How to Center Orphan Care in Christ
“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
As director of an orphan care start up, it’s easy losing myself in the work because there’s so much to do. I get so incredibly busy with day-to-day details I often forget where to find my success.
I fail to remember that an orphan’s hope is not found in providing a loving home or committed foster parents or a community willing to surround them with love. Although these things are crucial for abused, abandoned, or neglected children, they need so much more. An orphan’s ultimate hope is found in Jesus and Jesus alone.
Over 500 years ago, the Protestant Reformation started making waves in Europe. They stated five fundamental principles that separated itself from Rome, indicating clearly its doctrine of salvation. One essential point to its theology was known as Solus Christus.
Solus Christus, or “only Christ,” is the belief that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man. No matter our intention, our hard work, our talent, or our skill, without Jesus, there is no salvation for us or the kids we hope to serve. Therefore, to succeed in our mission, we must ensure our care for these kids in trouble is centered on the hope we find in Christ.
Let me offer these three ways to give children a hope that’s centered on Jesus Christ:
See Your Sin Biblically
While Jesus tells us in the gospel we are eternally righteous in Him, there is no denying we struggle with sinful flesh. As a parent, I have made more mistakes than I care to admit. As Paul says in Romans 7:9, I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
And we all struggle in that truth. Parents, pastors, and ministry leaders are sinful people walking our own path of sanctification while attempting to lead others to Christ. Admitting our need for Christ’s mercy allows us to walk humbly alongside those we seek to help.
See Your Identity Biblically
As leaders, we can be drawn into the orphan child’s sense of meaning and purpose. But this is a horrible place to find identity, leading us to take these kids’ brokenness as personal breakdowns or failures.
Our identity does not come from a child’s reaction to our help. It comes from God’s favor. God has redeemed you, adopted you, and prepared you for this task. You are his beloved, and He trusts you in his anointing. Realizing this principle frees us from asking our children for perfect obedience that they cannot give. Instead, it leads us to forget ourselves and lead with selflessness and sacrifice.
See Success Biblically
How we lead is fashioned by what we believe is a success. As parents, we look to academic achievement, milestone development, or social connection. We look to attendance statistics, likability, or positive assessments to evaluate our ministry as leaders.
But our success is not measured by grades, attendance, and good conduct. Instead, it is about being a tool in the hands of our God, who can genuinely create eternal transformation in the lives of the ones we lead.
