Orphan Sunday

Yesterday was "Orphan Sunday". A day that CAFO (Christian Alliance For Orphans) helped establish to mobilize Christians and the Church to engage the biblical call to care for and look after the orphan. Often times because of the magnitude of "needs" that those who have been orphaned face, we tend to think that adoption is orphan care. While certainly adoption is a significant way to care for and look after the orphan, I was reminded again yesterday of the vast spectrum of ways orphan care happens. I must admit that in being on this journey of adoption it has been easy to slip back into that mindset that only thinks of orphan care in connection with adoption. The reality is that we (Abbie and I) have been involved in orphan care for well over 10 years... most of which had nothing to do with adoption. We have housed kids and been a part of the ministry of the African Children's Choir as they tour the US and raise funds for their ministry. We have participated in missions trip to a variety of places such as Mexico, Bolivia, Kenya, and yes even Haiti; on which we had opportunities to love and encourage kids who had been orphaned. We sponsor two children through CGA (Christ's Gift Academy) in Kenya; and though neither of our sponsor kids are orphans, our partnership with the school and the family of Pendo & Haiba, we are a part of the lives of the hundreds of orphans impacted by the ministry there. You see, there are so many ways we can be "a part" of how God is touching the lives of orphans. There are vast and far reaching, almost endless, ways you can care for the orphan. Our encouragement to you is not that we think you should adopt (although we certainly would encourage you to prayerfully consider it and keep the option open should the Lord desire to ask you to do so), but rather that you should find what you can do and begin to do it.

All of this was brought to heart yesterday by this post on instagram ...