I Care About Orphans

When you hear the word "orphan,"
what do you think of? China? Russia? Africa?
United States?

UNICEF defines orphans as “any child under age 18 who has lost one or both parents.” But they are also the children of God because in Psalm 68.5, it says that He is “a father to the fatherless.”

Around the world are more than 130 million orphans. They are living on the streets, in train and bus stations, and often taking care of younger brothers and sisters. Here in the United States, approximately 510,000 are living in the foster care system. The majority of these children are hoping to be reunited with their parents or another family member, but 127,000 of these waiting children are hoping to be adopted. In addition, more than 20,000 teens age out of the foster care system each year. They are forced to try and make it on their own with no support or guidance.

When looking at the number of orphaned and waiting children, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. In situations like this, we often bow out before the fight begins because we already feel defeated. Jeremiah 32.27 says,

I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

We may feel like this is a problem too big for us, and, in all honesty, it is. But when the God of the universe stirs the hearts of His people to fulfill His purposes, who can stop Him?

Instead of bowing out, maybe we should try bowing down to the One who proclaims human life as holy.

Christians have a clear command to care for orphans, and there are many ways to get involved-like praying, giving, mobilizing your church, or adopting. So embrace the call, avoid the trap of thinking "someone else will help," and let's make the US a place where every orphan waiting in foster care has a family.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

www.iCareAboutOrphans.org