As we approach Mother’s Day, our hearts turn to those who have experienced the profound loss of a parent. For those without a mother’s loving embrace, this day can stir up feelings of sadness and loneliness. About 400,000 kids in the foster care system here in the US alone.
The Hard Truth
Those in the foster care system have experienced brokenness in at least one of our other Champions for the Brokenhearted categories.
- Up to 40% of those in foster care have experienced some type of abuse within the system.
- 20% of the prison population in the US is comprised of former foster children.
- Over 30% of children in foster care can be classified as living in poverty.
- 60% of children under age 5 entered foster care due to parental drug use.
- Between 50% and 90% of child trafficking victims have had contact with Child Protective Services.
- About 70% of youth who exit foster care as legal adults are arrested at least once by age 26.
Yet we find comfort knowing that Jesus, who was no stranger to abandonment, truly understands the pain of the orphan—and more than just understanding it, He holds the answer to redeeming and overcoming this pain.
Jesus Cares for the Orphan
Premiering on May 12th at 6pm CT, our Mother’s Day highlight “Jesus Cares for the Orphan” explores how Christ’s own experience allows Him to tenderly comfort those who have faced the ache of abandonment. Through powerful testimonies and biblical insights, we’ll unpack the depths of our Savior’s compassion and His promise to be a father to the fatherless. Nick reminds those who feel alone and unwanted that God is your ultimate Father who has a plan for you. God’s heart is to adopt each of us as his own children. In Psalm 68, verses 5 through 6 it says that he is “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing.”
To go along with this heartfelt message, our free “Hope for the Orphan” brochure is now available. Filled with encouragement straight from the Bible, it’s a reassuring reminder that we are never truly alone, even in our darkest times. I encourage you to get a copy to share with someone who may need that lifeline of hope.
Additionally, I’m delighted to share with you an interview we had with our dear friends Josh and Rebekah Weigel. As advocates for orphan care initiatives, their insights are sure to inspire and challenge you to embrace Jesus’ heart for the fatherless—perhaps in ways you’ve never considered. And be sure to keep an eye out for their powerful new film “Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot” releasing on July 4th!
Until Next Time
In this season when loss can feel especially painful, let’s rally together as a community of compassion, awareness, and intentionality. May we embody the tenderness of our Heavenly Father as we extend His love and hope to those who have experienced the orphan’s pain. For as Jesus Himself declared, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18).
