The sad reality is that orphans with special needs never receive the love, care, and hope for which they are so desperate. These precious, beautiful children are dying alone, without love and without hope. But there is hope.
Every month, Maria’s Big House of Hope, located in Luoyang, China, will provide more than 120 special needs orphans with essential, holistic care. Generous hearts and Show Hope sponsors just like you, right now, are bringing hope and saving the lives of orphans through Maria’s Big House of Hope. Learn more! >
You can support Maria&'s Big House of Hope and change the world for special needs orphans in China by becoming a Show Hope sponsor today! Sponsors will be a part of helping the least of the least receive the love, shelter, food, medical care and surgeries they need to survive. There is such a great need, but you can make a difference!
Watch this video of Steven Curtis Chapman and Geoff Moore explaining why you should become Show Hope sponsor, and become a sponsor today! >
By selling lemonade and writing letters for support, Jordan raised over $1,000 dollars for orphans! What can you do?
YOU can collect change for orphans. People have been collecting change in all kinds of ways. Take a minute and see how they've been showing hope in their communities for orphans! Find out more! >
The story: At the age of 11, Emily Chapman came back from a trip to Haiti, and her heart was on fire to help the orphans and waiting children around the world. Emily already knew that God wanted her family to adopt, but her parents resisted. So she started praying. We believe miracles happen when you pray.
Now, years later, the Chapman's have adopted not 1 but 3 girls, and they have started an organization called Show Hope that mobilizes individuals and communities to care for orphans. Show Hope has helped over 2,000 orphans find a family, and many others have been impacted by their work. Miracles happen when you pray.
The movement: This movement began long before Show Hope. It began long before any of us were born. This movement is rooted in the heart of God (Ps 10:14) and began with God’s infinite love for orphans. This movement will continue long after we are gone, because God loves orphans. This movement consists of broken hearts longing to experience the redemption that is found when we turn our attention off ourselves and love these waiting children.
The forgotten children of the world are some of the most valuable hidden treasures that exist. We seek to serve these orphaned, foster, and waiting children in the name of Christ, regardless of their gender, religion, race, or ethnicity, and we will begin on our knees. Will you join us?
Over 143 million children have lost one or both parents. 1
At least 16.2 million children worldwide have lost both parents. 2
Every 14 seconds a child loses a parent due to AIDS. 3
Conflict has orphaned or separated 1 million children from their families in the 1990s. 4
Where are they?
43.4 million orphans live in sub-Saharan Africa, 87.6 million orphans live in Asia, and 12.4 million orphans live in Latin America and the Caribbean. 5
1.5 million children live in public care in Central and Eastern Europe alone. 6
At any given point there are over 500,000 children in the U.S. Foster Care system. 7
In some countries, children are abandoned at alarming rates, due to poverty, restrictive population control policies, disabilities or perceived disabilities, and cultural traditions that value boys more than girls. 8
What about AIDS?
More than 14 million children under the age of 15 have lost one or both parents to AIDS, the vast majority of them in sub-Saharan Africa. 9
By 2010, the number of children orphaned by AIDS globally is expected to exceed 25 million. 10
AIDS is more likely than other cause of death to result in children losing both parents. 11
As the infection spreads, the number of children who have lost parents to AIDS is beginning to grow in other regions as well, including Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean and Eastern Europe. 12
What happens to the children?
Children are profoundly affected as their parents fall sick and die, setting them on a long trail of painful experiences often characterized by: economic hardship, lack of love, attention and affection, withdrawal from school, psychological distress, loss of inheritance, increased physical and sexual abuse and risk of HIV infection, malnutrition and illness, stigma, discrimination, exploitation, trafficking, and isolation. 13
Orphaned children are much more likely than non-orphans to be working in commercial agriculture, as street vendors, in domestic service and in the sex trade. 14
Unaccompanied boys are at high risk of forced or 'voluntary' participation in violence and armed conflict. 15
Orphanages, children's villages, or other group residential facilities generally fail to meet young people's emotional and psychological needs. 16
What about foster care?
On average, children stay in foster care for 30 months, or 2.5 years. 17
118,000 children were waiting to be adopted on September 30, 2004. 18
On average, those children waiting for adoption have been in foster care for 43.8 months, almost 4 years. 19
Each year, an estimated 20,000 young people “age out” of the U.S. foster care system. Many are only 18 years old and still need support and services. Of those who aged out of foster care: 20
Outcome 21
Earned a high school diploma: 54%
Obtained a Bachelor's degree or higher: 2%
Were unemployed: 51%
Had no health insurance: 30%
Had been homeless: 25% 22
Were receiving public assistance: 30%
Is there any hope?
Yes. There is One who infinitely loves each orphan and calls His people to join Him in caring for the fatherless. Each one of us can Show Hope to an orphan.
If only 7% of the 2 billion Christians in the world would show hope to a single orphan, looking after the child in their distress, there would effectively be no more orphans. We can each do something.
1 Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, United Nations Children's Fund and the United States Agency for International Development, Children on the Brink 2004: A joint report of new orphan estimates and a framework for action, Population, Health and Nutrition Information Project for USAID, Washington, D.C., July 2004, p. 7. http://www.unicef.org/publications/index_22212.html.
2 Ibid, Children on the Brink 2004, p. 29.
3 UNICEF, Press Release: As G8 leaders discuss global poverty, UNICEF puts spotlight on children in poor countries. http://www.unicef.org/media/media_21421.html
4 UNICEF, Aug 2006. From website, “Child Protection from Violence, Exploitation and Abuse.” http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_orphans.html
5 Ibid, Children on the Brink 2004, p. 3
6 UNICEF, Aug 2006. From website, “Child Protection from Violence, Exploitation and Abuse.” http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_orphans.html
7 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and reporting System (AFCARS) 11 data submitted for the FY 2004, 0/1/03 through 9/30/04. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/ tar/report11.htm
8 Human Rights Watch. Easy Targets: Violence against Children Worldwide. New York: Human Rights Watch. 2001, pp. 25-26. http://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/children/
9 Global Partners Forum convened by UNICEF with support from UNAIDS. The Framework for the Protection, Care and Support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Living in a World with HIV and AIDS, July 2004, p 5. Global Strategic Framework: http://www.ovcsupport.net
10 Global Partners Forum convened by UNICEF with support from UNAIDS. The Framework for the Protection, Care and Support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Living in a World with HIV and AIDS, July 2004, p 5. Global Strategic Framework: http://www.ovcsupport.net
11 Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, United Nations Children's Fund and the United States Agency for International Development, Children on the Brink 2004: A joint report of new orphan estimates and a framework for action, Population, Health and Nutrition Information Project for USAID, Washington, D.C., July 2004, p. 11. http://www.unicef.org/publications/index_22212.html
12 Global Partners Forum convened by UNICEF with support from UNAIDS. The Framework for the Protection, Care and Support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Living in a World with HIV and AIDS, July 2004, p 7. Global Strategic Framework: http://www.ovcsupport.net
13 Global Partners Forum convened by UNICEF with support from UNAIDS. The Framework for the Protection, Care and Support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Living in a World with HIV and AIDS, July 2004, p 9. Global Strategic Framework: http://www.ovcsupport.net
14 United Nations Children's Fund, The State of the World's Children 2006. Dec 2005, p. 50. http://www.unicef.org/publications/index_30398.html
15 Ibid, UNICEF, Aug 2006. From website, “Child Protection from Violence, Exploitation and Abuse.”
16 Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, United Nations Children's Fund and the United States Agency for International Development, Children on the Brink 2004: A joint report of new orphan estimates and a framework for action, Population, Health and Nutrition Information Project for USAID, Washington, D.C., July 2004, p. 20. http://www.unicef.org/publications/index_22212.html.
17 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and reporting System (AFCARS) 11 data submitted for the FY 2004, 0/1/03 through 9/30/04. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/ tar/report11.htm
18 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and reporting System (AFCARS) 11 data submitted for the FY 2004, 0/1/03 through 9/30/04. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/ tar/report11.htm
19 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and reporting System (AFCARS) 11 data submitted for the FY 2004, 0/1/03 through 9/30/04. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/ tar/report11.htm
20 National Foster Care Month, Facts about Children in Foster Care, 2006 Fact Sheet. http://www.fostercaremonth.org/FactsAndStatistics/
21 Young adults ages 18-24 years old 2.5 to 4 years after leaving foster care: Cook, R. (1992). Are we helping foster care youth prepare for the future? Children and Youth Services Review. 16(3/4), 213-229. Cook, R.; Fleishman, E., & Grimes, V. (1989). A National Evaluation of Title IV-E Foster Care Independent Living Programs for Youth (Phase 2 Final Report, Volume 1). Rockville: Westat, Inc.
22 Cook, R. (1991). A national evaluation of title IV-E foster care independent living programs for youth. Rockville, MD: Westat Inc. http://www.cwla.org/programs/fostercare/factsheetafter.htm
We want to genuinely thank you for adding ChurchLook. It's our hope that as we progress in this new ministry, we'll be able to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and promote those, specifically the Church, sharing that truth. We're praying for a revolution and awakening within the body in order to see a revival of the society. God Bless and stay committed to the one true God!
EVERLASTING FLOWERS Luke 8, versus 11 - 15 In the garden of your life, you choose the path you take, Jesus Christ, your Saviour's hand holds the weeding rake. Just let Him lead you daily along His lighted path, Steadily along life's ways, He'll guide you with His staff. If you choose the HARD path, you're not in the garden at all, Please open your ears and heart to the Saviour's call. Don't take the STONY ground, Jesus never promised us a life of ease. He knows its never easy not to do just as you please. Your bound to hit some THORNY patches as your garden starts to grow, Just confess your failures to Him, His love He wants you to know. Then from the GOOD soil, you will be, all fertilized with Himself, You will be a prize bloom shining, not some seeds left on the shelf. For when you bloom and grow, with God's rising sap of love, The seeds of life will scatter with a never-ending source of love
Hey... Funny how I found ya... I wrote a song titled "Children (hope)" will be on my next album. May God continue pouring His many blessings upon your life.
Hey I hope you had a great day! I've been real busy recording new songs since American Idol! I am so excited cuz I just found out you can buy my new song 'MY COWBOY' on iTunes! Just click on my Banner at the top of my page and it will take you to iTunes....and please write a review & rate my song :D (5 Stars...pleeeease) when you're there. Stop by and leave me a comment and let me know what you think :D Thanks for all your support and help me spread the word! Make sure you check out my Upcoming Shows on my page cuz I would love to meet you at one of them. Love ya and God Bless, The One & Only Mishavonna :D
Echad fuera de vosotros la amargura, las pasiones, el enojo, los gritos, los insultos y toda clase de maldad. Sed buenos y compasivos unos con otros, y perdonaos unos a otros como Dios os perdonó en Cristo. efesios 4 v 31- 32
20 De cierto, de cierto os digo, que vosotros lloraréis y lamentaréis, y el mundo se alegrará; pero aunque vosotros estéis tristes, vuestra tristeza se convertirá en gozo.
21 La mujer cuando da a luz, tiene dolor, porque ha llegado su hora; pero después que ha dado a luz un niño, ya no se acuerda de la angustia, por el gozo de que haya nacido un hombre en el mundo.
22 También vosotros ahora tenéis tristeza; pero os volveré a ver, y se gozará vuestro corazón, y nadie os quitará vuestro gozo.
23 En aquel día no me preguntaréis nada. De cierto, de cierto os digo, que todo cuanto pidiereis al Padre en mi nombre, os lo dará.
24 Hasta ahora nada habéis pedido en mi nombre; pedid, y recibiréis, para que vuestro gozo sea cumplido.
THANKS FOR THE ADD MY NEW FRIEND. I PRAY GOD'S BLESSING ON YOUR LIFE. Heaven’s Strength God walks with you, He'll do his part to lift up and mend shattered hearts Water His shoulder with your tears whisper to Him all doubts and fears Find comfort these times soon shall pass Life is but a tempestuous, fragile glass Yet, with a wave of God's mighty hand He can scatter troubles upon the sand Leave the window of life opened wide Bidding your Shepherd to come inside During trials and troubles invite God in Bringing peace and comfort once again
“God is our refuge and strength A very present help in trouble” Psalm 46:1 “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” Acts 24:15
“This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.” Psalm 119:50
“And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. ” Deuteronomy 31:8
