Baby Safe

I (Rachel) will be working with  an access ministry called Baby Safe whilst living in South Africa.  My heart is not only to simply be a service provider to the people of Masiphumelele, but to share Jesus with them through words and actions.

Baby Safe originally started as a response to the crisis of baby dumping in the Western Cape of South Africa.  The practise of abandoning babies in places there are unlikely to be found was not being engaged by any government agency or organisations, therefore Baby Safe was set up to be a extension of God’s heart to both the babies involved and the mother’s who found themselves in such desperation.

“Whoever welcomes this little child in my name, also welcomes me.” – Jesus

Since its formation, Baby Safe has tried to address the root causes of why mother’s abandon there babies and  to try and engage mothers far before abandonment ever becomes a reality.  To do that Baby Safe have been given the opportunity to meet with Mothers before their scheduled abortion  to offer support and care during there pregnancy and whilst doing that share God’s love and purpose for them and there child.  Out of these meetings Mummy Mentoring has been birthed.  This is a program that comes alongside mother’s with support and advice on how to care for their child and themselves. At the same time walking them through discipleship and connecting them with other mother’s in their community that are struggling.

Baby Safe strongly believes that it is important that we empower African’s to take hold of these tools for themselves and so as mother’s graduate from this process, they often become involved in expanding the ministry by becoming the mentor’s to other women in similar circumstances.  In all of this our desire is that these women don’t only begin to make positive social decisions but have there lives and families transformed by the love of God.

One baby’s life was radically changed when he was found in Masiphumlele, one of the poorer communities where i will be working in. He was tossed aside, still in his mother’s placenta, abandoned in a black garbage bag. He was left for dead, but thankfully found by a group of children. This little boy is now a thriving 5 year old. He was adopted by a wonderful couple found through a local church. Through Baby Safe they aim to save other baby’s lives like little Luke.

When the little boy mentioned above was rescued and brought to his new home, this verse was read over him: “On that day you were born, your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean…no one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather you were thrown into an open field, for on the day you were born, you were despised. Then I passed by and saw you kicking in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood, I said to you, “Live!” (Ezekiel 16:4-6 NIV).

I believe that God will rescue the helpless through Baby Safe and i feel privileged to be part of it.

For more information on Baby Safe please visit www.thebabysafe.org