All In Orphan Care

It was never God's intent for children to be without a family! This is why scripture says He assumes the role of father to the fatherless and He sets the lonely in families. This is the heart of God - a good, loving and gracious Father. This is also the basis of His mandate towards us, the Church, to care for vulnerable children and families around us. Our call to care for the vulnerable and orphaned is rooted in God's care of us through Jesus. That's what this book is about - the work of Christ on our behalf in the gospel. ALL IN Orphan Care is a six-session study guide designed to prepare and equip those exploring the call to foster care, adoption or some aspect of supporting families. This multi-faceted curriculum can be used in groups, classes or other equipping environments. It includes: Six sessions on theology, realistic expectations, confronting fears, clarifying your role, etc. Engaging group discussion guides Encouraging personal reflection questions Powerful stories from real-life foster and adoptive families Inspiring articles on some of the most commonly asked questions ...and so much more! For bulk orders of 20 or more books, visit www.allinorphancare.com. Discounts apply.

We're not all called to do the same thing, but we are all capable of doing something! When it comes to serving the orphaned and vulnerable, this can be the mantra of your church and the foundation of the foster care, adoption and orphan care ministry you establish - everyone can do something! Your church has the ability to make a significant difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families. The questions are not "can" you or "should" you, but "how" can you and "what" does that need to look like? That's what this book is about. Everyone Can Do Something is a strategic field-guide specifically designed to help your church rally around caring for the orphaned and vulnerable. In it you will discover how to: Clarify your message Make the problem relatable Connect people into a community of support Develop a strategic plan Use existing discipleship mechanisms in your church Chart a clear path of ministry "next steps" Plan and promote events ...and so much more! Whether you are launching a new foster care, adoption or orphan care ministry or leading an existing one, you'll discover the principles you need to take the next best steps for your church, your ministry and the families and children you are serving. For bulk orders of 10 or more books, visit www.everyonecandosomethingbook.com. Discounts apply.

Sponsorship organisations sincerely set out to help orphans in Africa and other developing countries out of their misery and hopelessness by providing them with a family environment in which they can experience love and hope. To accomplish this, a sponsorship organisation often works with a like-minded partner organisation that executes its vision and objectives. Unfortunately, this is usually plagued by many complex problems that, if not resolved, can become insurmountable. In this book, the author draws on his many years of experience in working for orphans in Africa to identify difficulties that seem to be inherent in such an endeavour. He has determined that these problems stem from three specific areas: the orphans themselves, the partner organisation, and the sponsor organisation. Each of these has its own unique challenges; and when these unique challenges interact, they become so complicated that, if their root causes are not isolated and resolved, the ministry may eventually collapse. The telltale signs of such an eventuality are perceptible--but only to the discerning mind. Musa Okolo identifies and offers practical solutions to these challenges, which will enable orphan care ministries to understand and deal with the complex issues involved and hence achieve their objectives and fulfil their vision.

How can we love with excellence the millions of orphaned and vulnerable children in our world who have lost their parents, have no relatives to love them well, and likely will not be adopted? In Pursuit of Orphan Excellence frames a conversation around this question through a collaborative effort involving fifteen authors from orphan care organizations around the world, bringing to the table an often-neglected component of orphan care. After discussing why everyone in the world, Christian and non-Christian alike, should care to the core about caring for orphans, In Pursuit examines a framework-from family to spiritual formation (and a whole lot in between)-of what excellent, best-practice orphan care looks like in situations where kinship care, legal adoption, quality foster care, or reunification with biological family is not possible, feasible, or likely to occur. As you read this book, you will be invited to learn from others seeking best-practice orphan care, engage in the conversation, and advocate for orphans around the world . . . and in your own backyard.

Am I Special is a wonderful illustrated book that exposes kids to the amazing world of adoption. It focuses on one day in the life of a precious little girl named Josie. Josie is five years old and learning new things everyday. She learns from her family that ordinary things are "special". After finding out what special means, she wonders if she is special, because she was adopted. She comes to find out that she wasn’t abandoned; she was chosen. Steve and Sandra Hogue have been in full-time ministry for over 18 years, involved in youth, outreach, and children ministries. Currently, they are serving as US missionaries with COMPACT family services. They have fostered 16 children over the years and have adopted 6 from foster care and 2 from private agencies. They are active in their community’s foster care system and oversee All For Children, orphans ministry, at their home church. They desire to see churches awakened to the biblical mandate of James 1:27, to care for orphans. Their desire is to see The Church view themselves as the answer to the orphan care crisis and to respond as a catalyst for change. You can learn more about their missions work, follow their travels and meet their kids at www.TheChurchIsTheSolution.com.

Looks at the origins of the orphan care and adoption movements in the U.S., and discusses the role of the church and individuals in meeting the needs of orphaned and vulnerable children around the world.

Orphanology unveils the grassroots movement that’s engaged in a comprehensive response to serve hundreds of millions of orphans and “functionally parentless” children. You’ll see a breadth of ways to care with biblical perspective and reasons why we must. Heartwarming, personal stories and vivid illustrations from a growing network of families, churches, and organizations that cross culture show how to respond to God’s mandate. The book empowers: - churches—to plan preaching, teaching, ministering, missions, funding adoption, supporting orphans; - individuals and families—to overcome challenges and uncertainties; - every believer—to gain insights to help orphans in numerous ways. Discover how to - adopt; - assist orphans in transition; - engage in foster care; - partner with faith-based fostering agencies; - become orphan hosts. Along with their families’ adoption stories, Merida and Morton give steps for action and features on churches doing orphan ministry, faith-based children’s homes, orphan-hosting groups, and other resources.