After Together for Adoption

So, we went, we listened, we prayed, we cried, we prayed, worshiped, we asked a million questions, prayed, checked out some things, met some people, had great fellowship, prayed, asked more questions. We came home tired, sad, hopeful, convicted and full of faith and yet unsure of the future. We came home completely convinced we are to take action and yet not convinced we know what that will look like. We haven't stopped talking about it and we are thinking even more!

There are 163 MILLION orphans in the world! The number is growing exponentially due to HIV/AIDS. The cycle will continue unless the church steps up and rescues the fatherless. It is the church who is supposed to care for these. God is passionate about the fatherless. Look at these scriptures

Ex 22:22 "You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child."

Deut 10:18 ""He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.

Deut 14:29 "And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do."

Deut 26:12 "“When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, giving it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your towns and be filled,"

Ps 68:5 " Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation."

Ps 82:3 "Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute."

Ps 146:9 "The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin."

James 1:27 "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."

He is passionate about the fatherless, we must take what God is passionate about and make it our pursuit. That does not mean that I think every christian is to adopt a child or two. I think some will be called to adopt. Some will be called to provide finances, some will be called to pray, some will be called to babysit while an adoption family gets training or has to travel, some will serve as an advocate, some will foster children, the list goes on and on. We will all have different functions, but in all honesty I don't think anyone of us can sit out. This is not a preference like schooling choices, sports vs. music or what kind of church we attend. All believers are called to care for orphans. James makes it very clear.

I realize that I have just return for a weekend where all I heard about was how the church can care for orphans, but God actually began speaking and stirring my heart about this last year. The conference only confirmed what the Spirit has been leading us in.

For us personally, we are open to anything. We will pursue a home study just to be prepared. It breaks our heart that kids age out of our U.S. foster system and have no where to go on their birthday. This is in America, not some far away land. So, we wonder if we should rescue those who will soon be alone and destitute. Fred was very intrigued by Tom Davis and with The Abba Fund Ministry. We both feel drawn to serve with Every Orphan's Hope, a locally based ministry that cares for orphans in Zambia. I just want to do something. I can be tempted to think we are older and have missed our chance to make a difference, but I think that is a lie the enemy would love for me to believe and stay in. Lies can paralyze us. I must hear the truth and act on it. We must face this issue and respond how the Lord leads us. Most of all, we must bring the Gospel to the least of these. To meet their physical needs and not share the Gospel is wrong, Jesus Christ is the only hope for all of us. I am not the answer to the orphan crisis, Jesus is. He is enough!