Orphan Care (you had to know this was coming eventually)

Adoption is definitely not for everyone.  I have had a lot of people tell me how amazing and wonderful they think it is that we are doing this.  People have said that this is a big deal, a huge undertaking, and incredible commitment.  Well, sure.  I have heard, "we could never," and people have asked, "What made you want to do this?"  My answer, "We asked for a job and God put this on our hearts."

What I really want to say is this, "We have all been called to orphan care.  All of us."  Adoption isn't for everyone, but orphan care is.  That I feel like we have been called to orphan care is completely supported by God's word.  Father of the fatherless! I know that not everyone wants to hear this.  Haven't we all seen the commercials with the hunger stricken kids and the sad music and rolled our eyes and changed the channel?  But, here it is...

Isaiah 1:17- "Learn to do good.  Seek justice.  Help the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the orphans.  Fight for the rights of the widows."

Matthew 18:5- "And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me."

Matthew 25:45- "...I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me."

James 1:27- "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."

I know that not everyone can adopt.  But there are ways for every one of us to care for orphans in one way or another, even if it is taking a pack of diapers to foster family, or sending a card of encouragement to a family who has recently adopted.  Make this your mission too.   I have included a list of a couple of links for orphan care to the right, and I intend to keep adding as I find them.

I received the following in my email the other day, and I feel that it is definitely worth sharing.




Two-Thousand Times More Effective

by Max Lucado

Two-thousand years ago the disciples of Jesus started a movement that changed the world. Are we still changing the world? We can. We can be two-thousand times more effective—if we only try!

Here’s an example. There are 145 million orphans worldwide. Nearly 236 million of us living in the U.S. call ourselves Christian. From a purely statistical standpoint, by ourselves, we have the wherewithal to house every orphan in the world. There’s enough food on the planet to feed the hungry! But the storehouse is locked.

God has given our generation everything we need to alter the course of human suffering. Change must start with us! With our transformation! Ours is the wealthiest generation of Christians ever! We can be more effective—if only we try!