Pentecostal church leaders’ support to children in need of care and protection

Churches are considered one of the important structures responsible for providing care and support to vulnerable populations. One such population are children in need of care and support. This article presents the support provided by Pentecostal religious leaders to children needing care and protect...

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Main Authors: Andrew Spaumer, Azwihangwisi H. Mavhandu-Mudzusi
Format: Article
Language:Afrikaans
Published: AOSIS 2025-01-01
Series:HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/10173
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author Andrew Spaumer
Azwihangwisi H. Mavhandu-Mudzusi
author_facet Andrew Spaumer
Azwihangwisi H. Mavhandu-Mudzusi
author_sort Andrew Spaumer
collection DOAJ
description Churches are considered one of the important structures responsible for providing care and support to vulnerable populations. One such population are children in need of care and support. This article presents the support provided by Pentecostal religious leaders to children needing care and protection. The study was conducted in Pentecostal churches in Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, which is found in Gauteng province, South Africa. This qualitative study used an interpretative phenomenological analysis design. Data were collected from nineteen purposively selected leaders in Pentecostal churches using face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was guided by the interpretative phenomenological analysis framework for data analysis. Findings indicate that religious leaders within Pentecostal churches are involved in providing care and support to children in need of care. The process they are engaged in include proper identification of those children, attending to physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs. However, each religious leaders use their approach depending on the relationship they have with members of government institutions such as police services and social workers. In order to enhance the support provided the children in need of care and protection, by religious leaders within Pentecostal churches, it is recommended that religious leaders are well informed about the role of different members of multidisciplinary teams such as social workers, psychologists, police officers, parents and other community structures. Moreover, there should be formalised collaboration and referral processes that will ensure that the child’s rights are not further violated in the process of provision of support. Contribution: The study contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the role Pentecostal church religious leaders are playing in child protection. Furthermore, it sheds light on the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to ensure that children in need of care and protection are holistically supported.
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2072-8050
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spelling doaj-art-00326592671a4adf93fb6cfcdcebf1122025-02-11T13:23:33ZafrAOSISHTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies0259-94222072-80502025-01-01811e1e1010.4102/hts.v81i1.101736079Pentecostal church leaders’ support to children in need of care and protectionAndrew Spaumer0Azwihangwisi H. Mavhandu-Mudzusi1Department of Social Work, College of Human Sciences, University of South Africa, TshwaneDepartment of Health Studies, College of Human Sciences, University of South Africa, TshwaneChurches are considered one of the important structures responsible for providing care and support to vulnerable populations. One such population are children in need of care and support. This article presents the support provided by Pentecostal religious leaders to children needing care and protection. The study was conducted in Pentecostal churches in Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, which is found in Gauteng province, South Africa. This qualitative study used an interpretative phenomenological analysis design. Data were collected from nineteen purposively selected leaders in Pentecostal churches using face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was guided by the interpretative phenomenological analysis framework for data analysis. Findings indicate that religious leaders within Pentecostal churches are involved in providing care and support to children in need of care. The process they are engaged in include proper identification of those children, attending to physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs. However, each religious leaders use their approach depending on the relationship they have with members of government institutions such as police services and social workers. In order to enhance the support provided the children in need of care and protection, by religious leaders within Pentecostal churches, it is recommended that religious leaders are well informed about the role of different members of multidisciplinary teams such as social workers, psychologists, police officers, parents and other community structures. Moreover, there should be formalised collaboration and referral processes that will ensure that the child’s rights are not further violated in the process of provision of support. Contribution: The study contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the role Pentecostal church religious leaders are playing in child protection. Furthermore, it sheds light on the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to ensure that children in need of care and protection are holistically supported.https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/10173care and protectionchildreninterpretative phenomenological analysispentecostal churchreligious leaderssupport
spellingShingle Andrew Spaumer
Azwihangwisi H. Mavhandu-Mudzusi
Pentecostal church leaders’ support to children in need of care and protection
HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies
care and protection
children
interpretative phenomenological analysis
pentecostal church
religious leaders
support
title Pentecostal church leaders’ support to children in need of care and protection
title_full Pentecostal church leaders’ support to children in need of care and protection
title_fullStr Pentecostal church leaders’ support to children in need of care and protection
title_full_unstemmed Pentecostal church leaders’ support to children in need of care and protection
title_short Pentecostal church leaders’ support to children in need of care and protection
title_sort pentecostal church leaders support to children in need of care and protection
topic care and protection
children
interpretative phenomenological analysis
pentecostal church
religious leaders
support
url https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/10173
work_keys_str_mv AT andrewspaumer pentecostalchurchleaderssupporttochildreninneedofcareandprotection
AT azwihangwisihmavhandumudzusi pentecostalchurchleaderssupporttochildreninneedofcareandprotection