Churches throughout America carry out their responsibility to build up and encourage families within their congregations with excellence. They go to great efforts to strengthen relationships, offer discipleship, and provide mentoring or assistance for parents and children to thrive. Across the nation, Christians are also increasingly involved in foster care and supporting families in crisis within their local communities.
Yet sometimes the church loses this family-first focus when we begin to think globally. Too often, there is a disconnect between how churches in America uplift families domestically compared to how they support orphaned and vulnerable children worldwide.
Each spring break, as students and churches around the country head out on their annual short-term mission trips, this disconnect is on full display. More than two million Americans go on short-term mission trips each year, and though planned with the best intentions, residential care facilities, like orphanages and children’s homes, have become a common stop on the itinerary. There was a time when the church I serve, Port City Community Church, did the same. Years ago, our vision around this began to change.
What many people don’t realize is that most children in orphanages around the world have been separated from their families unnecessarily. It’s estimated that of the 5 million to 8 million children who live in orphanages worldwide, four out of five of them have at least one living parent—and the others have extended family members who could take care of them. Parents who struggle to keep their families together often believe orphanages are the best option for their children to receive adequate food, shelter, medical care, and education. Yet we have come to learn there is a better way.
Research shows that children grow best in families, and Christians in the U.S. can help them stay in or return to that family setting—but many churches will have to make a change. A recent study shows that American Christians currently support orphanages with both money and time. The study estimates $2.5 billion dollars are donated each year to orphanages, and approximately 4 million people have visited an orphanage on a mission trip. Many who visit and volunteer at these facilities believe financial and hands-on support is the best way to help orphaned and vulnerable children.
Our church takes seriously the mandate in Acts 1:8—that we are to be witnesses for Jesus “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” With a holistic focus on formation and discipleship within our congregation, we refer to what is typically called “missions” as “encounters.” We acknowledge that God is working here and around the world, so we prayerfully ask, “How can we enter in?”
In the past, we supported orphanages. But after learning from organizations like our partner World Orphans about the power of helping vulnerable families directly, we have transitioned many of our “encounter” efforts. Now, our three church campuses partner with like-minded organizations that empower, equip, and provide dignity to families globally.
We learned what family strengthening can look like and the tangible impacts of education, training, material provision, and medical care on an entire community. This new approach helps prevent children from being separated from their parents and placed in orphanages. Our “encounter” trips are now designed to learn from our partners and support those who are already involved in the local work.
On one recent trip to Guatemala, we spent time with a social worker from the community who had taught a cooking class to a group of women. A mother who attended the training started making donuts at home, which she then sold in the community. Because of this income, she is now able to provide for her children and keep her family together. We met another woman who was able to escape domestic violence and care for her child independently because of a job opportunity she had at a leather goods shop that was created by one of our partners. Small investments in families like these can transform communities.
Our church isn’t alone—Christians around the world are responding to the needs of vulnerable children in novel and creative ways, adapting to prevent harm to children and ensuring that they remain in or are placed in safe and loving families. The church has a unique opportunity to lead the shift in how we support orphaned and vulnerable children. Instead of settling for just serving in orphanages, we can reject long-held misconceptions and embrace a vision of God’s best for children and their families.
As churches around the U.S. plan annual spring and summer break mission trips, I encourage you to pray about how to effectively invest in children globally by partnering with family-strengthening organizations. There is no better way to set orphaned and vulnerable children up for a lifetime of success.
