Sunday, July 20, 2008

Submerged in Grace

So something exciting happened to me today...Jody, another woman from church and I "unofficially" launched an "orphan ministry" at church today. So many quotation marks, such a small sentence, I know. It's unofficial because it's organic, it's a brainchild of us, it's without knowledge or consent from the church leaders. "Orphan ministry" because it doesn't have an official name but at it's best that's what it will look like, a group of people ministering to orphans.

Jody and I had started this ragamuffin group of fellow adoptive/foster parent people many months ago as a place to 1) get support for the process and 2) minister to orphans. For better or worse we dropped the second and dwelled, perhaps too much, on the first. I was getting too frustrated with that as, you'll notice from my blogs, I'm no longer okay with the plight of the orphans just because I brought one home. I've been submerged in Grace and I want to submerge the people who God holds near and dear.

Which brings me to...did you know God mentions the orphans, widows and strangers 60 times in the Bible. Wowsa. God is described as, "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity. " Psalm 68: 5-6

So our "orphan ministry" has a "mission statement" (now I'm just getting carried away) of sorts. It's James 1:27: "Pure and faultless religion is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..."

You know what's disturbing? I just came across this statistic. There are more than 70 million orphans in the world. At least 35,000 children under the age of five die every day as a result of malnutrition or starvation, and there are at least one million children currently suffering under the oppression of forced prostitution. At least 100 million children are involved in child labor, and 1.5 million children are currently infected with AIDS.

What's MORE disturbing? "A 2001 Barna Research Group poll revealed that evangelical Christians are less likely than are non-Christians to give money and assistance to AIDS-related causes. Only 3% of evangelicals say they plan to help with AIDS internationally as opposed to 8% of non-Christians. This is only one example of how Christians have let down in their love for the unlovely." Fields of the Fatherles, C. Thomas Davis.

Not one of those people stirred by statistics? How about this:

He was one of those statistics 4 months ago.



So was he.



And of course she did not know the words for mother or father but now not only knows the words, but the feeling, and the smell and the comfort of those powerful words.



I am so excited about this. My personality has always been what some might call "strong" when I get an itch...it's tough to get it scratched and I hesitate to even slow down. But I know God's timing is perfect and I pray we can reach even just one child, whether one across the world or here at home who did not know love but will find it in God's eternal Grace.

Stay tuned for my next post on what our first "activity" (I just haad to) will be and how you can help!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

That sounds so exciting. I know that for myself, as I find out more about what is happening here and in other countries, I have a hard time balancing my passion for orphans and children in need and being a mom to the ones I have because this passion just starts to be all-consuming once your eyes are opened. One of the statistics that I read (don't know about the accuracy) is that if one out of every 7 Christian families adopted one child each, there would be no more orphans in the entire world. How incredibly sad that we are so far from that goal. Anyway, sorry to rattle on but I think it's great that you are organizing something.

Cindy said...

Tesi!
I admire you and Jody for doing this! This is a goal of mine and my husband's - to begin an "Orphan ministry". It may be a "personal ministry of ours, or Lord willing, our church will "jump on board" and support us in this. Either way, it's something that the Lord has placed on our hearts as well. I think it's wonderful that you guys are doing this! I will pray for God's blessing upon your ministry.

Erica Jo (mamasweetpea) said...

I am so intrigued by this...after sitting in church on Sunday and feeling a good ole kick int he but to start an adoption ministry in our church/ community! Hope to learn much more about what you are thinking!

Anonymous said...

I am so glad that our group is taking this direction - great idea Tesi! One question though...how are we having people submit donations? I already have several people waiting in the wings while I find out...

Cindy said...

Just thinking Tesi - if you wanted - you know of adoptive families all over the US - and you could have your ministry branch out to these families, and their communities and churches.
Of course, i dont know what you are doing, but just a thought. It could be a nation-wide ministry with you guys running it.
I would certainly be on board with something like that!