An article from the Houston Chronicle online provided a great window into one local expression of Orphan Sunday. The article, Local Christian Group Promotes Adoption, Orphan Care, both Locally and Internationally, highlights Orphan Sunday at Houston’s First Baptist…as well as the growing movement across America and beyond. It begins:
According to the Houston Adoption Alliance there are some 17,000 children in the foster care system in Texas. 4,000 of them in the Houston area. Right now, there are 600 adoptable kids in Houston alone.
That is why last weekend the Houston Adoption Alliance, in partnership with First Baptist Church’s Legacy 685 orphan care ministry, held the local event for Orphan Sunday – an international Christian initiative meant to raise awareness of orphan care needs.
“We want to care for the orphans of Harris County and around the world” said Steve Klein, president of the Houston Adoption Alliance.
Motivated by their “adoption” as children of God there are a growing number of Christians getting involved in orphan care and adoption…They see adoption as a reflection of their faith and an opportunity to reach children with the love of Christ.
As specified by Jedd Medefind, President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans. “For Christians, caring for orphans is not just a mandate. It is also mirrors the love God first showed to us. Taking care of orphans has always been part of the Christian DNA, and we see that vividly lived out today as Christians embrace adoption, foster care and global orphan initiatives.”
Locally Klein sees Orphan Sunday as a great opportunity “to raise awareness and call people to action.”
Featuring musical performances, a speaker, prayer and testimonies the local Orphan Sunday event was meant to lead individuals and families to join what Christianity Today calls a “burgeoning orphan care movement” in Evangelical Christianity.
An adoptive family tells their story through “cardboard testimony.”
“There were close to 300 people that attended. There were testimonies through video, song, a message and written on poster-board” said Klein. “The response was real, genuine and heartfelt.”
Stoked by the event, individuals and families responded by committing to adoption, fostering children and electing to go on orphan care mission trips around the world….
See the rest of the full article HERE.