“Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption” - J.I. Packer

“Adoption is greater than the universe. Adoption at the horizontal level is rooted in adoption at the vertical level. Before the foundation of the world adoption was God’s idea.” - John Piper

“I started thinking about my own children. “I started thinking about my own children. I thought, “what if they were left alone? I thought, “what if they were left alone? I would want someone to do something to help them. When I look at the Bible, that's exactly what God wants us to do. Not just get moved by the plight of orphans, but do something." - Francis Chan

“God has taught me a lot about his grace and mercy toward me through the process of adoption. It is a picture of the grace of God in us.” - David Platt

“If you care about the great commission, you must care about orphans. God is so passionate about the fatherless in Scripture because adoption is one of the greatest pictures we have of our own salvation.” -Matt Carter -Matt Carter

“ A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families” -Psalm 68:5-6 -Psalm 68:5-6

God’s HEART for orphan: He is Father to the Fatherless

“You shall not mistreat a widow or a fatherless child.” –Exodus 22:22 “He executes justice for the fatherless.” –Deuteronomy 10:18 –Deuteronomy 10:18 “‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’”-Deuteronomy 27:19

“Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.” –Psalm 82:3 –Psalm 82:3 “The Lord watches over the sojourners; He upholds the widow and the fatherless.” -Psalm 146:9

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

“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

God’s HEART for orphans: He is Father to the Fatherless God’s PLAN for orphans: He sets orphans in families

The early Church was known, even among people who despised it, as a community that cared for orphans.

God’s HEART for orphans: He is Father to the Fatherless God’s PLAN for orphans: He sets orphans in families God’s CHURCH for orphans: Vehicle God uses to carry out His plan for orphans

“On this rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not stand against it.” -Matthew 16:18

Why the Church?

The Church has: The largest participation The widest distribution The simplest administration The fastest expansion The longest continuation The strongest authorization The highest motivation The highest motivation

“The Church is the distribution center for hope in communities and throughout the world.” -Rick Warren

Questions the Western Church must Answer Do we want to be a people known more for what we are against, or who we are for?

Questions the Western Church must Answer Are we simply for women having their babies, or are we for these babies having families?

Questions the Western Church must Answer Are we called only to talk about the love of Jesus to a hurting world, or does God call us to display it as well?

Questions the Western Church must Answer What sort of Father do we believe God is?

God’s HEART for orphans: He is Father to the Fatherless God’s PLAN for orphans: He sets orphans in families God’s CHURCH for orphans: Vehicle God uses to carry out His plan for orphans God is the REDEEMER of orphans: The way the Church cares for orphans is intended to reflect the Father’s adopting love for us

He planned to redeem us He did not leave us as orphans He did not build us an orphanage; He set us in His family