“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15, NIV)
Even if a parent abuses their own child and drives them to death, the God who created them never forgets—not even a newborn.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, the pandemic has had a global impact, especially worsening conditions for vulnerable groups such as the poor, women, and children. According to UNICEF’s 2020 report, violence prevention and response services for 1.8 billion children across 104 countries were disrupted. The most severe cases were recorded in South Asia, with 616 million disruptions, followed by East Asia and the Pacific with 491 million. West and Central Africa reported 234 million cases, and Latin America and the Caribbean reported 172 million. These figures show that service disruptions were most prevalent in populous Asian nations and in low- to middle-income countries. As a result, children from impoverished or vulnerable backgrounds have been left without community safety nets, making them more likely to face both threats to their livelihood and exposure to abuse.
In South Korea, the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s National Report on Child Abuse states that in 2019, there were 30,045 reported cases of child abuse—an increase of about 22% (roughly 5,400 cases) from 24,604 the previous year. This means that more than 80 children suffered from violence each day. The rate of increase has grown rapidly each year. In 2011, there were around 6,000 cases; by 2014, the number had jumped by 3,000 to surpass 10,000; and by 2019, it had tripled, exceeding 30,000 cases.
As a result, the number of children who died due to abuse reached an all-time high of 42 in 2019. In 2014, there were 14 deaths from child abuse, and 16 in 2015. This number more than doubled to 36 in 2016. It rose to 38 in 2017, dropped to 28 in 2018, but surged again into the 40s the following year.
A closer look at the victims shows that the proportion of girls was slightly higher than that of boys. The highest percentage was among children aged 13 to 15 (middle school age), but infants and young children under the age of 6 still accounted for 23% of all cases. Over 97% of abusers were parents, guardians, or close relatives living in the same household as the victims. Yet, despite this close relationship, 82% of abused children continued living in their original family homes under the care of their parents.
》Prayer Points
1. In the time when Moses was born, and again when Jesus Christ came to this earth, Satan incited people to destroy and kill young souls. Yet God protected His children and brought forth a deliverer. Let us ask for God’s grace so that no more children fall victim to Satan’s wicked schemes.
2. Pray that the young souls suffering from abuse will be rescued, and that parents trapped in sin—who harm their children and walk the path of destruction—will be transformed. Let’s also pray for churches and organizations to rise up with a mission to protect and restore these lives.
》Scripture Prayer
(Proverbs 9:10-18,NIV) 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer. 13 Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, 15 calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, 16 “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, 17 “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” 18 But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. The situation facing the abused next generation today is like that of an unruly woman who speaks loudly but knows nothing. In her ignorance, she leads others into foolishness and together they plunge into deep sin in the realm of the dead. The primary place where child abuse occurs is in the home. Let us pray that the foolishness and wickedness of parents and caregivers around the world will be broken by the cross of Christ. May the parents and adult generations across the world repent for their failure to love their children, be renewed by the gospel, and raise and serve them in love.
2. Let us pray for the rescue of children across the nations who are suffering abuse and facing the threat of death. May the children and youth who have endured such pain be blessed with a heart that fears God and a mind that deeply knows and loves Him. Let us intercede that the next generation would rise as an army of truth, possessing the surpassing knowledge of Christ, to establish God’s kingdom and righteousness.
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