Home > July 2011 Newsletter

ORPHAN SUNDAY

Start Planning Now!

Article Image

The Orphan Sunday campaign kicks off in July, but there’s no time like now to begin laying plans!

November 6, 2011 is your chance to be a torchbearer for the orphan.  From a sermon or shoe drive to concert or backyard BBQs, you can harness Orphan Sunday to help others grasp God’s passion for the fatherless and what ordinary Christians can do in response.

Last year, more than 1,000 local churches held Orphan Sunday events.  Here are reports from a few. How will youlift a torch for the orphan this year?

  • We did the “Day in the Life of an Orphan” simulation as an all school Sunday school event, culminating with a cornmeal breakfast. It was really exciting to see people of all ages involved, adults experiencing it through the eyes of the children in their groups. (Faith Baptist, MN)
  • Showed the Orphan Sunday video and led the congregation in prayer.  Simple but meaningful. (Central Presbyterian, CA)
  • We had a slide show celebrating the 80 children who have been in our church this year through foster care…which was a direct result of our Orphan Sunday event of 2009. (College Heights Baptist, WY)
  • Our youth got together on their own and had a bake sale to raise money for orphans.  (Atlanta Chinese Christian Church NW, GA)
  • Our church dedicated 14 children that have been adopted this year (internationally and domestic).  We also celebrated with a family that our church has partnered with to build two bedrooms so they can complete an adoption for a sibling group.  (Grace Covenant, NC)
  • We had about 200 people attend the luncheon after the service. Already one of those couples have started the process to foster to adopt! Others are very interested in Safe Families. We’re going to keep it going!  (The Moody Church, IL)
  • See more on the Alliance Blog… 

Upcoming Events

Two excellent conferences are slated for the months ahead, including National Council for Adoption (NCFA) and Together for Adoption.  The Christian Alliance for Orphans will have the privilege of participating in each of these great events:

NCFA Conference

The NCFA National Adoption Conference will be July 6-9 in the Washington, DC area.  Every year at the conference, leaders in the field of adoption learn what is happening at the forefront of adoption policy and practice and how they can play an active role in improving and safe-guarding adoption.  This year, they are adding educational tracks that provide prospective adoptive parents with the unique opportunity to learn about the latest research on various topics surrounding adoption, as well as resources available to them pre- and post-adoption.

Together for Adoption

Together for Adoption’s (T4A) conference will be held October 21-22 in Phoenix, AZ, centered on the theme “Missional Living, the Gospel and Orphan Care.”  T4A is a potent theological engine for the Christian adoption and orphan movement, helping keep the intellectual foundation where it always must remain:  deeply rooted in the Gospel.   Along with compelling pastors and theologians, the conference will also feature a wide range of nuts-and-bolts workshops for practical engagement with adoption and orphan care.