The following is a guest post by Naomi of www.127living.com
My dream of adopting began long before I met my husband. I clearly remember the moment I realized adoption was in my future. I had just finished Louisa May Alcott’s book, Little Men. In it, the main character, Jo, runs a home for boys. The picture painted of an estate overrun with rambunctious boys in need of a momma to love them, pulled my heart. It was then I knew that God was speaking to me. Did I mention I was eight years old at the time?
Obviously, at eight years old, I wasn’t going to be adopting any time soon, but it didn’t mean I couldn’t begin loving on those in need of love. Sometimes, we must look beyond our ideals of perfect beginnings, to realize now is God’s perfect time to begin.
Caring for orphans can seem daunting – but each of us, no matter our season in life – can share the love of the Father with the fatherless. We can choose to use the gifts He’s given us to shine His light into the darkness of fear, abandonment, and loneliness. Trust me, there is a place for your gifts, and a need for your love, in the arena of caring for orphans!
Today, I want to share with you six ways singles can serve in orphan care. (*Note: Agencies will likely need a background check prior to you interacting with youth. Ask your local agency what their requirements are, and don’t back out if you can’t just jump right in! These policies are put in place to protect vulnerable children, not to discourage you!)
Six ways singles can serve in orphan care:
1. Use your gifts.
If you are a photographer, take pictures for a local heart gallery. (These photographs are used to help find families for children who are legally free for adoption, but are hard to place.) If you have a love for fashion, makeup, and beauty products, spend a day pampering some girls in foster care. If you have a gift for cooking, sewing, or fixing things, contact your local agency and ask to do a workshop for some of the older youth.
Whatever your gift, use it. God’s given you strengths to bring Him glory – ask Him how He can use those specifically to serve orphans.
2. Use your time.
Pray about becoming a CASA – a court appointed child advocate. (This requires training, and is not a paid position, but does not require a college degree and is not a full-time position. CASAa are the people who fight for children – not the state, not a family, not a system – but the children who desperately need someone to fight on their behalf.)
Volunteer to help a local foster or adoptive family with housework, childcare, or running errands. Join hands with an organization in your area whose mission is to serve orphans.
3. Use your voice.
Advocate for specific children who need a family. Speak up about the orphan crisis, and call others to action. Research about orphans, foster care, and adoption – and then speak truth. Join others in petitioning for state and federal lawmakers to prioritize issues dealing with foster care systems and adoption.
4. Use your resources.
Sponsor a child through Lifesong, Christian Relief Fund, or Compassion. Donate to an organization that funds adoptions like Reece’s Rainbow or Show Hope. Gather like new clothing and accessories and donate them to a local foster care closet. Put together foster care bags.
There is no gift too small to make an impact!
5. Use your home.
Being single does not disqualify you from foster care or adoption! You do not have to wait until you are married to bring a child into your home and provide love, support, safety, and structure.
While a few countries restrict adoptions to married couples, you can provide foster care through state or private agencies, adopt children from the U.S., and/or adopt from countries which permit single parent adoptions.
6. Use your prayers.
This isn’t last on the list because it is least important, or even easiest. These precious children need people who will faithfully lift them up to the Father. His heart is towards them, and thus, ours should be also.
Pray for their protection – spiritually, physically, emotionally, sexually, mentally. Pray for their provision, restoration, and healing. Pray for people to step forward, and provide loving homes where these children will encounter the love of their Heavenly Father and the love of family.
When the enemy tries to convince you that there isn’t a place for your singleness in orphan care, stand on the truth of God’s Word. True religion is to care for orphans and widows in their distress. It is never too soon to fulfill the mandate of God’s Word! Embrace the season of life you are in, and utilize it to accomplish the things God has for you to do!
If you have questions about where to start, or how to use your gifts, I’d love to help! If you’re already involved in orphan care, I’d love to hear about what you’re doing!
Naomi Quick is passionate about faith, family, adoption, and training up her tribe of little people to follow hard after Jesus. She is married to her best friend, John, and homeschools their six beautiful children – two of whom have been added to their family through foster-care adoption.
After journeying through the adoption process twice, Naomi’s heart was stirred not only for the children waiting to be adopted, but for families living out their adoption adventures. Knowing firsthand the beauty and challenges of adoption, she has sought to create resources, services, and space that offer hope, authenticity, and solidarity to adoptive families.
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Mike George
Informative! Dealing with children’s and their caretakers’ data could be very difficult at times. For this, FAMcare case management software is designed to enable you to organize, consolidate, communicate, and legitimize your people’s information on a whole new level.