idea camp: orphan care. thoughts on day one.

Its the end of day one at Idea Camp: Orphan Care, and honestly, my heart is overwhelmed. I'm overwhelmed by the vastness of the need and by the myriad of ways and ideas to combat that need. Its been a heavy, very full day, filled with a ton of really great information, and even more things that I'll need to wade through over the next several days and weeks. And maybe months.

But over all of that, today has held two common themes for me.

First, that there is not just one solution to this crisis. Caring for orphans is not just about adoption or foster care, though those things are part of it. Its not just about orphanages and homes for abandoned children, though we need to fund those and be wise about how they are set up and managed. Its about mentoring the fatherless and stopping human trafficking (both for sex and for illegal adoptions). Its about caring for pregnant mothers and providing education and medication for those who are HIV-positive. Its about giving women a way to earn money and feed their families so they don't need surrender them to an orphanage. There are as many ways to help as there are people, and just because you're not called to adopt or foster, doesn't mean there isn't work for you to do.

And second, this issue is so close to the heart of God. Because what we're talking about is not about a cause, we're talking about caring for the very least of these. And isn't this what we're commanded to do?

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

~ James 1:27

Then the righteous will answer Him, "Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?" The King will answer and say to them, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me."

~ Matthew 25:37-40