The Month of November

The month of November is Orphan Awareness Month {as most of you probably are aware}.
I was thinking about all this and kind of pondering what it all means.
And today, specifically, is Orphan Awareness Sunday.  
We will be having our “Orphan Awareness Sunday” on a different Sunday because of a special guest already scheduled to be here today.  
Interestingly though, many churches across America will not have a Sunday set aside for the orphan.  
Forgive me – but seriously – Shame On Them!!
As a pastor’s wife, I will be blunt.
Where are the vast majority of the pastors when it comes to the orphan?
Why is it that so few pastors understand their responsibility to lead the way?

Once upon a time, I was considered to bring to speak at a church.  The women’s ministry was going to be bringing me.  The question the pastor had for those who wanted to bring me?  “She’s not going to just speak about the orphan, is she?” 
 Hmmmm.  
Why so scary if the orphan were the main topic?
Proverbs 24:11 and 12 echoes in my ears..
“Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death.
If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?”

Some could say, “Well that’s your thing Linny.”  Ummm, no actually it’s God’s thing…
There are only two things that God says are pure religion, and I know you know what I’m talking about:
Caring for the:
Orphan
and 
the widow.
Isn’t it interesting, He could have said,
 “Pure religion is to pastor a church, 
or
 be a seminary professor, 
or 
be a small group leader, 
or 
be on the worship team, 
or 
teach Sunday school, 
or
 just about anything else.”
But He didn’t.
And yet, pastors around the world have closed their eyes, stuck their fingers in their ears and ignored the plight of the orphan.
We have encountered countless numbers of folks who have went to pastors to share their dreams and visions for orphan care, and met a deaf ear.  
How God’s heart must be grieved!!!
Whether or not your pastor gets it our not, our prayer must be that the leaders {pastors, associate pastors, youth pastors, children’s pastors, administrative pastors, elders, lead pastors and all those in leadership} would have their hearts broken for the plight of the orphan.  
Broken.
  
Broken.
  
Broken.  
And then smashed to smithereens.
No doubt, it is God’s heart.  It is His will.
SO what is our job?
Certainly it is to step up to the plate and care for the orphan…but
our job is also to pray for pastors at large.  
To fast for God to break their hearts.  
In the meantime, ask if you can start an Orphan Care ministry at your church.  Ask if you can speak on behalf of the orphan.  I think of the Widow who kept going to the Unrighteous Judge.  If we weren’t pastoring and were in a church that “didn’t want to hear it”…we would pray, we would fast and we would go regularly asking if we could please begin an Orphan Care ministry.   
Some of the church is waking up to the plight of the orphan…and with prayer I am confident that God can move on the hearts of pastors all over the world to lead the way….
Will you join me in praying for pastors and leaders around the world?

“Break our heart, God, with the things that break yours.” 

21 thoughts on “The Month of November

  1. Linny, could you do a post on what an orphan care ministry would look like or how one would go about starting one or things than an orphan care ministry would do? I'm very intrigued, but I'm not an idea person and have never seen an orphan care ministry in any of the churches we have ever been in.

  2. I have so much to say…but cannot seem to find the words. No orphan sunday for us…in fact, the word "orphan" was not mentioned one time. breaks my heart.

    I'll be back later to share more…

    Awaken the Christian churches, dear Lord.

  3. I have been longing to start an orphan ministry at our church. I have prayed about it but still I am not really sure how to get started. I know our church would be willing and some even very excited, but I feeling very stretched with what I am already doing. Will you please pray for me as I seek to prioritize my life and see where God wants me to use my time and energy. My heart breaks for the orphan. We have two little boys that we have adopted and God has worked so miraculously in our lives. I share through my blog, but I want to do more.
    Thank you for praying!
    Your blog is such a joy to me.

  4. We are encountering road blocks with this in our church. I'm deep in prayer for God to move their hearts. For this to become so real to them. They want to use the excuse of how small our church is. I'm being persistent though. I think Satan wants them to fear this. I will not let him win. I know our church can do huge things.

  5. We had a very small Orphan Sunday today. We are praying that our pastors hearts are broken for the orphans like our ministries heart is. Praying next year it will be an entire Sunday devoted to the orphans. So grateful that the Lord did soften their heart to talk about orphans two weeks in a row.

    We have recently started a new ministry in our church called Love Justice for Orphans and Vulnerable Children and we were able to put a table up and start reaching out to our congregation after service. Praying that many more will step up to take care of the orphan.

  6. Oh Linny. You're so right on! Why do so many pastors shy away from the hard things? ESPECIALLY when God's heart is so clear! My heart is so big for the unborn. The children who are unwanted before they even take their first breath. I have been praying for them (especially lately with everything that was going on with the election here) and it seemed like so many Christians just didn't understand why I am so passionate about it. Proverbs 31:8-9 ring in my ears- "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy"

    God, please please lead us in caring for orphans more like you do. God use your body to care for the orphans and convict us when we're not following your will. Break our hearts for what breaks Yours. Jesus you are good! Amen.

    Linny, thanks for being so obedient to what God has called you to!

  7. No Orphan Sunday at our church either. BUT, I did have the opportunity to speak to the Women's Club last Tuesday. Sadly, most of the women were on retreat. I still have to believe that the women that were there, were meant to be there and that they were the ones God especially wanted to talk to.

    I just think the reason that most Christians do not take up the cause of the orphan is because it is not comfortable. You can not travel to another country and see REAL poverty and ever feel completely comfortable with the abundance that we have in America.

  8. Linny…i was just thinking about this today b/c at the present time our church doesn't do anything and I SO badly want to start something and I think hopefully they will be up for it because our church is so amazing and so is our pastor but my problem is I have no clue how to come up with a plan for the orphan ministry…what exactly does the orphan ministry do in a church? What would I present them with and say we will do? just wondering if you could give me some pointers! Thanks!

  9. So I'm thinking up a follow up post… "How to start an Orphan Care Ministry" or "What an Orphan Care Ministry Should Look Like"… is in order ;0) Seriously, what better way for those of us who desperately pursuing adoption but are currently financially or otherwise hindered in such a way that adoption isn't possible in the immediate future…. just a thought.

  10. No orphan Sunday at our church either (they already had a previous scheduled weekend), however our pastors spoke on the poor and the orphan two weeks ago. I gave them adoption links which they published in the church bulletin. It's a start. I'm hoping and praying for more.

    I too would love to see a post on "how to start an Orphan Car Ministry" in the church. Hugs

  11. None at our Church either. Trying to plan one for another date as we are in first stages of starting our Orphan Ministry. Thanks Linny love your blog.

  12. We had our 1st of 4 Sunday's this month highlighting adoption and effective orphan care. We created a media pack with our own bulletin inserts with a message on each one, video clips, cool back boards and display tables that share information about HOW TO CARE for the fatherless. Some other churches said they will also use the media packs. In all- 5 local churches will do something to raise awareness about orphans this month. I'm so very grateful to God and the dedicated group of friends working, serving on behalf of the fatherless. We're really looking forward to the 21st when we have a GUEST SPEAKER who rocks!

    With that said, Linny, my heart still is crying out… I'll pray.

    Hugs,
    Lisa

  13. PRAYING!!! This hits so close to home. You have no idea. No orphan Sunday at our Church either.

    I sat in church and proceeded with the "ugly cry" for the orphans of this world.

    As we finish up our paper work and head out to China it truly amazes me God's hand in it all. Perfect absolute PERFECT provision the entire way. Orphan ministry has been on my heart constantly these last few months I will be joining you in prayer for our pastors.

  14. Thanks so much for bringing up the subject of Orphan Awareness Month and Orphan Sunday. http://www.orphansunday.org has alot of good resources to help local churches and clubs get started with orphan ministry. Sadly my own church (the pastor ad elders) has thus far ignored my request to have an orphan sunday…so far…November isn't over yet! But it's such a blessed mission to keep orphan awareness before the body of Christ year round.
    KarenH.

  15. We have an adoption ministry at our new church, they mentioned a collection of shoes for orphan souls, Samaritan's Purse collection… The youth minister just brought home 2 girls from Haiti…
    No mention of Orphan Sunday…no sermon on it…no special bulletin insert…
    Selfishly, I was hoping for DH to hear a message on the orphan from our pastor, who he respects a great deal…
    Made me so sad.

  16. I have someone I would like to have pastors hear. His name is Ivan, and he is a 7 year old orphan who lives at Redeemer House. He tells me he wants a mommy, he tells visitors he wants a mommy, he begs God for a mommy. And I pray, that somewhere out there God would have a mommy for Ivan.

    If more pastors recognized the importance God puts on caring for orphans, and shared it with their congregations, I believe more kids like Ivan would have their prayers answered.

  17. bawling.

    i am praying this for sure. for my church, for my pastors & others in the same situation. it's coming…i feel it. come on, God…break.their.hearts.

  18. Isaiah 1:17 (The Message)

    13-17"Quit your worship charades.
    I can't stand your trivial religious games:
    Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—
    meetings, meetings, meetings—I can't stand one more!
    Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
    You've worn me out!
    I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion,
    while you go right on sinning.
    When you put on your next prayer-performance,
    I'll be looking the other way.
    No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
    I'll not be listening.
    And do you know why? Because you've been tearing
    people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
    Go home and wash up.
    Clean up your act.
    Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
    so I don't have to look at them any longer.
    Say no to wrong.
    Learn to do good.
    Work for justice.
    Help the down-and-out.
    Stand up for the homeless.
    Go to bat for the defenseless.

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