The most jaw dropping statistic EVER. If 7% of those who call themselves Christian's would ADOPT just ONE, the current orphans would all be in homes **. Today is Orphan Sunday.
Let's Stop.
Think.
PRAY.
Get OFF out Bums.
AND DO SOMETHING!
Donate.
Foster.
ADOPT.
Change the life of a CHILD. Make a difference for ONE.
Because after all, we too are ADOPTED.
I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. John 14:16
**I realize that adoption is not the complete answer, and adopting all of the current orphans is not feasible for various reasons. The statistic is more for the illustration, as it was for me when I first read it, that we as a collective group can really make a difference! For a more detailed explanation, see the wonderful comment by Haley.**
Hey Amy, I understand where you are coming from in this post and I couldn't agree more -- we need to advocate for more adoption, especially from within the body of Christ.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the statistic you referenced is a major distortion of reality. If all those who called themselves Christians chose to adopt, that would be really amazing, but the orphan crisis would still be firmly in place. Even if all of the children who are orphans today were adopted, a whole new generation of orphans would replace them in a matter of weeks. The reality is that adoption only addresses the symptom of the major underlying issues -- poverty, AIDS, lack of sanitation & basic health care, social stigma, etc -- that CAUSE children to be orphaned in the first place. Adoption also ONLY benefits those who live in countries that allow adoption, and even within countries that are open to adoption there are still many, many orphans who cannot be legally adopted for a multitude of reasons (i.e. NOT because there aren't enough adoptive parents).
We have to remember that as great as adoption can be for families and children, it can't solve anything long term. It can help children who have already gone through the trauma of losing their parent(s), but it can't prevent future children from going through that same heartache.
Again, I totally know where you're coming from in advocating for adoption and I'm right there with you! I just think it is so important that we recognize what adoption can and can't do when it comes to the futures of the world's children.
Thanks for bringing to my attention how the post was misleading! It wasn't my intention at all! It has been edited to refect what it should have said in the first place. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy -- I'm glad you weren't offended or anything... sometimes it is hard to convey tone and intention in a blog comment, and I am thankful that you totally "got" what I was saying and intending. :)
ReplyDelete