monthly focus ~ why are children on the streets

WHY ARE CHILDREN ON THE STREETS?

A common question people ask David and Felicia Lee about ministering to street children in Romania is, "Why are children on the streets?"  It is hard to contemplate why over 2000 children are left to fend for themselves on the streets of  Bucharest, Romania, as well as in cities around the world.  We know the root cause why children live on the streets is sin --

the sin of parents who spend their resources on alcohol instead of food, then get drunk and abuse their children;


the sin of business owners who keep their workers in poverty;

the sin of the children themselves who want the "freedom" of the drugs, sex, and absence of authority. 

Those who work with these children ask the kids what they like most about living on the street.

Mihai, a boy on the street in Bucharest responded, "To live free."

Why would a 12 year old enjoy the "freedom" of living on the street when in reality he has become enslaved to sin?  In much the same way, we are all enslaved to sin and are deceived into think we are free; but true freedom is only found through a relationship with God through Jesus Christ?  "But ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the spirit of adoption." (Rom. 8:15) 

This is why the Lees are "proclaming redemption to the street children," because Jesus Christ redeems all of us from sin, taking away its penalty and our desire to do it. The Lees work is not finished once a child accepts Christ as personal Saviour.  They will guide them as they grow up physically and mature spiritually by providing instruction and resources needed to become godly men and women. 

David and Felicia Lee are missionary staff sent out from Camden Baptist Church in Wellington, Ohio, working with Pastor Cornel Boingeanu of Holy Trinity Baptist Church in Bucharest.  They just completed EBM training, part 2, and have 35% support already. To learn more about working with street children or how to be involved in the ministry to these children in Romania through the Lees, contact David and Felicia at dlee@ebm.org or ebm@ebm.org