“…you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”” Romans 8:15b (NLT)
Christians are sometimes characterized as having “orphan fever” or “adoption obsession” in some media circles.
Essentially, the accusation (that is how it’s often phrased…) stems from the high number of Christian families and organizations that care for orphans, provide support services for young single parents, serve as foster parents, and become or help people become adoptive parents.
I hope that this characterization is actually true! Followers of Jesus are called to care not only about unborn children but also for children born into difficult circumstances…circumstances in which birth parents and/or the child need an extra measure of love & support from others.
Why should we care so much about this? Three words: because God does! Scripture is full of stories of orphans and adoption, and several stories of supernatural conception. It’s clear that the Lord encourages special effort from His people to care for orphans.
Jesus’ brother says, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows . He also says, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress…” James 1:27a (NLT). If we are religious, this is what our Heavenly Father wants our religion to be characterized by.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that every Jesus follower needs to adopt a child. That’s a very specific and special calling. However, we can all in some way care for children looking for that forever family. Just as we’ve been adopted into God’s forever family when Jesus becomes the Lord of our life, his people should be known as people that nurture forever families, in all their many shapes and sizes.
One of the ways we do this together is by supporting the Jaibon Boys Orphanage in the Dominican Republic (DR). As part of Kingsview’s projects in the DR, we have been helping to support this orphanage, which also operates as a local school just outside of Esperenza Kingsview Sponsorship Program mission teams visit the orphanage on every trip. The annual Golf & Give Tournament, created last year (2013), to support it raised $18 000 for food, clothing and medication for the boys in residence. To get involved in this ministry, join the 2014 tournament on August 7th or contact Lowell or Lois Brown for more information on how to get involved.
We don’t have to travel to the DR to support kids in these circumstances. There are also tens of thousands of children in Canada that are waiting for a forever family – physically and spiritually.
For more information on foster parenting, adoption and other child ministries, visit www.adoptontario.ca or contact a faith-based agency like Beginnings Family Services or a local Children’s Aid Society.