Friday Little Bits: A Garbage Bag? That's Not Right!

I have handed out many copies of Tony Merida and Rick Morton's excellent book, Orphanology.   The book is a great overview of orphan care -- why we should get involved in it and how we can get involved in it.  I have now been a part of two groups who have gone through a study of the book, and Rick has personally spoken to a group of those at our church who were interested in getting involved in some aspect of orphan care.

Righteously Indignant

Of all the great examples in the book, there is one that seems to make people righteously indignant every time.  The authors tell of social workers going into homes to pick up children to remove them from dangerous situations.  When they arrive, they often hurriedly pack the children's belongings . . . in a garbage bag. 

Reading or hearing about this usually provokes a reaction somewhere between frustration and infuriation.  Not at the social worker.  Not even at the parents.  At the garbage bag.  For a child who has already been through the pain of abuse or neglect, is it too much to ask that their belongings be packed into a decent piece of luggage?  Aaarrrrggggghhh!!!

Could Do, Should Do

With all the staggering statistics about at-risk and orphaned children around the world, it is easy to be so overwhelmed that we do nothing.  But providing "dignity bags" seems to be something that people say, "We should do something about that.  We could do that."

And we should.  Psalm 139:16-17 (HCSB) says, "Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all [my] days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.  God, how difficult Your thoughts are for me [to comprehend]; how vast their sum is!"  A garbage bag doesn't reflect God's heart toward these children -- quite the opposite, in fact.  They have an enemy who will tell them for the rest of their lives that they are worthless.  Believers in Jesus Christ, we should reflect our Redeemer from the moment these children are taken from these horrible situations.  Beginning with a "dignity duffel" and continuing from there.

The Call

Through one of the foster parents in our church, we were able to make contact with our local Department of Human Services and let them know our desire to partner with them in providing these dignity bags along with some basic essentials (toiletries, diapers, etc.).  This week, I received a call from a social worker from DHS.  After a few words of introduction, she started off with these chilling words: "It's true."  They really do pack children's belongings in a garbage bag.

And we really can do something about that.  Check back here in the weeks to come to find out how.

Thanks for reading.

4theVoiceless,
Al

Friday Little Bits: 4 Ministry Updates

Hope for Haiti

Hope for Haiti continues to make progress.  Right now, through bracelet sales and contributions, we have raised $7,200 (23%) of our $35,000 goal.  Construction on the new House of Abraham has begun with work on the foundation.  Look for photos in the next few days on the Facebook page.

 

4theVoiceless Adoption Cookbook

We have received 37 recipes (9%) so far and have 363 to go.  Remember, profits from this cookbook will go toward the 4theVoiceless adoption fund to assist those adopting children.  If you haven’t submitted a recipe yet, would you please send us up to 10 of your best.  Click here for the form.
Categories:

Main Dishes
Breads
Side Dishes
Desserts
Starters/Appetizers
International Dishes
Soups/Salads
Crock Pot/Slow Cooker Recipes

Adoption Conference

I am looking forward to attending the Together for Adoption national conference near Atlanta with one of our other team members.  There are some great breakouts scheduled; we had a hard time choosing eight of them between us.  I look forward to reporting on what we learn.

Orphanology Study at CHC

Colonial Hills Church - Southaven will be offering a study of Orphanology, by Tony Merida and Rick Morton, as part of our equipping classes beginning September 26.  This is a great place to step in to orphan care ministry.  Along with many others, I have found this book to be a great blend of WHY we should do orphan care and HOW we can do orphan care.  Whether you are an attender at CHC or not, you are welcome to join us for this study on Wednesday nights at 6:30.

Thanks for reading,

Al

How Many Orphans Do You Know By Name?

How many orphans do you know by name?  That was a questions Tony Merida asked pastors and church planters at the One8 Network Boot Camp last week in his message “The Gospel and Mercy Ministry.”  What a challenging question.

Having the right theology about the marginalized (the orphan, the widow, the foreigner, and the poor) is much easier than personally serving them.  Think about these specific questions:

• The right theology says that believers are all adopted into God’s family.  But has that led us to adopt or help others adopt or personally serve orphans in any way?
• The right theology says that it is the responsibility of the church to take care of its widows.  But have we personally spent time with the widows in our churches and gotten to know them and served them where they had needs?
• The right theology says that the foreigner living among us is loved just as much by God as much as we are.  But what specific kindnesses have we personally shown those who were born in other lands and speak other languages?
• The right theology says that we should serve the poor.  But are we satisfied with meeting the physical needs of the poor by sending money but without personally getting to know them?

Do you know an orphan by name?

On the Friday night before our 4theVoiceless mission team visited one of the Baptist Children’s Village homes a couple of Saturdays ago, I asked them to consider what one of the most valuable things that each one of the children we would meet would have, something personal and unique and precious to each of them.  One of our team answered, “Their names.”  One of our main focuses during the time we were able to spend with those precious children, then, was in learning each of their names.  Everyone likes to be known.

I didn’t really consider something until just now as I was writing:  I don’t remember one time that the children asked our names.  Perhaps that’s all just as well.  We didn’t go to be known but to get to know.  We went to be the body of the Father to the fatherless. 

• God used our backs to let His kids play “horsie.”
• God used our voices and arms and legs to tell His kids of His “Marvelous Light.”
• God used our laps to take His kids down a slip ‘n slide.
• God used our hands to serve His kids lunch.
• God used our hands to draw His kids pictures on their goodie bags.

Years from now I hope those children remember their Father’s kindness, not the names of some men and boys from DeSoto County, Mississippi, for it is His kindness that leads us to repentance.  The only name they really need to remember is Jesus.

4theVoiceless doesn’t exist to be known but to know.  It’s a simple mission, really.  To know children who don’t have a loving home, wherever the Lord would lead us, and to let them know that they are personally known and loved by their Father.

Thanks for reading.  Now move toward the fatherless…personally.
Al