CHILDREN should be seen and not heard.Do you really think that? Back in the Victorian era that was what people thought. However, the United Nations General Assembly on November 20, 1989, said the opposite.

The UN declared that children and young people should be given a voice and that they have a right to be heard. The Christian Comment column does the same. It gives a voice, allows people to call out and hopefully be heard.

Now, the real question is "how do we respond to what we have heard?"

The answer should be to think and of course pray, but having done that do we act or just do nothing?

When John the Baptist cried out in the wilderness, his voice was heard, people reacted, they followed him and eventually they followed Jesus.

I have spent 20 years crying out on behalf of young people and encouraging them to speak out for themselves. I have seen many young lives changed positively, but still hope to see more.

Now, I would cry out to you for help. You could volunteer to work in our drop-in centre, become a mentor or support a parent. The big question is, "how will you react to this cry?"

Do you want to bring hope?

Do you want to make a difference?

Phone 01453 756745.