There's a book entitled "Orphanology" by Tony Merida and Rick Morton. I highly recommend it to anyone serious about obeying the Lord's commandment of helping the widow and orphan.
When most people hear the word orphan they think either:
a. The world is full of orphans but it is not my problem.
b. The only way to help an orphan is to adopt him/her.
But neither one of these thoughts are true.
Did you know that there are 750,000 Russian children living in institutions, and only 17% of them are actual legal orphans (where both parents are deceased). Most are social orphans for various reasons such as economic hardships, health related hardships, both parents being incarcerated, and the list goes on and on. For these kids, they hope to one day be reunited with their families, and that is the goal. Unfortunately, all too often, these goals are never reached. Many children are simply abandoned and left to age in the orphanage until they graduate around the age of 16 or 17.
The future for these institutionalized orphans is particularly bleak. They are vulnerable children released into the world to live independently when all they know is how to accept what has been handed to them. In the orphanage they had little experience with the outside world. Many spent their short lives segregated from society. They were confined to the institution for sleeping, eating, schooling, playing, and rarely had visitors. Now, on the outside, there is little opportunity for emotional support, further education, or employment. These kids are lost. They lack the life skills and support necessary for survival. Many turn to crime or prostitution to survive. Statistics show that 10% of graduated orphans will commit suicide before they reach their 18th birthday.
So, no, adoption is not the only way to help orphans. it is a wonderful way to help, but not the only way.
That is where Friends of Children comes in. Friends of Children and their workers visit orphanages monthly. They build loving friendships and offer a glimpse of hope to these kids. They take the children out into society on field trips and try to better prepare the children for the "outside" world. Best of all, they offer Christ's love to them.
Friends of children also runs the Grace Center which helps graduated orphans transition to mainstream society and provides some of their housing needs, financial needs, and material needs. They do what they can with what little they have. And when I say with what little they have, I mean very little. There are so many young people homeless, hurting, feeling hopeless, and lost. The need is great and the workers are few.
Are you ready to obey the Lord's command to help the widow and orphans? Are you willing but don't know how to start or get involved? Are you feeling the Lord's call on your heart to help, but adoption is not what he is calling you to do right now? Or ever? Then the answer is to see where the Lord is already working and to join in. Simple. As the Nike slogan says... "just do it." If you would like to join Natasha in her efforts to serve the orphans of Russia please contact Ken Dockery with Big Family Ministry and let him know you want to support Friends of Children. The harvest is great and the workers are few. Won't you come work with us? www.bigfamilyministry.org
If you are already a partner with Big Family let me say Thank you. You are making a difference!
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