Hope For Orphans article

I found this article and thought I would post it on here for future reference. I think it would be in Sunshine's good interest to get involved in orphan ministry on a larger scale that what we already do. Supporting a children's home is great but I feel Sunshine could do more and I see this being something we do in the future.

No feedback is necessary. Just something to read and think about.


HOPE FOR ORPHANS
By Shana Schutte

An article about FamilyLife's Hope For Orphans by Focus On The Family

Paul Pennington believes that loving orphans is like catching a virus. And once you've caught it, you can't help but infect someone else. Pennington, a former manager for Kraft foods, and his wife, Robin, are well acquainted with the "Orphan Love Bug." Not only did they catch it, but they adopted the kids that gave it to them. Six kids and five adoptions later, they launched Hope for Orphans, a three-year-old ministry of FamilyLife, a division of Campus Crusade for Christ. When Paul became acquainted with FamilyLife President Dennis Rainey and his wife, Barbara, he approached them about FamilyLife being their mentor to help launch their basic vision for Hope for Orphans. After several meetings, and with the passion that Dennis and Barbara had for adoption, FamilyLife ultimately adopted Hope for Orphans. The working relationship has led to a dynamic effort to encourage and educate Christians about caring for orphans and considering God's call for adoption, as mandated in scripture. "Our goal is to help 1,000 churches establish an orphan care ministry by 2010," says Pennington. The task may be huge, but is not impossible. Why? Because orphans are at the center of God's heart. James 1:27 defines caring for orphans as "pure and faultless religion." Furthermore, adoption was instituted by God. Anyone who belongs to Him has been adopted by Him.
(Ephesians 1:4-5, NIV)

New York City full of orphans?
New York City could be repopulated seven times with the number of orphans worldwide. According to Pennington, statistics show there are roughly 50-70 million orphans around the world. In the U.S. foster care system alone, 135,000 children are currently available for adoption. "Fundamentally, we believe the problem of orphans can only be helped if we get the entire church involved," says Pennington. "This Sunday, 40 million Americans will attend some 300,000 church services. This year, the total number of kids adopted from countries outside the United States will be only about 23,000. Of those 23,000, I would be surprised if more than half went to Christian families."

Churches get involved
Pennington's passion has been caught by numerous churches. In fact, last year, Hope for Orphans worked closely with 20 churches that have, or are in the process of launching, orphan care/adoption ministries. The varied approach of each church is a plus, since Hope for Orphans wants to maximize its collective knowledge to help launch effective orphan care programs. Adoption is often seen as a way to help someone else. Pennington has a refreshing perspective: "The church needs orphans as much as orphans need the church. It's not about what I get on Sunday morning. It's about being available to how God wants to use you for investing in the lives of others. And what happens when we love orphans? It reconnects us with
authentic Christianity."

How it happens
Hope for Orphans provides information by PDF download on how to start orphans ministry in your church in the resource called His Heart Our Hands. Hope for Orphans also provides a very practical introduction to a Biblical view of adoption in its Welcome Home resource (also available by PDF), and adoption education thru its If You Were Mine workshop.


Information on the above is available online at www.familylife.com.
Or you can call 1-800-FLTODAY.

Perhaps God is calling you to catch
the "Orphan Love Bug" and pass it
on.


Copyright © 2005 Focus on the Family.
All rights reserved. International copyright
secured. Used with permission.


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