05.14.07 Christian Groups Come Together
to Care for Orphans

May 11, Colorado Springs, CO. For the third time in as many years, directors and leaders in the orphan care and adoption field gathered for a three-day conference to collaborate in moving the body of Christ to care for orphans. The Orphan Care and Adoption Summit III, hosted by Focus on the Family, brought presidents and CEOs from over 60 organizations involved in adoption and orphan care, as well as over 100 representatives from churches across the country.

“Historically, Christians have cared about orphans,” said Mark Andre, director of the Orphan Care Initiative at Focus on the Family. “And we still do. But we need to raise awareness of the practical means for translating care into action. Churches and families need facts, resources, encouragement and support to take on this challenge in a way that gets the job done. We want to see these children in permanent, loving homes, and the goal of the summit is to support that mission with greater purpose and urgency.”

This coalition has come together to set their sights on the 143 million orphans in the world. Though that can seem to be a daunting number, those attending believe that it is a challenge that the church can meet.

“Our vision is every orphan knowing the love of Christ and Him as Savior,” said Paul Pennington, founder and director of Hope for Orphans International, “The Church has the capacity to make a real difference in the lives of millions of orphans who have no voice, no hope, no idea what life is going to hold for them.”

This year’s Summit had many opportunities for organizational and church cooperation and growth, with seminars on everything from orphans and AIDS to how churches can partner with the state in caring for foster children. Speakers included best-selling author Rick Warren, FamilyLife’s Dennis Rainey, and many others from ministries and churches around the world. Steven Curtis Chapman performed live for the gathering.

“Our mission is to motivate and unify the body of Christ to live out God’s mandate to care for the orphan,” said Rick Warren on the opening day. Warren discussed what he calls the “five global goliaths”—problems that are plaguing the world and especially the world’s orphans: spiritual emptiness, egocentric leadership, poverty, pandemic diseases, and illiteracy. “The only thing big enough in the world to solve the problems is the massive distribution network called the church - the church of Jesus Christ,” Warren said.

Many of these organizations have been at work for decades, and others, including Focus on the Family, have just recently started working in this field. Focus President Jim Daly addressed the coalition and explained that he himself was orphaned at the age of twelve, and he is excited about the orphan care initiative they are beginning. “We’re about life. I’m proud to say we’re stepping in to work with you however we can to raise the awareness of the plight of the orphan around the world,” said Daly.

The heart of the Summit is to bring together different parts of the body interested in caring for orphans, so that united they might truly have a positive impact for the waiting children. Though spokespersons have denied that the movement is inherently political in nature, the coalition is turning heads even in secular America as it provides an example of positive action to supplement the anti-abortion movement that marks the evangelical church.

“God loves the orphan because He loves human life,” said Dennis Rainey, president of FamilyLife. “He’s pro-life, He’s pro-orphan, He’s pro-adoption, He’s pro-foster care. Orphans are image-bearers to the next generation. They reflect the glory of God.”