calls attention to the need to shift from institutionalized care toward approaches that strengthen families.

Goropevsek noted that many Christians have supported orphanages for years out of genuine compassion for vulnerable children. However, she said growing evidence points to the importance of family-based care whenever it is safe and possible.

She highlighted research indicating that children raised in institutions face increased risks of developmental delays, mental health difficulties and weaker social and emotional skills. She also shared findings from a 2025 Barna study conducted with Faith to Action, which found that 90% of U.S. Christians surveyed believe children thrive best in family environments, while 72% recognize poverty as a significant reason children enter orphanages.

At the same time, she noted that charitable giving has not necessarily followed this change in understanding, with an estimated $4.5 billion still being given annually by U.S. Christians to residential care.

The WEA statement, published June 1, seeks to help churches, residential-care workers and donors consider how their efforts can strengthen families rather than unintentionally contribute to separation.

The webinar concluded with prayer and an invitation for participants to consider practical steps in their own churches, organizations and communities. Participants were encouraged to connect with existing networks, collaborate across sectors and take steps toward ensuring that children can grow up in safe, loving families and communities.

The “Together for the Next Generation” webinar was offered with interpretation in Spanish, French and Arabic, enabling participants from different regions to engage with the discussion.