So what I have come up with is this: I trust Family Life and Focus on the Family and they have a combined organization with Shaohannah’s Hope . They have a website here at thevoiceoftheorphan.org where they list their trusted ORPHAN CARE ORGANIZATIONS in their directory. (Also, in their directory they have listed Adoption Organizations, Foster Care Organizations, Church Orphans Organizations, and Advocacy and Awareness Organizations.) I think it is a good place to start!
Here is more about "the Cry of the Orphan" (copied from their site) :
About Us
The 2008 Cry of the Orphan Awareness Campaign marks the third annual unified campaign to heighten awareness of the plight of the 130 million orphans around the world. The scope of this problem is too big for any one person or organization to solve. In the midst of this crisis, organizations from around the world are joining forces to make a difference.
The Cry of the Orphan campaign is sponsored by Hope for Orphans (a ministry of FamilyLife), Shaohannah’s Hope, and Focus on the Family. Together, we desire to communicate that “YOU are God’s Plan for the Orphan” – each of us with our own role to play in caring for His children.
| | Hope for Orphans (a ministry of FamilyLife) - FamilyLife’s Hope for Orphans has been committed to serve churches as they serve the orphan since its inception in 2003. We equip and encourage churches and individuals who desire to respond to God’s call to meet the needs of orphans worldwide. Hope for Orphans is not an adoption agency or a relief organization but rather a “connecting resource” for churches and families.
| |
Shaohannah’s Hope – Our mission is to care for orphans by engaging the church and helping Christian families reduce the financial barrier to adoption. We are dedicated to helping prospective adoptive parents overcome the financial barriers associated with adoption. We accomplish this by awarding financial grants to qualified families already in the process of adopting. The size of the grant awarded is determined by several factors, the most important being need.
| ||
| Focus on the Family – We believe that every child deserves to know the love of a forever family. Therefore, our goal is to raise awareness of and recruit families for the 127,000 children waiting in US foster care for adoptive families. Our awareness and recruiting efforts are complemented by post-placement resources for adoptive families. These resources also provide practical ways for churches and individuals to support the adoptive families in their communities. |
It is an amazing website with so much information and inspiration...I would really love it if you all would check it out!
Also, I would also like to tell you about 2 organizations we have first hand experience with, that we trust and support wholeheartedly. One is mentioned below; LifeSongForOrphans.org (which is also one of the Orphan Care Organizations listed on the previously mentioned website) they helped us and many others with matching grants to help adopt our children, and the second is Kentucky Adoption Services. They were our agency we used for Mateo's adoption, and we love their hearts for orphans- they (Lucy) are tiredlessly fighting for God's children! Here is an excerpt from their mission statement:
Kentucky Adoption Services, Inc. is a Christian adoption agency that believes in the innate worth of every individual child and seeks to assist the children of the world by helping build families through adoption and providing humanitarian aide to children in need. It is this agency's firm belief that every child has a right to grow up in a family where he or she is loved, nurtured, protected and appreciated for his or her unique individuality.
The purpose of this agency is to assist children by preparing adoptive families, recruiting adoptive families and assisting with the completion of adoptions worldwide, as well to provide humanitarian aid to institutionalized children and to children at risk of becoming institutionalized.
The purpose of this agency is to assist children by preparing adoptive families, recruiting adoptive families and assisting with the completion of adoptions worldwide, as well to provide humanitarian aid to institutionalized children and to children at risk of becoming institutionalized.
Please prayerfully consider helping one of these organizations, who are providing in every way that they can for these children!
As for other ideas on how to help the orphan (not just through adoption), this is an amazing poster (that you can download as a pdf here or read most of at the link below) that is full of ideas. It is a great one to share with others! I have outlined it for you below. (Mostly cut and paste below)
10 Ways Every Christian Can Care for the Orphan and Waiting Child
FamilyLife and Hope for Orphans do not necessarily endorse these websites or the organizations they represent. Websites are listed for informational purposes only.
Except where noted, Scripture is taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Where identified NIV, Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. COPYRIGHT © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
For more information
please visit HopeForOrphans.org
or call 1-800-FL-TODAY (1-800-358-6329).
1. PRAY for them...Tape a waiting child’s picture to your dashboard and pray for the child every time you’re in your car. Visit AdoptUsKids.org or RainbowKids.com.
Organize an evening prayer vigil at your church and pray for children in foster care or in an orphanage overseas.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock,
and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives,
and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
—Matthew 7:7-8
and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives,
and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
—Matthew 7:7-8
“I had been in many prayer groups interceding for the things of
God, but that night I was surrounded by people who have never
been involved in praying as a group. And what touched me was
the move of God upon this group as they wept and cried out for
the foster care children, workers, and others involved! Truly
humbling!”
God, but that night I was surrounded by people who have never
been involved in praying as a group. And what touched me was
the move of God upon this group as they wept and cried out for
the foster care children, workers, and others involved! Truly
humbling!”
Carry a waiting child’s picture and show it to other believers. Ask if they, or someone they know, would give this child a home.
Become a court appointed special advocate for a child in foster care. Visit NationalCASA.org for details.
Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the
unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend
the rights of the afflicted and needy. —Proverbs 31:8-9
unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend
the rights of the afflicted and needy. —Proverbs 31:8-9
“I didn’t think a whole lot of it at the time. I received an email
about a teenage girl from Ethiopia who needed an adoptive
home right away. I forwarded it on to some good friends
who forwarded it one more time to some friends of theirs.
That’s all it took. That young woman now has a forever
family. Who would have thought speaking up for an orphan
could be as easy as hitting the forward button?”
about a teenage girl from Ethiopia who needed an adoptive
home right away. I forwarded it on to some good friends
who forwarded it one more time to some friends of theirs.
That’s all it took. That young woman now has a forever
family. Who would have thought speaking up for an orphan
could be as easy as hitting the forward button?”
3. PROVIDE for their needs...
Give sacrificially to a reputable orphanage. Financial gifts can be designated for specific items and aid needed by orphans. Visit HelpOrphans.org for more information.
Organize a drive in your church to collect school supplies for children in foster care or shoes for orphans overseas. Visit GainUSA.org or ShoesForOrphanSouls.org.
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,”
and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body,
what use is that?
—James 2:15-16
and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,”
and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body,
what use is that?
—James 2:15-16
“I looked up and there was the boy with a missing smile … He
extended his hands to me, his burned brown hands. I took my
wipe and cleaned each of his precious palms … The language
barrier crumbled as I was just a mom caring for a boy’s hands
the way they should be cared for. It wasn’t the shoes, or the
toy or candy … it was a simple act of love, and the boy who lost
his smile, found it. He hugged me tight and called me Amiga …
friend. The smile he gave me was more precious than any gift I
had offered him … I had been transformed by an orphan; I was
conquered by a smile.”
extended his hands to me, his burned brown hands. I took my
wipe and cleaned each of his precious palms … The language
barrier crumbled as I was just a mom caring for a boy’s hands
the way they should be cared for. It wasn’t the shoes, or the
toy or candy … it was a simple act of love, and the boy who lost
his smile, found it. He hugged me tight and called me Amiga …
friend. The smile he gave me was more precious than any gift I
had offered him … I had been transformed by an orphan; I was
conquered by a smile.”
4. SUPPORT those who support them...
Mow, baby sit, or organize meals for a week for foster parents. Pray with them and tell them you appreciate what they do.
Encourage a family adopting an older child by hosting a shower for them.
… and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and
good deeds … —Hebrews 10:24
good deeds … —Hebrews 10:24
“We were expecting a baby, but when our foster agency called
us about a six-year-old instead, we felt we just couldn’t say no.
We agreed to take her into our home, but we found ourselves in
need of several items. A friend from our Sunday school class
passed around a list of our needs, and within days, we had a
new bed, linens, a dresser, and other items we needed for our
new daughter.”
us about a six-year-old instead, we felt we just couldn’t say no.
We agreed to take her into our home, but we found ourselves in
need of several items. A friend from our Sunday school class
passed around a list of our needs, and within days, we had a
new bed, linens, a dresser, and other items we needed for our
new daughter.”
5. PROTECT them from harm...
Become a foster parent or emergency foster parent.
Raise money to build a children’s home to help remove children from the streets. Visit WorldOrphans.org for details.
The Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless
and the widow, but He thwarts the way of the wicked.
—Psalm 146:9
and the widow, but He thwarts the way of the wicked.
—Psalm 146:9
Sam and Janet have fostered many children over the last
decade. In one emergency placement, they agreed to take
in Duane, who’d been abused. One day, while playing,
Duane followed Janet into the laundry room. As she poured
the bleach into the machine, Duane ran away, screaming,
“Please don’t put bleach in my eyes. I haven’t been a bad
boy!” Janet wrapped Duane in her arms, assuring him he
was safe now.
6. VISIT them where they are...decade. In one emergency placement, they agreed to take
in Duane, who’d been abused. One day, while playing,
Duane followed Janet into the laundry room. As she poured
the bleach into the machine, Duane ran away, screaming,
“Please don’t put bleach in my eyes. I haven’t been a bad
boy!” Janet wrapped Duane in her arms, assuring him he
was safe now.
Go on a mission trip to an orphanage as an individual or family. Visit GainUSA.org or HelpOrphans.org for information.
Take dinner to a foster group-home on a regular basis.
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is
this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep
oneself unstained by the world. —James 1 :27
this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep
oneself unstained by the world. —James 1 :27
“As we turned to leave the orphanage, one of the boys had asked
to address our entire group. Smiling, 15-year-old Israel said,
‘Thank you so much for bringing us the candy, the Bibles …
thank you for playing games with us and telling us about Jesus.
Please don’t forget us. Please come back.’ And then, after a
silence, with tears in his eyes, he spoke one more time. The
translator, through her own tears, told us Israel’s words, ‘Today
was the best day of my life.’”
7. GIVE sacrificially to them...to address our entire group. Smiling, 15-year-old Israel said,
‘Thank you so much for bringing us the candy, the Bibles …
thank you for playing games with us and telling us about Jesus.
Please don’t forget us. Please come back.’ And then, after a
silence, with tears in his eyes, he spoke one more time. The
translator, through her own tears, told us Israel’s words, ‘Today
was the best day of my life.’”
Support reputable orphan care organizations on an ongoing basis.
Contribute generously to an adoptive family to help offset their costs. Visit ShaohannahsHope.org or LifeSongForOrphans.org. (this is one way that we have been so blessed with our adoption of Mateo! We received a matching grant from Life Song for Orphans (previously named Life International) and our friends, family, and church gave sacrificially to help us bring Mateo home! Just imagine if everyone who had the desire to bring a child home to be family never had to wonder how they were going to afford it!)
Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not
grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful
giver. —2 Corinthians 9:7
Eight-year-old Alex of Uganda lost his parents to AIDS at an
early age. Before long, God provided for him and more than
fifty of his brothers, sisters, and cousins, through a ministry
called Ugandan Lambs at Grace Brethren Church in Long Beach,
California. When a congenital heart defect was discovered, his
sponsor raised over $15,000 from the church and community,
more than double the amount needed to pay for the surgery that
has now saved his life. One young boy even gave money he had
held onto for over a year since his grandfather had given to him.
grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful
giver. —2 Corinthians 9:7
Eight-year-old Alex of Uganda lost his parents to AIDS at an
early age. Before long, God provided for him and more than
fifty of his brothers, sisters, and cousins, through a ministry
called Ugandan Lambs at Grace Brethren Church in Long Beach,
California. When a congenital heart defect was discovered, his
sponsor raised over $15,000 from the church and community,
more than double the amount needed to pay for the surgery that
has now saved his life. One young boy even gave money he had
held onto for over a year since his grandfather had given to him.
8. ENCOURAGE them to press on...
Sponsor a child, support them financially, and encourage them through your letters. Visit VisionTrust.org to learn more.
Become a mentor or tutor to a teenager in a foster group-home.
We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage
the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with
everyone. —1 Thessalonians 5:14
“We met Kent while working as house parents at a children’s
home, but he soon aged out of the system. Not wanting him
to be without support, our family celebrates his birthdays
with him and invites him over on holidays. We talk once a
week, encouraging him, and sometimes providing the tough
answers he needs. For four years now, God has used Kent to
refine our hearts and to encourage us as our children have
seen and learned how to reach out to and love others as
Jesus calls us to do.”
9. ADOPT them into your family...the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with
everyone. —1 Thessalonians 5:14
“We met Kent while working as house parents at a children’s
home, but he soon aged out of the system. Not wanting him
to be without support, our family celebrates his birthdays
with him and invites him over on holidays. We talk once a
week, encouraging him, and sometimes providing the tough
answers he needs. For four years now, God has used Kent to
refine our hearts and to encourage us as our children have
seen and learned how to reach out to and love others as
Jesus calls us to do.”
Give a child a home through international, domestic, or foster care adoption.
Adopt a young adult who has aged out of the foster care system.
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy
dwelling. God sets the lonely in families … —Psalm 68:5-6a NIV
“It was a typical evening dinner with my family. Kilyan, my twoyear-
old son that we had recently adopted, sat across from me
in the chair he’d claimed for months since our return from China.
Tonight, though, he looked up at me with his huge grin and said,
‘You’re my daddy.’ Looking back through tear-filled eyes I could
only whisper, ‘Yes I am.’”
dwelling. God sets the lonely in families … —Psalm 68:5-6a NIV
“It was a typical evening dinner with my family. Kilyan, my twoyear-
old son that we had recently adopted, sat across from me
in the chair he’d claimed for months since our return from China.
Tonight, though, he looked up at me with his huge grin and said,
‘You’re my daddy.’ Looking back through tear-filled eyes I could
only whisper, ‘Yes I am.’”
10. MOBILIZE your church for them...
Be a catalyst in your church for starting a sustained orphans ministry. Visit HopeForOrphans.org for resources and to learn
more about attending a Your Church and the Orphan Workshop.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you … —Matthew 28:18-20
Irene grew tired of reading the stories of abuse and neglect
among the foster children of South Florida. She began
knocking on doors, trying to find anyone who would listen. Her
persistence paid off when she reached the pastor of Calvary
Chapel, Fort Lauderdale, who took a huge leap of faith. Now, a
few years later, 4Kids of South Florida has grown into a ministry
that has blessed thousands of children through adoption, foster
care, mentoring, and more.
in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you … —Matthew 28:18-20
Irene grew tired of reading the stories of abuse and neglect
among the foster children of South Florida. She began
knocking on doors, trying to find anyone who would listen. Her
persistence paid off when she reached the pastor of Calvary
Chapel, Fort Lauderdale, who took a huge leap of faith. Now, a
few years later, 4Kids of South Florida has grown into a ministry
that has blessed thousands of children through adoption, foster
care, mentoring, and more.
The Family Room ezine - May 2008 - FamilyLife.com
10 Ideas: Ministering to Orphans - FamilyLife’s Hope for Orphans
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