But God Changed All of That

Today, all around our world, churches are observing Orphan Sunday. Orphan Sunday occurs each year in November as an opportunity for local churches and communities to rally together in response to God’s call to care for orphaned and vulnerable children. Today is a reminder of what is happening here in Charlotte, the United States, and all over the world. Millions of children are growing up without a family. It is time for the church to be more involved by adopting these children and caring for the families who are risking much to live out the Gospel in a very real way.

Personally, this is a special week for me and my family. One year ago, my wife and I nervously drove down a crowded street in Kunming, China, to meet—for the first time—our fourth daughter. After years of educating ourselves, praying, counseling with others, and finally saying “Yes”, God had finally brought our worlds together.

Our daughter was abandoned on a street corner in a small village in China at just three days old. She spent the first two years of her life not knowing the security, comfort, and love of a real family. She lived in an orphanage with 50 other children, who like her, may never know the love of a forever family.

But God changed all of that in an instant when she became our daughter and was an orphan no more.

Over the past year, God has also given her a church family that loves her, accepts her, cares for her, and teaches her the Good News of Jesus weekly. God has used this community of believers to support us, pray for us, and care for us in ways only real family members can.
God wants to do more here at Hickory Grove! He is calling families to not just observe a day but for all to be actively involved in orphan care. Some may be able to bring a child physically into their family, but if you can’t, there is so much you can do to help the 153 million orphans worldwide by helping those who can.

How is God calling you to be involved?