A day to stop. reflect. learn. serve. act. pray.
A day that was recognized across the globe by churches, small groups, families, and individuals sending out the call of responsibility that is on the shoulders of the Church of God to defend the fatherless and satisfy the needs of the oppressed.
We feel honored to partner with Houston's First Baptist & Legacy 685 Church Adoption Fund and share how they honored the orphan on Orphan Sunday...
The leadership had prayed two things for Orphan Sunday; that we would be able to raise awareness for the orphan and second, that we all would respond to God’s leading on how He is asking us to care for the orphan.
We had a video showing the orphan crisis and how our church was responding to that crisis. We had interviewed 6 couples that had either gone on a mission trip, adopted a child or foster-to-adopt, each sharing their testimony of the impact on their lives. After worship and a message, about 14 families shared their 'before and after' story of adoption, foster or orphan-care mission trip through cardboard testimonies. Following a final song, to close we had everyone go to a prayer fence that had been built using chicken wire and old wood. There were 200 pictures of either orphaned children that our church supports or adoptable children in Houston. People were led there to begin to pray for the 163 million orphans worldwide and then were encouraged to take a picture with them and to continue to pray for them.
It was a powerful time, very moving for many people and the response was real and genuine. Our prayer is that the seeds that were planted will begin to be cultivated and people will continue to seek God in caring for orphans and what that looks like in their life and family.
-Steve Klein, Houston's First Baptist Church & Legacy 685 Adoption Fund
Cardboard testimonies...
Worship...
Orphan prayer wall...
Thanks for sharing Steve--what a special day! For more Orphan Sunday recap stories, see the Christian Alliance for Orphans blog!