143 Million Orphans

UNICEF estimates there are at least 143 Million orphans in the world today.  I thought about adding a lot more data and statistics to illustrate the problem.  But do I really need to?  Considering how hard it is for us to leave our kids for a weekend, it's unfathomable to imagine the number of kids who have no Sunday night to look forward to.  For most of these kids, hope died with their parents.

For years, Peg and I have sponsored orphans through Compassion and World Vision.  Every month or quarter, money is deducted from our account to support a child in Somalia and another in India.  For ~$1/day, these children are provided with food, clothes and education.  It was an easy decision...perhaps too easy.

We recently finished reading Radical, by David Platt.  "David Platt challenges Christians to wake up, trade in false values rooted in the American dream, and embrace the notion that each of us is blessed by God for a global purpose."  (Wess Stafford, President and CEO, Compassion International)  I'd recommend it to everyone but brace yourself.  Platt challenges us to alter our thinking from "What can we spare?" to "What will it take?"  Parts of it are hard to stomach, so I can't honestly call it a "good" book.  But it's a good helping of green vegetables for the body of Christ.

We ask that you join us in heartfelt prayer as we seek ways to serve.  As Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision, once prayed, "Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God."  "Lord, We thank you for all the blessings in our lives.  We willingly give back to you all that you've entrusted with us.  We thank you for the opportunity to be your hands and feet."