By Kevin Squires | Sr. Director of Advocacy
Being the father of two young boys, I hear my fair share of knock-knock jokes.
“Knock, knock,” says my three year old.
“Who’s there?” I reluctantly say.
“BOO!” loud enough for the neighbors to hear.
“BOO who?” I say for the 987498273th time… trying desperately not to roll my eyes.
“Oh, Daddy, don’t cry! It’s just a joke.” And then he hugs me, trying to comfort my pain. Hey, maybe the joke’s worth it after all.
On my recent trip to Ethiopia, while there was little to joke about, there were many “knocks.” As we spent the week serving at different orphan projects, “the knocking door” quickly became a constant provider of background noise. At first, I didn’t notice the sound. I didn’t pick up on the fact that the project directors would continually go to the door only to return downtrodden.
Finally, days into our trip, having heard what seemed to be hundreds of knocks, I decided to follow the project director to the door. Right before my very eyes, knocking on the door, stood a 5 or 6-year-old street kid…begging to call that orphanage his “home.” But, there was a problem…the orphanage was full. Matter of fact, they were ALL full that week. Child after child, all seemed to be living on the streets of Addis, being turned away…constantly being told there was “no room in the inn.”
Reality is, with the rise of the global orphan crisis numbering well over 150 million, it’s no secret that there is no room for all these children. But, this doesn’t come as a surprise to God; He has a plan. You see, God empowered us and equipped us with a Spirit-led church that can provide the room, that can provide the love, and that can provide the resources to holistically care for these children. “Churches partnering with churches” isn’t just our model of orphan care; it’s a part of God’s call to mankind to restore His Kingdom on earth…to bring peace to the chaos…and to bring hope to the hopeless.
Talk with your church leadership today. Tell them about World Orphans and church-to-church partnership. The knocks will keep coming, so let’s rise up and answer the door.
Christ said, “For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:10