I will never forget

I will NEVER forget the faces of the precious children we would see each time we arrived at and left the orphanage. Their sweet smiles and shy little waves. Their beautiful faces will haunt me for the rest of my life. Did you know that around the world there are more than 143 MILLION orphaned children? That is  A LOT of children who do not know what it means to have a stable home, who do not have parents to comfort them when they are sick or fall down. A LOT of children who do not have anyone to tuck them in at night or sometimes even enough food to eat. These children do not need parents who are wealthy, they do not need tons of fancy toys or clothes. They just need to know that they will not have to go hungry or be cold and they will be loved unconditionally. All the things that most of us take for granted every day. The fatherless are at the heart of God and America alone has more than 300,000 churches, full of his people. It's time that the body of Christ steps up and takes responsibility for these children. There is no reason that they should live without the love of a family and God tells us numerous times throughout scripture that it is our responsibility to care for them (some verses to follow). I was rereading one of my favorite books recently...Small town, Big miracle by Bishop W.C. Martin. It is a wonderful story of how their church of 200 adopted 72 of the toughest children in the Texas foster care system. One of the statements he made in it is "If the church is championing the case against abortion, then we'd best be ready to "play catch" when waves of unwanted children inundate the system". He is so right. How can the church fight against abortion, but not be willing to step up and take responsibility for the outcome of that belief? If as a body of believers we do not believe abortion should be allowed, then we need to be willing to step up and care for those children when/if their biological parents cannot, for whatever reason. Every day children are abandoned or removed from abusive homes. Many children have lived through unspeakable horrors. If not us, then who will be the hands and feet of Jesus and show them the love that they deserve? Please consider what you can do to make a difference in the lives of these children. If you do not feel that adoption is the right choice for your family, please be aware that the need for foster homes is ENORMOUS. There is such a need for safe homes for the children who are temporarily in foster care, are waiting to become available for adoption, or are already available for adoption but have not yet found their family. They all need somewhere safe to stay while they wait.


Some facts to consider...... What happens to the children?

"Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us."

James 1:27

Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

Isaiah 1:17

Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes my Father who sent me.

Matthew 9:37

A father to the fatherless…is God in his holy dwelling…God sets the lonely in families…

Psalm 68.5-6

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father.

Romans 8:15

There are many more, I encourage you to look them up. To see for yourself how God feels about the fatherless