Plan A

Last Sunday night in our orphan care support group (including parents who are fostering, adopting domestically or internationally, or mentoring children in the social welfare system), I was challenged and inspired with a couple truths...

"Orphan care is not a cause or a fad, it's a calling and a biblical mandate." -Rick Warren. I was reminded of how biblically entrenched caring for orphans is. It really isn't an add-on bonus if you are a Christian. It's a core principle. Look for yourself. Examine Scripture [Deuteronomy, Psalm, Isaiah, James, & 1 John to get you started]. Study biblical characters [Moses and Esther will get your started]. Seriously, if you're anything like me, once you start exploring Scripture with these eyes you'll wonder how you've missed it all along!

The church is God's Plan A for eliminating orphans globally. And there isn't a Plan B. God didn't come to start non-profit organizations. Those exists, thankfully, because the church hasn't been doing what she's called to do - caring for the least of these [Matthew 25]. It's a dream of mine that orphans would cease to exist in my children's generation. If the church rose to the call and invited orphans into their families, children without families would cease to exist!

God saw me and he chose to use me. When our leader, Joan, called this out I burst into tears. Who am I that God would choose to use us? I'm grateful that we agreed with him and said "yes" to his call. God sees you, too. What's he choosing to use you for in caring for orphans?
If God has really called ALL of his people to care for orphans, that means he's calling you to do something. It's not optional. How will you respond?

Orphan Sunday

I'm proud of our church for a lot of reasons a lot of the time. But I'm never more proud of our church then when we care for the least of these in the next generation. On Sunday, November 7th, I have a feeling that I will burst with pride and emotion as we take an entire day to honor, challenge, advocate for, encourage, and inspire our community to care for orphans globally through foster care and adoption.Orphan Sunday is a national day of awareness. This is the first year that Newsong is participating, and I'm gitty with excitment! "On Orphan Sunday, Christians stand for the orphan. We are a people called to defend the fatherless…to care for the child that has no family…to visit orphans in their distress.' [from their website]

If you are a part of the Newsong community, check out our new WEB PAGE for more info and resources. I know at Newsong that we are praying for MIRACLES to happen on this day. We are praying for hundreds of people to respond to the need through foster care, adoption, intentional prayer for how God would like them to respond, mentoring a child in the system, supporting those who are presenting adopting/fostering...

If you'd like more info for your community, visit Orphan Sunday's official WEB SITE.

Here's a sneak peak that will hopefully expand your heart:

Why Love Orphans? from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

The Village

Tonight I went to our church's support group for families that are adopting, fostering, or involved in caring for orphans. It's called "The Village". I love it. It reflects our value and philosophy that it will take a village to raise our 2 Ethiopian beauties. The purpose for the support group is clear and simple: "to unite, equip, and support those who are caring for children who are in foster care and orphans."

UNITE :: Though I say it's our church's support group, Newsong leaders purely host and arrange the group. Tonight there were probably 10 families and 5 churches represented. It wasn't through clever marketing that brought everyone together. It was the calling to care for orphans. AWESOME!

EQUIP :: We meet 1/month and are spending the next several months watching Dr. Karyn Purvis' video series on Empowering to Connect. Then, the plan is to read The Connected Child together and process as a group. Both resources by her rock!!!

SUPPORT :: Within 5 minutes of walking into this group of "strangers" it felt like home. Comfortable in all the right ways. Challenging to the point of discomfort. Safe. Purposeful. Emotionally intensive. Intellectually stimulating. It's the right environment for parents who are walking into the world of orphan care! It felt like a 12-step group without the steps, except maybe a shared addiction for loving kids who need a forever family.

I knew I'd found a new family when during the opening prayer I started sobbing and couldn't find a dry spot on my hands to wipe the tears. Something in my spirit opened up to these amazing men and women because of their heart for "the least of these". These are parents who are WALKING OUT THE GOSPEL in the truest form. I'm inspired by them!

If you are in Orange County and would like to join "The Village", let me know. "The Village" is an incredible environment!!!!!! If you are a Newsonger, please get ready for Orphan Sunday on November 7th. It's going to rock our worlds. My Only Prayer: that we'd be ready and say "YES!" to God's call.