Today is Orphan Sunday.
Many churches around North America choose this day to bring awareness to the enormous global Orphan Crisis.
There are numerous ways that one can help those who wait for families (at least 98 million, although the numbers have been tabulated into the 200 million range by some).
So many options:
-
befriend a foster child, family or foster parent group in your community
-
give financially or in kind
-
sponsor children abroad
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help a family bring home their child
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adopt a child and give them a place to call their forever home
So many ways.
One other way that is not often mentioned directly is all of the behind the scenes work of a secret army of tireless men and women.
They do not hold earthly weapons.
They do not always congregate in companies and legions.
But they do daily storm the gates of Heaven for those that wait,
the Orphan.
To many of us, the Orphan is a faceless, nameless blur.
A Concept.
An Abstract Idea.
And then sometimes, Someone, a Face, will cross their paths and suddenly that Warrior Heart rises up and we can do nothing but rally and plead for that One.
That Orphan.
That Child.
These warriors sometimes are seen.
And sometimes they are not.
Sometimes they share their passion with others and let them know that the need is great.
And sometimes they quietly interceed for that Child.
Until Heaven moves.
And that child waits no more.
My son was that One.
He was abandoned.
Placed.
At the gates of a rural civil affairs office.
And then he was Found.
Taken into the care of a Foster Grandmother.
After 18 months, the Director found a new place for him.
A New Day had come.
His photo was posted online.
And many of those same Warriors began to rise up.
Across an ocean Hearts of a Family began to be stirred.
And another Battle was won.
Our Son would wait no more.
So today, on Orphan Sunday, I ask that you consider the ideas to help that I posted above.
But perhaps more so, I ask you to rise up alongside these quiet Warriors.
Join them and fight.
Plead.
Pray.
Trust.
But do not forget.
Until the One who waits,
becomes None.
Once our eyes are opened, we can not pretend we do not know what to do.
God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act.
Proverbs 24:12
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May I, with {MUCH} gratitude, share with you just a few folks off of the long list of Samuel’s Warriors?
These are just a few of the ones that have public blogs.
They have invested finances, time, prayer and much heart in advocating for our little man.
Will you say a pray of thanksgiving for each of them and the many who have contacted us?
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Photos courtesy of a very kind former volunteer from ND. 🙂
(Samuel was trying his best to sport the ever present “V” sign with his little fingers.)
Amen and amen!