The Christian Alliance for Orphans unites more than 277 respected organizations and a global network of churches in shared initiatives to grow and guide effective responses for the world’s most vulnerable children, from foster care and adoption to family strengthening and care for vulnerable children worldwide. Our vision is to see the people of God overflowing with the love of God, so that every child will experience God’s unfailing love in a thriving family.
CAFO began at a gathering of 29 Christian leaders in 2004. Although serving in diverse fields, they carried a shared sense that God desired to call His people to step up decisively for orphans and vulnerable children. They pledged to “leave logos and egos at the door” to advance this vision in shared action. Read more about the history.
Honoring our Members
CAFO unites an alliance in shared initiatives that inspire and equip God’s people to effectively care for vulnerable children and families, rooted always in Christian discipleship and the life of the local church.
CAFO membership includes non-profit organizations, churches and global networks, as well as individual membership in the Trellis. For 20 years, CAFO members have advanced a vision larger than any one organization can achieve alone.
Our approach to a Gospel-centered mission
God’s Heart and Ours
God’s Heart and Ours
God is vested, deeply and personally, in the plight of orphaned and vulnerable children – and in all who are destitute and defenseless (Deut. 10:18; Psalm 10:14; Psalm 68:5-; Isaiah 58:5-12). God calls his people to reflect His special love for these children in both word and deed (Isaiah 1:17; James 1:27; Matt. 25:40).
Responsive Love
Responsive Love
To act upon God’s call to care for orphans is not merely a matter of duty, guilt or idealism. It is first a response to the good news, the Gospel: that God, our loving Father, sought us, adopted us and invites us to live as His sons and daughters (John 1:12; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:15; 1 John 3:1). We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
Well-Informed Action
Well-Informed Action
Good intentions alone are insufficient. All care for children must be guided by both knowledge and wisdom (Proverbs 19:2; Philippians 1:9-11). In our broken world, no solution will be without flaws. Yet our aim must always be to offer the excellent care we’d desire to give Jesus himself – informed by Scripture and the best available research, knowledge and proven practice.
Commitment to the Whole Child
Commitment to the Whole Child
To meet only spiritual or only physical needs is incomplete (1 John 3:17; James 2:16; Mark 8:36). Christian love seeks to address both, just as Jesus always did. Nothing is of greater value than to know Jesus Christ and one’s identity as a child of God (Philippians 3:8). Yet even a cup of water given to a thirsty child is of eternal worth (Matthew 10:42).
Priority of Family
Priority of Family
Both Scripture and social science affirm that the best environment for children is a safe, permanent family. When this is not possible, the goal for each child should be – as a general rule – to move as far as possible along the “spectrum of care” toward permanent family. Care for children should always be safe, nurturing and as close to family as it feasible for the given situation.
Family Preservation
Family Preservation
Children that have a surviving parent, or other relatives willing to care for them, should be helped to remain within family whenever safely possible. Likewise, when families have been separated, reunification is of first priority whenever safely possible. Efforts that enable struggling families to stay together are a vital part of the Bible’s call to care for orphans and widows in distress (James 1:27).
Residential Care
Residential Care
Care within a family is our unequivocal ideal for children. Yet we also honor the devoted care and protection provided by many quality residential facilities. We further recognize that therapeutic group settings can play an essential role in the healing of children with intensive needs. We urge that new programs prioritize family-based care. We encourage existing residential programs to grow as close as feasible to the ideal of family, and to promote family-based solutions whenever possible.
Centrality of the Local Church
Centrality of the Local Church
The local church in every nation possesses both the Christian mandate and many other resources needed to care for the world’s orphans in a nurturing, relationship-rich environment. Every initiative to care for orphans should prioritize and honor the role of the local church, carefully pairing what foreign resources may be necessary with local believers willing to open their hearts and homes to orphans in their community.
Unity
Unity
Scripture overflows with calls for unity in the Body of Christ (Psalm 133; 1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:3, Colossians 3:11-15; Philippians 4:1-3). Such unity yields special strength (Ecclesiastes 4:9), welcomes the presence of Christ (Matt. 18:20) and confirms that Jesus was sent by God (John 17:20-23). Disagreements are inevitable and sometimes even necessary. Yet amidst all that strains unity, we commit to honoring each other above ourselves (Romans 12:10) – and labor in unison to see every child experience God’s unfailing love.
Together we are committed to:
Love God
Love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, seeking to grow daily as earnest disciples of Jesus Christ.
Love Our Neighbor
Love our neighbor as ourselves, seeking good for every individual as one made in God’s image and bearing profound dignity, regardless of any trait, choice or history.
Honor Scripture
Honor Scripture by holding it as our highest authority and guide against which all other claims are weighed.
Uphold and Strengthen Family
Uphold and strengthen family as God’s provision for the nurture of children, and the lifelong covenant of marriage between a father and a mother as God’s design for the stability and flourishing of families.
Respect Government
Respect government by following all laws, as long as they do not require violation of conscience, and by encouraging policies that allow people of faith to maintain their convictions as they serve others.
How it All Started
The vision for the Christian Alliance for Orphans was birthed in 2004 in Little Rock, Arkansas at the first “Orphan Summit,” where 38 Christian leaders expressed a shared sense of God’s desire to rouse His Church to care for orphans. He was calling them to “leave their logos and egos at the door” to join in unified efforts.
That first Summit was the start of an annual gathering, which quickly grew from 30 leaders in 2004 to more than 500 in just three years. Between each annual Summit gathering, a host of new partnerships would begin among CAFO members — from national media campaigns highlighting orphan issues, to data and technology gatherings, to resource-sharing among small adoption agencies. CAFO was officially incorporated in 2007, led by a working board representing many of the most respected organizations in Christian orphan care and adoption.
In 2009 CAFO hired Jedd Medefind, former Director of Faith-Based Initiatives at the White House, to lead the organized movement forward in shared initiatives. Together, these organizations and leaders would provide behind-the-scenes service, in-kind support and a force of volunteers and collaboration to fuel shared growth.
Today, more than 250 formerly competitive organizations — and a global network of churches — unite as a highly-effective coalition through CAFO, with the annual Summit drawing more than 2,000 Christian leaders in-person and another 1,800 global leaders virtually. Together, their work has made CAFO the central hub and catalyst for the Christian orphan care movement — equipping and connecting individuals, churches and community leaders for effective care for vulnerable children and families serving millions of children each year.
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