Lately I’ve been reading everything I possibly can on adoption and orphan care. I’m so glad that Orphan Justice by Johnny Carr was one of the very first books I read on this topic. He’s real. He’s honest. He’s sometimes “in your face.” That’s because this issue is literally in his face every day in his role as the national director of Church Partnerships at Bethany Christian Services, the largest adoption and orphan care agency in the US.
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. ~James 1:27
I know a lot of people look at the orphan situation in the world and they think, But I’m not in a place in my life where I can adopt. Honestly, you don’t have to be. There is so much that you can do to help, and that’s one of the reasons that Johnny Carr wrote Orphan Justice. Did you know that most of the 153 million orphaned and vulnerable kids in the world do not need to be adopted? They just need some help. Help that we can provide–especially when we work together.
Man has made orphanages for children, but God made the family for children. ~Johnny Carr
I love how Johnny explains the data and the current state of orphans globally today. He does it simply and thoroughly. With stories that clearly illustrate the needs, the causes, and the unfortunate attitudes that we find ourselves guilty of, I couldn’t put this book down.
When you hear stories of kids being placed with five, ten, or twenty different foster families, it’s no exaggeration. There is nothing healthy about this for a child. Unfortunately, in some cases, it’s the best the state system has to offer.” ~Johnny Carr
There are very practical ways that we can all become involved in alleviating the plight of the least of these. A few that he suggests are:
- Educate yourself.
- Build relationships with at-risk kids in your community.
- Mentor at-risk kids.
- Start a sports league or connect with one that is already in place.
- Become a foster parent.
- Get involved with organizations that are making a difference.
- Sponsor a child.
“Poverty is not necessarily an issue to solve; it is an opportunity to serve. As we go through each day, our heart’s cry should be, Lord, where would you have me give, serve, and invest myself to bring hope to the poor?” ~Orphan Justice author, Johnny Carr
If you have never read anything about orphan care, at home and overseas, I urge you to give this eye-opening book a read. Then ask God what you can do to help.
Have you read Orphan Justice? What are your thoughts? I’d love for you to share them!
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