Orphan Care – Part 3 Is it really needed?

             As I had said all along I am kind of new to the need for orphan care around the world.  It seems to me like I know lots of people who have adopted or who are on a waiting list to adopt.  If there is a huge need how come it is so hard to find a child to adopt?  In 2012 in the United States there were 8,668 international adoptions this is down from 22,991 in 2004. ^LINK  There is even a larger number of children adopted from foster care in our country every year, about 52,000 in 2010. ^LINK

These Adoption statistics are all great numbers, but the number of orphans around the world is increasing every day.  It is estimated that there are 42,000 new orphans per day; that is 29 per minute! ^LINK  If you do the math you will figure out that adoption just scratches the surface and the problem is HUGE! The need is overwelming... But, the cost of adoption and the regulations surround adoption make this solution an impossible option.  It is a very good option, but there will always be more children in need of a homes than homes avaible for children.  That is where ministries like Rancho Ebenezer become very valuable. 

 In many other countries there are many things, illness, wars, displacement, and extreme poverty affecting what it means to be an orphan.  Just like in the United States, there are many kids that are adopted out of foster care that may have at least one living parent, but for many reasons their parents can no longer care for the children.  UNICEF counts children as orphans in developing countries when at least one parent has died and it is difficult to raise a family without the help of their spouse.  So many kids are considered orphans because they no longer have suitable parental care but, they still have connections to their community.  Which means orphan care has to be done near their home in order to maintain their ties to their community.

Now if we look back at what God wants for His people in the Bible (read earlier blogs: Orphan Care 1&2), He wants His people to be a father to the fatherless.  This really throws the doors open and we realize what a blessing we can be if we respond to God’s vision for our lives.  Why do I say this?  In America we have an epidemic of fatherlessness, about a third of all children live in Fatherless homes! ^LINK  This problem gives us an opportunity to serve children.  It is unfortunate that the reality is that many people are working hard at exploiting these children.

 What I want you to understand is my family is called to serve the fatherless children in Honduras.  But, there are many opportunities for others to serve here in our country.   As Jen and I look back over our years of ministry one thing stands out, God has called us to serve the fatherless, only now it's the fatherless that are in Honduras.  Maybe your home town is your mission field?

             God wanted His people to be a blessing to others; in His wisdom He pointed people in the direction of the Fatherless.  Because of death, illness, poverty and sin, He understood this need would always be in our world.  He has helped His people be a blessing to the world by guiding our lives into the path of children who are in much need of help. 

Do I believe we will solve the issue of fatherless in our World?  No…  But it does not mean we cannot work to impact those in our community.   I would rather be able to impact one child at a time than attempt to solve all the world’s problems, and miss the one child I could have blessed.   Is there a fatherless child you can bless today?