subject: Can You Offer Children In Child Adoption Programs Some Hope? [print this page] In Matthew 10:42 Jesus tells His disciples: "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." The disciples were puzzled. When did they do this? Jesus said: "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of My brethren, you did it to Me."
In modern times the "these little ones" are the hungry, unsheltered poor of the developing world - those without hope. They are the millions who struggle to survive without enough food, safe drinking water, protection from the elements, and basic health care. As for education, or any hope for the future ... they can't imagine it.
The most vulnerable of these poverty-stricken masses are the children, who may be waiting for adoption.
At least 21,000 children die every day due to poverty. Of the 2.2 billion children worldwide, around 1 billion live in poverty. Millions of them are in need of the most basic shelter, clean water and sanitation, and health care - and hope.
How can we help?
Many in the Western world fear that the problems of world poverty are so immense, that we "little people" can't offer much and can't really make a difference, however much we'd like to. But the fact is that we can offer hope to children waiting for adoption. Each of us has the ability to transform an individual child's life and save that boy or girl from misery and deprivation.
One way of doing this might be to take part in children for adoption programs. But that is a very big step for both the potential parent and the child.
Even if such action is possible from a financial and bureaucratic point of view, children for adoption programs require those taking part to make some life-changing commitments. A child must move thousands of miles to a new home and culture, and the new parents must be prepared for lifelong responsibility. Adoption can work wonderfully well, but it is a big challenge.
However, there is a very effective alternative to offer hope to children. A simple but tried and trusted way of helping children in need is through a child sponsorship program. Other than full-on adoption, it is a genuine way to transform the life of a child in need.
Through a trusted sponsorship organization a caring person makes an offer of hope by sending a small fixed sum each month to help a selected child. In return, that child will receive proper nourishment, clean drinking water, health care (including immunizations and regular checkups), and a good education - and ultimately hope. There is no need for sponsored children to move away from their home country and culture because their essential needs will now be met by the caring sponsor overseas.
The gift of education is particularly important, as an educated child has the prospect of perhaps offering hope to their country and community by becoming a teacher or doctor in the long-term. In that way sponsorship can change not just one life, but that of a whole community.
Sponsors become a part of the child's family from early on. The sponsor and the child communicate through letters and photographs, and there will be regular progress reports. There may also be opportunities to visit the child in his or her home country.
This really is a case of "hands across the sea" from a compassionate Western person to a child in desperate need. Sponsorship through a Christian organization also offers hope in another way by ensuring that there is constant spiritual nourishment. The children will be taught about all aspects of Christian life, as they experience God's love in action.
