by: Randy Phillips / Sr. Director of Church Partnership
“I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” (Isaiah 49:15-16)
The prophet Isaiah writes of Israel’s God, who never forgets their story and suffering and longs to be their redeemer. Paul writes, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.” (Romans 15:13) We have hope because we know our God will not forget us.
As I sat around a table with leaders from a church in the US and a church in the red zone of Guatemala City, a Guatemalan woman with a bright smile began to share a story about a sister in Christ who grew up in the church, but walked away and found herself in a hard season of suffering and pain. The woman was living hopelessly, her hands covered in charcoal dust, struggling to put food on the table for her children. But when our family preservation ministry was launched in her church, the woman with the bright smile invited her long-lost sister to join in. She never forgot about the young mom and she found a way to offer her hope. The young mom is now actively participating in the church and ministry, changing the course of her life and her children’s lives forever.
In cross-cultural church partnerships at World Orphans, where churches collaborate to help families flourish, we are always getting fresh perspectives on the richness of scripture and witnessing new ways that communities are engaging. These insights allow us to see the words of Isaiah and Paul in new ways. When we slow down and listen, we can learn beautiful lessons from our brothers and sisters across the world on how to love, which often means remembering pain and offering hope through Christ.
As I gripped a small, hot ceramic cup during an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, I heard another story of one who wasn’t forgotten. A former Muslim woman–now a follower of Christ–shared her story of moving from darkness to light. She was teetering on the edge of giving her children over to an orphanage, but where she lived, there was a pastor who walked his community’s dusty, narrow roads, getting to know people and asking if he could pray for them. The former Muslim mom was one of those whom the pastor met. He never forgot her, and he invited her into the family preservation ministry. The woman is now a leader in the church and community, offering hope to others with similar stories.
God is the God of hope. We are ever before him, engraved on his hands, and his delight. He knows our names, stories, pain, and joy. The church, you and I, are his body on earth, offering hope to those on the margins. When we walk in community, especially with those different from us, we find our hope is connected to the God of hope who fills us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him.
This article was originally published in the World Orphans Spring Insight Magazine 2025.