Assisting families and churches to care for fatherless and abandoned children in their homes and providing healthy orphanages to assist with the mounting number of orphaned and abandoned children.
The actual number of orphans in Congo is very hard to determine. However, estimates from a variety of groups predict 15% of the population under age 18 are orphans, or about 5 million children throughout Congo. In Kinshasa, we have seen and heard of countless thousands of orphans, and over the past ten years we have been able to assist both families who were already in the practice of taking orphaned and abandoned children into their homes, as well as some of these larger group homes. There is not a single church we know of where the orphaned and widowed community is not a significant portion of the congregation. AIDS, the collateral damage of war, and the abandonment of infants by young mothers trapped in sexual bondage all continue to add to the growing number of orphans.
The plea for help from our brothers and sisters is to come alongside and assist them in any way with can with the care of these children. Obviously, the other ministry opportunities already presented include as a major component of the care of orphans. In addition to helping the churches in a variety of ways, the pastors have asked us to consider opening an orphanage at the CEFOREA compound. While adoption or some kind of foster care is most preferable, the sheer number of orphans constantly pushes in the direction of needing larger group homes.
Social workers, counselors and willing moms and dads can have a part in helping to meet this great need.
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