Why Orphan Sunday?

Sunday, November 8 is Orphan Sunday. So, why preach about orphans instead of how to be happy with your job or how to achieve the maximum potential in your relationships? Because there are around 143 million children in the world right now that will go to bed tonight without a mother’s kiss or a father’s hug. Because it is not good that there are so many fatherless children in our world. Because the church will face God’s judgment if it turns a blind eye to the orphans.

The most important reason that we will spend these two weeks addressing the orphan is because God has a heart for the orphan and He has commanded that His people share His compassion for them. Consider the following verses as you prayerfully consider whether or not you share God’s compassion towards the fatherless.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. Isaiah 1:17

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. Psalm 68:5

Helpful Resources

http://www.orphansunday.org/; http://www.loving-shepherd.com/; http://www.irvingbible.org/index.php?id=1448/; http://lifesongfororphans.org/; http://www.togetherforadoption.org/; http://www.cryoftheorphan.org/display.asp?Page=Home; http://www.russellmoore.com/2009/06/26/orphan-care-and-the-great-commission-resurgence/; http://www.russellmoore.com/2009/10/05/together-for-adoption-interview/; “The Manliness of Adoption: Testosterone and Pure Religion”, sermon preached by David Prince at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, http://www.ashlandbaptistchurch.org/aabc/_files/media//6-21-09am.mp3