The Need is Real {National Foster Care Month}

May is National Foster Care Month!

You may be asking yourself, "Why do we need National Foster Care Month?"

I'm SO glad you asked!

We need it for two reasons. Because the need is REAL and because the command is CLEAR.

Let's start with the Need.

In the United States there are over 400,500 children in the foster care system.
In Kentucky there are over 7,000 children in foster homes.
In Jefferson County (Louisville, KY) there are over 800 children in foster homes.

Later this month we'll talk about WHO those children are but right now, feel the weight of these numbers.

Stop. Feel it. Because they are not just numbers. They are children.

Think about 400,500 children going to bed tonight in our country without their parents. Kids in your state. In your town. In your neighborhood. The need is REAL.

And the command is CLEAR.

Remember what Jesus said about children?  “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Scripture is FULL of passages about orphans and the poor. I think we can agree anytime scripture talks about the poor, orphans are included. 

 

You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.

If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me,

I will surely hear their cry,

Exodus 22:22 - 23

 

O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

Psalm 10:17 - 18

 

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:

to visit orphans and widows in their affliction,

and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 1:27

 

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

Psalm 68:5 - 6

 

 “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field,

you shall not go back to get it.

It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow,

that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Deuteronomy 24:19

 

learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow's cause.

Isaiah 1:17

 

Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me

Matthew 18:5

 

And the King will answer them,

‘Truly, I say to you,

as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,

you did it to me.’

Matthew 25:40

 

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:18

 

Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.

Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:8 - 9

 

 

These are God's holy words to us, his hands and feet, when it comes to caring for the orphaned, the widowed, the poor and the destitute. To paraphrase our pastor's Orphan Sunday message, at some point, the gospel has to compel us to practically DO SOMETHING.

 

 

The state's job is to protect children but the state cannot and does not nurture children and point them to the only One who can heal him. His bride must do that. If not us, then who?

 

 

I'm excited (and a bit overwhelmed!) about the posts I have planned for this month! Follow along to learn more about the American orphan crisis and hear other foster parents, former foster kids, social workers and more share their experiences with foster care!

 

 

If you are new around here check out this post where I share how I WAS WRONG about American orphans and foster care.