EVERYONE CAN SERVE
While adoption is perhaps the ultimate way to serve and minister to the many orphans out there, it is not the only way one can serve. There are all sorts of opportunities to reach out in love - all with varying degrees of commitment and investment. Here, we have a series of pages on the many ways each Christian can get involved and “heed the call” of James 1:27.Foster Care can take a number of forms, from extremely short term (as little as a day in emergency situations) to indefinite (as long as is required for the child's parent to regain custody) to foster-adopt situations, where the child is fully and legally adopted into the fostering family. Here is information on what it takes to be foster families, from the required certifications and training to the process of having a child placed and caring for that child.
Child Sponsorship is a great way to make a difference in the life of a child. Organizations such as Compassion International connect individual sponsors with needed children throughout the world. For a relatively small monthly commitment, God can use you to help provide basic amenities (food, water, clothing), education, and, most of all, access to the gospel.
Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) are adults otherwise unrelated to children in special needs situations (fosterage, orphanage, etc.) who become their legal advocates. They spend time with these children, usually a set time each month - which can vary as needs and circumstances and the relationships change - to grow a relationship with the child, understand the child's desires and needs, and thus as an adult represent the child in an official legal capacity. Here we will cover the prerequisites to become a CASA, the requirements of the position, training and time committed, and again resources that can help in doing this.
Emancipated Youth are orphans or foster children who reach age of majority and thus are released from being wards of the state - thus, emancipated. This is a very difficult position to be in, as most are ill-equipped to handle adult life alone. Many end up homeless, in jail, unable to pursue higher education, and even more. There are programs in place to try to supply a support system to them and ensure that they succeed in the workplace, higher education, or whatever they desire to pursue. As they are now adults, there are rather less stringent legal requirements to assist in this capacity. We have information on how to serve these orphans here.
International Adoption involves adopting an orphan from a foreign country. This can be very complicated and costly and lengthy, and procedures will vary widely between different countries. Here, we hope to assist those interested in adopting internationally with the process by educating them on and providing resources for the steps involved.
Domestic Adoption involves adopting within the United States. While usually less complex, costly, and time-consuming than international adoption, it is still a considerable process, and also can vary depending on the type of adoption chosen. Again, we have information on how to do so, and some resources to help.
Mentorship involves building relationships with children that live “in the system”. These are children that have not been placed into adoptive or foster families; rather, they live in group homes with other unplaced children. They are typically older (often teenagers) who will likely grow up in the system and be released when they “age out”. Mentoring relationships are incredible opportunities to help these young people get headed in the right direction and, more importantly, experience Christ’s love through you.
Foster-Adopt
Safe
Families - Coming soon...
The James 1:27 Ministry team is eager to
serve you! We have “category experts” who can get you started in each of these
areas.
