Church leaders, theologians and child advocacy practitioners from around the world gathered online to launch God's Heart for Child Protection and Safeguarding, a new volume urging Christians to view safeguarding not as an administrative requirement but as a central expression of the gospel.
Published by Langham Publishing in partnership with VIVA, the Lausanne Children at Risk Issue Network and the Global Child Protection Alliance, the book brings together more than 30 contributors from five continents to address child abuse through biblical theology, practical guidance and case studies drawn from ministry contexts around the world.
During the online launch, co-editor Dr. Martin Manyau said the book was written to help fill a significant gap in theological education and ministry resources.
"We cannot ignore" the scale of abuse facing children, Manyau said, citing global estimates that one in four girls and one in 13 boys experience sexual abuse before age 18, while more than 600 million children live in conflict or humanitarian settings. He also noted that abuse within churches remains widely underreported and that many theological institutions still lack child protection frameworks.
"What we're talking about today is safeguarding. It's not just an optional extra for Christians. It's a gospel imperative," he said.
Manyau described the book as more than an awareness resource. Covering issues including gender-based violence, child trafficking, online sexual exploitation, child marriage, disability, family violence, humanitarian crises and church ministries, each chapter combines a global overview, biblical reflection and practical case studies. The book is intended for seminaries, churches, Christian organizations and NGOs.
Co-editor Dr. Nativity Patilla said she hopes the book will encourage churches to confront difficult realities rather than avoid them.
"My hope is that this book will break through church discomfort by forcing an honest conversation about an unthinkable reality — abuse happens within religious institutions," she said. She expressed hope the resource would help readers move "from passive bystanders to active advocates" who foster safer church cultures and take proactive steps to prevent abuse.
Asked what she hopes church leaders will remember from the book, Patilla said safeguarding should never be viewed as merely another policy.
"The central message I hope church leaders would take from this book is that safeguarding is an essential expression of the gospel," she said. Over the next five years, she hopes theological colleges, churches and ministries will embed cultures of protection into everyday practice.
Phil Green, CEO of VIVA, said churches around the world have often done remarkable work for children but acknowledged they have also sometimes caused harm.
"Our motivation to do better when it comes to child protection and safeguarding needs to be that God values children and therefore so should we," Green said. "Keeping children safe is a biblical mandate." He added that safeguarding must become embedded in relationships and community life rather than existing only as written policy.
The launch also highlighted practical examples featured in the book. Tryphosa Kwagala, VIVA's monitoring and evaluation manager in Uganda, described how community networks have established "safe spaces" in police and judicial facilities to provide child-friendly environments for victims and witnesses of abuse.
She said local churches can play a critical role because they understand their communities and are well positioned to advocate for children's protection.
"They can link the teachings of Christ into how people should safeguard children," Kwagala said. "They can be big advocates of child safeguarding because they are already rooted in their communities."
The event also featured the Global Child Protection Alliance, which seeks to promote collaboration among Christian organizations working to protect children. Alliance representatives argued that child protection should be viewed as a matter of justice rooted in God's character rather than as an optional ministry emphasis.
World Vision International also endorsed the publication. Bill Forbes, the organization's global director for child protection and child participation, described the volume as an important theological and practical resource for churches.
"This book reminds us that safeguarding and protection are not optional extras," Forbes said. "They are a true measure of our faithfulness." He added that the book calls Christians to move beyond awareness toward intentional action to prevent violence and support healing and justice for children.
The launch concluded with prayer for children affected by abuse and for churches to become places of safety. Organizers also announced a three-part webinar series later this year that will explore the book's themes in greater depth.
Published by Langham Publishing, God's Heart for Child Protection and Safeguarding is available in print and digital formats through major booksellers and Christian retailers.
