This Sunday, there will be a special collection made for Orphans Lifeline International. This is a mission effort that has been supported by our church family since before I came, and one that I think is a wonderful work to support.
The number of orphans estimated in the world today is somewhere around 140 million, but this number is thought to be a great underestimation.
So, what does Orphans Lifeline International do exactly?
Without going into the detail that would be demanded to do this answer justice, the mission statement of the organization offers a good summation:
“To bring hope to the orphans of the world by providing food, shelter, medical care children’s Bibles, educational assistance, adoption services and more in a manner that breaks the cycle of dependence and promotes individual and societal productivity as well as charitable character within the community.”
Orphans Lifeline’s staff have degrees in Social Service with expertise in adoption. The leaders of Orphans Lifeline had all proven to be successful in their business endeavors prior to starting this organization.
Their system is one which moves orphan children through a series of “phases,” beginning with critical care, which is providing all of the basic needs of human survival, then moving to beyond critical care, which includes, but is not limited to, fundamental education, life-skills survival training, and spiritual health.
The phases continue into social integration, where they introduce the formerly destitute individuals as productive members of society, able to care for themselves and their family.
Throughout the journey, they also are made to understand that their support over the years has come, not only from the direct caregivers through the organization, but also from donors like us, who, chances are, they will never meet.
The understanding of where their help comes from builds a charitable character that makes these individuals want to give back to their communities.
I can testify to the effectiveness of such ministry, as I have been a part of a similar ministry over the last decade in Honduras on short-term missions.
For more information, check out their website at www.orphanslifeline.org.
27 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.
And remember, we too were orphans before God adopted us through Christ (Ephesians 1:5).
Much Love!
Wes LeFlore (918) 607-8489 or huskerwes1@gmail.com
