The young children living in refugee shelters would wait all day for the YWAM volunteers. The moment they spotted a volunteer in a green vest outside the window, they would run out barefoot and throw themselves into their arms. After burying their faces and sharing warmth for a while, the children would ask with bright smiles:

“Did you bring candy? What about balloons?”
“Of course we did! But we’ll give them to you a little later. First, we have something to do together.”

The volunteers skillfully cared for the children’s hearts. They drew pictures together, ran and played, and told fun stories. When it was finally time to hand out the candy, the children would even wake their sleeping younger siblings to come receive some. In those moments, the shadow of war disappeared from their faces, replaced by innocent laughter.

But when the sun set and the volunteers had to leave, sadness returned to the children’s faces.
“You’ll come again tomorrow, right? Promise us. You have to come.”

The Ukraine–Russia war has taken away the daily lives of children. Those who should be freely running on playgrounds and laughing around warm family tables now worry about war and fear they may never return home. In the chaos, some have been separated from their parents and entrusted to unfamiliar adults, quietly waiting for the day they can go home. They are fragile, anxious, unable to dream, standing alone in loneliness.

Today, countless children around the world are living in similar crises—children wandering the streets, children displaced by war, children neglected amid family breakdown and abuse, and children bound in chains of poverty and exploitation. Yet God has not forgotten them. Even now, He is calling people to run toward them.

The Children at Risk (CAR) ministry began to raise up workers who would carry God’s heart to these children. In April 2026, the University of the Nations Jeju will host an online seminar (English/Spanish/Portuguese/Korean) together with the international CAR ministry team in response to this precious calling.

The CAR Seminar is not merely an educational program that provides information about vulnerable children. It is a journey to learn how God sees children—to understand His deep heart for them.

Many workers experience deep shock and helplessness when confronted with the harsh realities children face in the field. Unsure where to begin, they often find themselves simply weeping alongside the children. This seminar helps workers establish a firm Kingdom perspective amid such confusion. The course consists of three modules, each running twice a week for three weeks, progressively covering the foundations of children’s ministry, practical strategies, and sustainable leadership.

First Story – Learning Holistic Care

The first module (April 13–May 1) focuses on “God’s Heart for Children and Holistic Care.”

One YWAM worker began an educational ministry in a slum community, initially believing that teaching academics was the most important mission. Over time, however, he realized something deeper: the children did not simply need education—they needed the assurance that they were loved.

He began sharing meals with them, listening to their stories, and praying together. Remarkable changes followed. Children who had stopped attending school began coming back on their own, and those who had been aggressive began to smile.

This module lays the foundation for holistic care. It explores a biblical worldview of children, helps participants understand developmental stages and emotional needs, and introduces various groups of vulnerable children. This is not merely a transfer of knowledge, but a transformation of how we see children.

Second Story – Protecting the Future of Children

The second module (June 8–26) focuses on “Advocacy, Education, and Community Transformation.”

A teacher once served in a region with high risks of human trafficking. Many children there dropped out of school and were sent to labor sites. Yet he did more than simply teach classes. He initiated conversations with parents and collaborated with community leaders to build networks that would protect children.

Within a few years, the number of children disappearing into trafficking significantly decreased.

Through real-life case studies, this module demonstrates how education and community development can transform children’s lives. Participants will also examine global issues such as gender inequality, abortion, poverty, and human trafficking, and explore the role the Church and ministry workers can play in addressing them.

Third Story – Healing and Restoration in the Midst of Wounds

The third module (October 19–November 6) centers on “Child Protection, Trauma Healing, and Sustainable Leadership.”

Working with children who have experienced trauma requires deep sensitivity. One worker confessed that despite expressing love, the children he served—who had suffered abuse—would not open their hearts. He felt discouraged.

After receiving training on trauma awareness, however, he began to understand the wounds behind their behaviors. Their reactions were not rebellion, but survival strategies. As his approach changed, the children gradually began to open their hearts.

This module addresses trauma-informed care, adoption and foster care, community-based care models, and healthy leadership for long-term ministry.

This online seminar offers a concentrated experience of the core content of the CAR School. The University of the Nations Jeju is prayerfully preparing to pioneer a full Children at Risk School for those who desire deeper training. We long to see dedicated workers raised up so that classrooms of learning and mission fields in need are closely connected.

For the refugee children who had nowhere to rest their hearts, YWAM volunteers became a strong fence of protection. Even in a war that destroys everything, there were hands planting love into children’s hearts. Jesus welcomed children, saying, “Let the little children come to Me.” Even today, children who lack the power to protect themselves are waiting for someone’s touch.

The CAR Online Seminar will be the starting point for discovering this sacred calling. Through this course, may many rise up to learn God’s heart and prepare love and wisdom for the sake of children.

ㅡJoshua K. Kim, Training Director