by Rebecca Goropevsek, Christian Today
There is a verse most Christians know by heart. James 1:27 calls us to look after orphans and widows in their distress. It is a very clear and direct command repeated across Scripture. And the Church has taken it seriously. Generations of believers have built orphanages, funded residential care, and travelled across the world to serve children in need. The heart behind this giving is genuine, generous, and good.
But what if the way we have been expressing that love, however well-intentioned, has sometimes caused harm?
Today, on June 1, International Children’s Day, the World Evangelical Alliance is releasing a statement that I pray will help the global evangelical community better understand its calling to serve vulnerable children. I am deeply thankful for the collaboration that made this statement possible: regional WEA leaders, child welfare experts, and practitioners who brought their experience, their research, and their faith to this work together. And together we feel urgent to share it with all those who support, work with or run orphanages across the world.
Orphanages should be a transition, not a destination