Orphan Care

My wife and I went to an adoption conference a few weeks ago as I wanted to investigate what an Orphan Care Ministry could look like at County Line Church. This was my first time at such a conference, so I really didn't know what to expect. However, I came away with some information and ideas that I think can help the local church in caring for orphans. Here are some of the things I learned:

• There are 153 million orphans in the world. 
• Approximately 17 million are "double" orphans as both parents are deceased. 
• About the same number, 17 million, are adoptable for a variety of reasons. 
• Several other factors such as HIV/Aids, human trafficking, and poverty are all causes that separate parents from their children.
• Adoption is only one of the answers to ending the the orphan crisis.
• There are many agencies that can provide information and help parents discern if and how they can adopt. Loving Shepherd Ministries is a great organization that will help families get started in the right direction. 
• Foster Care and preventative programs, such as Safe Families, are other avenues besides adoption.
• The local church can serve in many ways, either directly or indirectly.
• • They can start an Adoption Fund with Lifesong for Orphans. 
  • Raise awareness through Orphan Sunday and other events. 
  • Partner with an orphanage such as Village of Hope in Guatemala or New Hope Uganda.
  • Host an Adoption/Orphan Care Conference.
  • Collect and study resources such as Stuck, Orphan Justice, The Global Orphan Crisis, and Giving Wisely.

For the first time ever, County Line Church will be conducting an Orphan Care Sunday. This is a first step towards becoming engaged and creating an Orphan Care Ministry. We will be highlighting families within the church who have been impacted by adoption, providing resources from local agencies, opportunities to sponsor a child from New Hope Uganda, and providing a Beans & Rice Meal to raise awareness for Village of Hope Guatemala. 

County Line Church is committed to be engaged in the fight against children becoming orphans. It can seem like a daunting task, however we can't just sit on the sidelines and allow this to continue. We must become informed, engage in something, and work together. 

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