God loves orphans, and he calls us to love them, too. Caring for orphans is not limited to families who are currently parenting adopted or foster children or those who are preparing to do so. While not every Christian is called to adopt or foster, every Christian is called to care for and defend orphans (see James 1:27).
So how can we support the orphan care and the adoption initiatives in our home churches? What does it look like practically for us as Christians and as the church to be a community that supports and serves families who are struggling as they care for adopted or foster children?
Here are a few things we can do to tangibly care for these families.
Be the Community.
As people, and particularly as Christians, we are designed for community. However, when life gets tough and when our struggles get ugly, it can feel easier to withdraw. Isolation ultimately proves to be hard on us as individuals and families. When we are left to face our struggles alone, we can find ourselves in despair, pain, and hopelessness with nowhere to turn.
Families who have adopted or are fostering face unique challenges—especially if the child(ren) comes from a background with neglect, abuse, or trauma. There very well may be moments that these families feel hopeless and helpless.
Christians and the church can greatly serve these families by being the community. Initiate authentic relationships. Be the kind of person or community that asks good questions. Listens. Prays together. Calls, texts, and stops by to check in or to help out. Don’t assume people have it all together. Get to know these families, let them get to know you, and find ways to care for them.
Provide a Safe Place.
A safe place is a place where people can come as they are. There’s no need to put on the “Sunday’s best” facade. Be the person or place where people don’t have to be afraid of how ugly things are at home, how hard things might be, or the fact that we’re real people with real struggles who need other real people to walk alongside us. Cultivate a community where people can truly share their burdens, confess sins and struggles, and find hope and acceptance (see point 3).
As a church, consider creating a Special Needs Sunday School program if you have the resources to do so. Adopted and foster children often face varying disabilities that make it tough for them to thrive in Sunday School. As a result, some families find they can no longer attend church at all.
Whether or not your church has the resources for special needs programming, finding ways to communicate that you want that family and that child there is powerful. It makes you a safe place that embraces hurting and imperfect people.
Point to the Gospel.
Lastly, yet most foundationally, be a friend or a church that points to the gospel. Don’t compromise the truth of Scripture or the good news of Jesus. We all need to see our need for our Savior. When we mess up, struggle, or sin—the last thing Christians need is to feel condemned or embarrassed. We need other Christians to point us to the grace, forgiveness, hope, and freedom only Jesus provides.
Today, on Orphan Sunday, consider asking the Lord what it might look like for you, your family, or your church to take next steps in tangibly caring for the fatherless.
Hope for Orphans recently released the new ROOTED curriculum, designed to serve and equip families who adopt and / or foster. Learn more at hopefororphans.org/training/rooted/ or pick up your copy here.