Caring for orphans is a biblical mandate that more and more Christians are taking seriously, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t challenges along the way. Pastor, professor, and speaker Rick Morton, provides an update on the growing movement to care for orphans and gives helpful advice from his new book, Know Orphans: Mobilizing the Church for Global Orphanology. Morton serves as vice president of Lifeline Children’s service (www.lifelinechild.org) and has also co-authored, Orphanology: Awakening to Gospel-Centered Adoption and Orphan Care. He and his wife have three children who all came through international adoption, but suggests adoption isn’t the only answer or solution to for the orphan crisis.
He reminds us that there are many other ways we can engage the plight of orphans, such as:
- Advocating for child welfare policies
- Reunification
- Foster care within countries
- Further economic development
Morton provides examples of how churches and ministries are making a difference in caring for the orphan population around the globe, with much of the work being done at the local level where local communities and churches have taken up the task of caring for those in their midst without parents. For those who choose to adopt, he shares the best advice he’s received while in the process by reminding parents that “bringing your adopted child home is not the finish line”.
God’s heart for orphans and his character as an adoptive father are undeniable. “God has always had an agenda of showing who He is, and what He has done through Christ-by caring for the vulnerable”. Listen as we celebrate what’s been accomplished and what still needs to be done.
