In July 2002 while the nation was still perplexed about 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted from her own bedroom just weeks earlier, the Samantha Runnion story began to grip our hearts. 

Having done every safety response a child could do, Samantha was taken away biting, kicking and screaming from the yard she was playing in.  She even had the wisdom to tell her friend to go get her grandmother.  Then in a few days her attacked body was found and the nation joined her family and mourned her sad death.

 It was just a few days later when 7-year-old Erica Pratt was kidnapped in Philadelphia.  Fortunately she was able to bite through the duct tape that held for captive and escape.  Then a few days later when Samantha Runyon would have turned six years old, another six or old, Cassandra Williamson is reported missing from her father's home in St. Louis. 


All these events strung one after another reintroduced a delicate grieving fear into the hearts of Americans.  This after several months of news stories with details of child molestation reports by Catholic priests and a growing legacy from September 11^th 2001.

 This in a world where over 100 million children spend their night in the streets as 250 million spend their day there.  This in a world where on average nearly 38,000 children die of water related diseases and hunger daily.  This in a world where tens of thousands of young girls are kidnapped and thrown into prostitution rings in Asian countries like Indonesia.  This in the world where several thousand abortions are performed each and every day.  This in a world were several thousand children die from AIDS in African countries each day.

 All these facts and stories grieve my heart and the only way it I can respond with balanced sanity is with an inspired vision to go on and be the loving balanced parent I need to be.  I am discovering to take these issues to God in prayer and trust Him.

It may sound cliche or even oversimplified, but this is my reality coping mechanism in a fallen world with a living Hope of redemption, forgiveness and deliverance. 

 So join us on a short journey of reflection and grieving tribute for these young girls who have been abducted from their families.  We trust that the statistics, quotes, prayers, practical advice tips and Bible verses will inspire you to deeper love for the children in your life and for children around the world. 

We can join together in grace and love as we tackle evil with the powerful authority given to us by our creator.  May He himself to give us the peace He has promised from his word that we may press on, love one another and go beyond coping to the abundant life of full-fledged hoping in a Hope that does not disappoint.

by Dan & Dave Davidson