Orphan Worldview

I read recently that the President of Focus on the Family, Jim Daly, lost his mother when he was 9 and his father when he was 12. Because of this, he has a great love for orphans. I loved what he had to say about James 1:27 that reads “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. “

What does keeping oneself from being polluted by the world have to do with caring for widows and orphans? I think part of the answer lies in the fact that as sinful creatures, we are amazingly selfish. Our American culture embraces a me-first mentality that rejects self-sacrifice. We enjoy limitless opportunities to entertain ourselves with sports, movies, hobbies and an assortment of consumer goods. Those things aren’t inherently wrong, but when the pursuit of them distracts us from loving and caring for those who are hurting, we have allowed the world to pollute our core values.

I have felt that pressure, and know exactly what Jim Daly is talking about. I have this strange idea that my children must be in every activity available, or I am not providing for them. I also have the desire to have the best furniture, clothes, cars, vacations, etc. These ideas have been given to me by the world. And many times I listen to them. And if I let those ideas run my decisions, I will not have money to give to others. How I have to fight being polluted by the world!

Waiting Children

The Ethiopia Waiting Children Program was started by America World this year (2008), in an effort to find homes for these precious children. There are currently a large number of older children in the children’s homes that we work with who are eager to find their eternal families. It is our prayer that these eternal families are also eager to find these children.
The various needs that these children have can range anywhere between children who are HIV positive, to a hearing/vision impairment, to a child who is older in age. Any child the age of 5 and over usually falls into the Waiting Children category, even if they do not have a special need. This is due to very limited number of requests for older children.
www.awaa.org