100 Million Orphans

"The United Nations estimates that by 2010 the globe will be populated by 106 million orphans; 42 million in sub-Saharan Africa alone. "

I honestly can't imagine the vast numbers of children who have lost one or both parents. Can you? When I see statistics like that, I tend to departmentalize them into a 'random fact' category and dismiss it. I don't see that each one of those 106 million orphans is a little boy or girl who needs to be fed, educated, hugged, and disciplined. I don't have a face to put with the statistics.

Well, now I do.

Thanks to Doug Hayes and his ministry called Covenant Mercies, I've been given just a glimpse of some of these children. He spoke in my church on Sunday, sharing first from Acts 11 and then about the work that Covenant Mercies is doing in Uganda, Zambia, and Ethiopia. In addition to working with local churches, they have an orphan sponsorship program. I'm sure you're familiar with child sponsorship programs like Compassion International. Well, let me tell you what makes Covenant Mercies unique: they work within the context of the local church. The churches were already caring for the orphans and widows to the best of their ability, however their resources were extremely limited. Now, with the help of Covenant Mercies, they have greater resources to reach the people in their communities. In addition to providing basic health needs and an education, the sponsorship program also enables these children to grow up hearing the Gospel and seeing it in action.

Now, I have a face to put to those statistics. I'm freshly reminded of how very blessed I am and how right it is for me to use some of the resources God has given me to bless my brothers and sisters in Africa. The believers in Uganda, Zambia, and Ethiopia aren't quite as abstract as they used to be.

"So the disciples determined, everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea." Acts 11: 29