Are you a pastor trying to figure out how to get your church to engage in a local foster care initiative? Download CAFO’s free guide to the next steps here!
Here is a great webinar to help you get started along with the slides and resources from their presentation!
If you are a local church in Pueblo or surrounding counties we want to support you as you recruit foster parents and they need training! We are here to serve and support your Orphan Sunday efforts! Please let us know if you plan to celebrate Orphan Sunday with us!
What is Orphan Sunday?
On Orphan Sunday, Christians around the globe celebrate the love of the God who “defends the cause of the fatherless” and calls us to do the same. Ultimately, Orphan Sunday makes God’s true character and the Gospel itself visible as God’s people explore and respond to His heart for the orphan in adoption, foster care, and global orphan ministry.
Why Orphan Sunday?
God is vested, deeply and personally, in the plight of the orphan (i.e. Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalm 68:5-6). He calls His people to share this passion and bring to each child the love of Jesus Christ in both word and deed (Isaiah 1:17; James 1:27; Matthew 25:40). On Orphan Sunday, the Church is reminded of this truth and invited to act upon it.
What does an Orphan Sunday event or activity look like?
Each local Orphan Sunday event or activity is created by local believers in their local church. So, events vary as much as the people and churches involved. For example, events in 2014 included sermons and Sunday School classes on God’s heart for the orphan, prayer gatherings, fasts and simple meals, student-led fundraisers, foster family recruiting and live concerts.
What resources can we draw from?
The Orphan Sunday website holds an array of ideas and resources for local events, from posters and bulletin inserts to videos, study guides and sermon notes.
Whom does Orphan Sunday impact?
As Christians respond to God’s call to care for orphans, lives are transformed. Certainly, orphans and foster youth are changed forever. But it doesn’t stop there. Individual Christians are drawn beyond a self-focused religion to vibrant, sacrificial discipleship. Their churches grow, too, as the community sees God’s heart and mirrors it. Finally, a watching world is changed as it sees the Gospel made visible in Christian adoption, foster care and global orphan care.
Who leads the Orphan Sunday campaign?
The Orphan Sunday campaign is led by the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), a national coalition of organizations and churches committed to the Gospel and the orphan. CAFO includes more than 180 trusted organizations, from Family Life, Bethany Christian Services, and Show Hope, to Focus on the Family, Buckner International and Compassion International. Most importantly, thousands of Orphan Sunday events are held worldwide each year.
Absolutely! CAFO recognizes every activity and event carries value and moves people closer to the awareness of what the Lord is doing worldwide to help the fatherless. Whether you order “The Orphan’s Table” meal, or a pastor tells his/her story from the pulpit about adopting from the foster care system – we know the Lord is using those moments to inspire us to reach beyond ourselves and into the orphan community.
Where can I find resources to help me?
Great question! We have a wonderful library of resources available to you. We understand your Orphan Sunday focus may be specific: global adoption, orphan care outreach or foster care. We provide something for everyone! Have fun perusing our resources such as: activity/event ideas, sermon notes, downloadable videos, and marketing resources. Don’t forget to share your great ideas with us!
Are there experts I can rely on?
Yes! Orphan Sunday is led by a team of folks who are lay-experts in their areas of interest. You can contact our Orphan Sunday Directors. We strongly encourage you to also rely on others doing just what you’re doing all over the world! For a personal exchange of ideas and experiences, please visit our Facebook page.
What are 3 easy suggestions for a church’s first time Orphan Sunday event?
Here are three easy options to get involved:
1. Set aside a time on Orphan Sunday to pray and/or fast as a church or with a friend
2. Show a video in Sunday services or Sunday school
3. Order ”The Orphan’s Table” meal.
Don’t forget to post your “activity” on the OS Map! No activity is too small!