[This entry follows a sermon preached at Gray Road Baptist Church, titled "Important Questions About Orphan Care". Click on the title to listen to the audio.]
Yesterday was Orphan Sunday, so it was appropriate to preach on orphan care. In two weeks, the congregation I serve will be taking a special offering, part of which will be used to begin intentionally promoting and supporting orphan care. So, it was doubly appropriate to preach on orphan care. I won't go through all that was said in the sermon...that's what the audio is for.
What I want to do here is supply you with a few resources to help you think more our charge to care for orphans as believers. First, I want to recommend a book. It is called Adopted for Life by Russell Moore. The book is not a theological treatise on adoption...the author says so in the introduction. However, it is a powerful book about adoption...specifically about the distinctly Christian nature of adoption. Moore also deals with a wide variety of issues surrounding adoption. Whether you are considering adopting or just want to better support those who do, you will benefit from Russell Moore's knowledge as a theologian, his experience in adopting two boys from Russia, and his passionate heart for the orphan. You can order the book here.
In addition to this book, I want to pass along four others that are recommended by Jedd Medefind, president of the Christian Alliance for Orphans. I have not personally read them yet, bu I think they'll be worth your time. If you want to order any of these books, just click on the title. First, he recommends The Connected Child by Karyn Purvis, David Cross, and Wendy Lyons Sunshine. This book is particularly geared for those who adopt children from different cultures/countries, with physical/emotional needs, or from troubled backgrounds. Another recommendation is There is No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene. This book "opens unforgettable windows into the plight of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS."
The third book from Medefind's recommendations is Fields of the Fatherless by Tom Davis. "Davis paints a simple yet powerful picture of what it looks like when Christians come to share God's passion for orphans"...including practical steps to getting involved. One final recommendation from Medefind is The One Factor by Doug Sauder, and it includes real stories of children in foster care. We may be overly familiar with the idea that one person can make a big difference, but Sauder turns this "tired adage" into a "vibrant, vivifying confidence."
Now that I'm done recommending books, another resource I want to share is a website: http://www.togetherforadoption.org/. This is a fantastic site with all kinds of information to keep the orphan's need and our responsibility in front of us. Take some time to check it out, make it one of your favorites, and go back often!
The last resource I want to share is a video. It lasts about five minutes, and it is from John Piper. It's called "Adoption is Greater than the Universe." Piper uses Ephesians 1 to justify making this kind of strong statement. I hope you are encouraged by it!
