Change a Child’s Trajectory

Vulnerable or at-risk means that a child is at risk socially, emotionally, physically, or spiritually. More specifically, this means that the child could be dealing with a wide range of challenges, including abandonment, poverty, physical or sexual abuse, or tribal warfare. Some children are more vulnerable to abuse in parts of the world where practices like witchcraft, child sacrifice and spousal abuse not only continue today, but are part of the culture.

We have seen Hindu parents allow their children to attend Life on Life lessons because they see significant improvement in the child’s character. When a child is no longer lying or stealing, parents notice and appreciate the changes, no matter their religion.

Not only that, but as parents are seeing these changes, some are accepting Christ as their Savior as well! The life change God is producing through the use of this curriculum is truly remarkable.

On the surface, you’ll often see many children with smiling faces, but behind those smiles are lives broken by abuse, poverty, and a lack of hope. Life on Life helps bring healing to deep wounds by teaching children about a loving Father in a way they can understand.

For example, one day a lesson on grief was being taught in a Life on Life classroom, and suddenly a girl started crying. As the teacher spoke with her, she learned the girl’s father had recently died, leaving her mother struggling to provide. The family had gone without food, and the girl had been hiding her grief and fear. Through the lesson, the girl was finally able to release her grief and fear that had been trapped within.

The scars run deep, and Life on Life helps children express and heal from their pain and sorrow.

• Lower Primary, ages 6 – 8
• Primary, ages 9 – 11
• Young Teen, ages 12-14

*Most countries are not yet using all 3 age groups, though that is the goal. This can only be made possible through the support of donors such as yourself. Thank you!

Many Asian, African, and Latin American curriculums are rote in nature. Facts are learned by repeating them back to the teacher, and there isn’t much engagement other than a student raising his or her hand and waiting to be acknowledged.

Life on Life is designed with engagement in mind. It is child-centered, which means active learning —roleplaying, tactile lessons, critical thinking, and games are used to help teach each lesson. Studies show that children learn and remember best when taught this way.

It is also written with the at-risk child in mind. Most Sunday school curriculums focus only on spiritual formation, but Life on Life teaches Spiritual Formation along with Character Development and Life Skills. It’s not just a school class, it’s a life class.

Additionally, Life on Life was designed to be taught with or without school supplies. Some churches, schools, and orphanages cannot pay to have coloring sheets, crayons, etc. Because of this, Life on Life can be taught simply with sticks, stones, and dirt. Optional supplies can be used as well, but in reality, all that is needed for a lesson can be found right outside the door.

In response to pastors’ requests in 2010 for materials to disciple vulnerable children in India, David C Cook, a leading Christian curriculum provider for more than 140 years, created these lessons. The curriculum was first used by orphans in India as the J127 program, which continues today with more than 25,000 orphans.

In 2011, the Anglican Church of Uganda asked David C Cook to present all their curriculum lines. When the Church of Uganda heard about the lessons created for India, they said that Life on Life was the material for them because all their children are at risk in some way. In response, David C Cook’s Global team worked with Ugandan editors to co-create and revise the India curriculum for the children of Uganda.

Today, David C Cook Global works with numerous organizations to co-create Life on Life discipleship curriculum for use in more than 30 nations, and 11 languages around the world.

While our work is primarily supported through financial contributions, here are 3 other ways you can help us disciple millions of children through Life on Life.

Pray: We need the Lord’s blessing for continued success for the teachers, children, and communities.

Share: Another way to help is to tell a friend about how we’re discipling so many children around the world. Life on Life is a great program with amazing success stories. We would love for you to read these yourself and share them with friends. Sign up below to receive our updates.

Challenge: You could also challenge your church or a group of friends to start a fundraising team. you and your team can raise money for the specific country or region of the world God has placed on your heart.