As Christians, we often talk about caring for orphans and widows. At Christmastime we fill shoeboxes with toys for children in other countries. We bring the baby blankets we no longer need to group homes for women fleeing abusive relationships. We frequently send thoughts and prayers to the wives of fallen soldiers. All of these actions are noble things to do, appreciated by the people they help, and part of fulfilling God’s calling to care for others.
But often, the ways we choose to help are those that fit into the way we want to live our lives and keep us securely in our comfort zones. We love to share pictures of adorable orphans online with captions of their heart-wrenching stories, but how often do we spend time actually advocating for them? How often do we open our homes to foster children, or befriend people who are doing so? Caring for the fatherless is easy until the fatherless is the toddler who won’t stop screaming in the grocery store while their mother is seemingly oblivious. It’s easy until it’s the child in Sunday School who tests your patience week after week. Until it’s the neighbor child who comes to your house, eats all your food, and teaches bad words to your kids.
One of the consequences of sin is that our earth is stuck in a cycle of hurt and brokenness and bitterness. 21.5% of former foster youth have diagnosed PTSD, compared to 4.5% of the general US population. All foster youth have experienced trauma, as the mere experience of getting removed from the home has been shown to be traumatic. Trauma and PTSD have a significantly negative affect a child’s learning, behavioral conduct, and ability to form social relationships. Only about 5% of children who have been in the foster care system go on to earn a bachelor’s degree, compared to the 30% of the general US population who have achieved this. Nearly 80% of people currently incarcerated in the US have been in the foster system at some point in their childhood.
Glaring statistics like these can feel bleak. Taking action can feel overwhelming, but we have a God-given responsibility to care for vulnerable children. In Isaiah 1:17 God calls us to, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow” (NIV). Following through on this means using the time and talents that God has gifted you to reach out to those who are hard to love.
If God has specifically placed taking up the cause of the fatherless on your heart, there are many ways to follow this calling:
Consider opening your home to children through the foster care system or the Christian Safe Families program.
https://nfpaonline.org/foster
https://safe-families.org/
Mentor youth in foster care through a local group foster home or a program like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
https://www.bbbs.org/
Become a volunteer advocate for children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect while they go through the d ependency court process.
http://www.casaforchildren.org/
Financially sponsor a child through a program like World Vision.
https://www.worldvision.org/
Support policies and programs that further educational and vocational opportunities for children in foster care or in poverty.
Donate to any of these organizations or others that support foster youth in your area or globally.
Pray for the nearly 438,000 children in foster care in the United States alone. The Christian Alliance for Orphans has put out this prayer guide with examples of how to spend time in prayer for the foster system.
Most importantly, pray for the Lord to show you how He is calling you to care for those around you. Pray that He shows you the ministry opportunities in your life. Then, when He answers those prayers, take action and care for His people.
Hannah is a junior studying Social Work at Florida State University. She is passionate about about child welfare, youth ministry, and knowing her friends' enneagram numbers. Right now, God is teaching her to seek him above the approval of others. She's excited to share the truth of God's word, as well as her friends' passions through The Platform.