Orphan Justice

Some great takeaways from the new book  Orphan Justice:

• We as God’s people, will be judged for withholding justice from the oppressed and the orphan
• There’s a saying within the adoption and orphan care movement: “Adoption is not everyone, but caring for orphans is for everyone.”
• In 2007, slave traders brought in more profit than Starbucks, Google, and Nike combined.  Human trafficking is a lucrative business and therefore one that will not be easily stopped.
• If we want to stop sex trafficking, we must end the demand.
• If we are going to be like Jesus, we must rethink our tendency to obsess over how HIV/AIDS victims are infected rather than how we can help them.
• Unfortunately, poverty cannot be reduced to a mathematical equation.  Poverty is a culture.
• If Christians are not responsible to care for the needy, who is?
• If the mother-to-be does make the courageous choice to protect the life within her- a choice Christians say is the right choice- she is then often left to fend for herself (and, in my own personal experience, we discourage her from attending church summer camp, having her child dedicated in a worship service, attending youth group, etc).  We hush up this girl’s shameful secret, abandoning her at the time when she desperately needs love, support, and wisdom the most.

One way to care for orphans is a new ministry called Safe Families.  There's a Sioux Falls event on April 22nd at 6 PM.