STREET CHILDREN
By Andy Butcher
Authentic Lifestyle. 200 pages
ISBN 1 86024 286 3
This book aims to give a 'brief world tour' which combines a sense of the big picture of street children, together with more detail of real examples of children who have been caught up in drugs, prostitution and crime, 'in such a way that it may elicit compassion'. It also gives examples of those who work in such situations and the stories of some who have been rescued from the streets and have come to a Christian faith.
Documentary in style, there are some interesting observations on the biblical imperative to care for the fatherless and how work among street children is viewed by churches. The book avers that for various reasons, churches have not embraced the issue and it is realistic about cases where initiatives have not been an unmitigated success. Butcher does make clear that it's far from being a 'happy ever after' story for those who do respond.
