National Adoption Month Reminds Us there's "a half-million kids in our own backyard…"
"Currently, more than 500,000 children are living in foster care in the United States…"
In the book of James 1:27 it says, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble…" Obviously, taking care of the little ones who have no father or mother is extremely important to the Lord. And we don't have to look very far to find them. As Focus on the Family President, Jim Daly, says, there are "a half million kids in our own backyard." That is probably true no matter where you live in the world.
November is National Adoption Month, and while not everyone is in a place to adopt or be a foster parent to a child (although some are); there are ways each one of us can help them.
I'm reminded of one person's simple idea (that I read about once in Guideposts) which became a ministry when she realized that the foster children in her area—who were often moved from home to home—had nothing permanent to call their own. She started an effort to supply these children with a nice suitcase that they could customize and take with them wherever they went.
Little things can make a difference.
Below is a message from Mr. Daly regarding ways that you can help communicate the love of God to orphans in YOUR backyard.
From the beginning, God's plan was for children to remain safely in the homes of their families, experiencing His love through nurturing parents.
However, we live in a broken and hurting world.
Currently, more than 500,000 children are living in foster care in the United States.
Of those, approximately 127,000 are "legal orphans" and are waiting for forever adoptive families. Where will these precious children grow up? Will they experience God's love, or will they receive little more than basic care, constrained to cope on their own when they reach 18?
For the third straight year, Focus on the Family®, FamilyLife®, Shaohannah's Hope, and others are joining voices to share the good news that God has a plan for the more than 127,000 legal orphans in foster care and the 130 million orphans living in our world...and His plan is you.
Take a few minutes today and pray for these little ones that God loves so dearly. Pray also that you will be open to God's leading. Now visit CryOfTheOrphan.org—and click on "Get Involved" to receive a personalized list of resources and ways to help based on your interests. Become a part of God's plan for the orphan today.
Be sure to tune in to a week of very special radio broadcasts on Focus on the Family and FamilyLife the week of November 17-21.
Join the millions of Believers whose lives have been transformed by caring for the least of these. - Jim Daly/President and CEO Focus on the Family
