Serving the Father to the Fatherless - Part Two

Yesterday was Orphan Sunday.  I'm not 100% sure what all that involves, who started it, or who all participates in it, but I thought that part two of my Serving the Father to the Fatherless posts would be relevant to write today. 

I attend a church here in Birmingham that puts more time, money, energy, and effort into serving the fatherless than any other church I have attended.  Granted, I haven't been to a ton of churches, but still I appreciate the emphasis that The Church at Brook Hills puts on the subjects of adoption, orphans, foster care, and serving the fatherless.

Just about a year ago I heard a song written on the subject of adoption by my friend, Mandi Mapes.  She was asked to write the song to go alongside a sermon on this topic by the pastor of our church, David Platt.  Unfortunately, I did not attend this faith-family at the time that this sermon was preached, but I do remember the sermon (or at least the time period that he preached it) very vividly because I was asked to put together a bunch of foster care informational packets while I was an intern at the Children's Homes (see part one).  I remember hearing someone [jokingly] say, "After last Sunday everyone at Brook Hills wants to be a foster parent."

A few paper cuts and about a year and a half later, I finally heard the song that accompanied the sermon that has made an impact on me, and much of our faith-family.  It brought tears to my eyes as I sat in the car last December and listened to the words of this song called, This Love, with my boyfriend Jason. Again, the longing that I have inside me to care for an orphan was touched, and I wanted to talk about it for hours on end.  Fortunately, I had Jason there to listen to me ramble on and on about how I remember when Brook Hills did a big push for families to get involved in foster care and how much I wanted to be a part of that someday.

I realize that not everyone at Brook Hills is involved in serving the fatherless, but I appreciate those who are. As I look around my faith-family, my heart is gladened for the families that I see with children that are not biologically their own. 

In July, our pastor announced that he and his wife, Heather, would be adopting a little girl from China in the late part of 2011.  This will be their second adopted child and third child.  I have heard him ask for prayers for the adoption process over the last year that I have attended Brook Hills because the process to adopt from overseas, and really just in general, can also bring forth a lot of anxiety. angst, and frustration. This past Friday he announced that the Platt family will travel overseas to get their little girl in the next few weeks.

I am ecstatic for David and Heather Platt to adopt a little girl from overseas.  When I first heard that they had finally received word that they would be blessed with a daughter from China, I began to cry tears of joy for the happiness that she will bring into their lives.  Now, as I watch my pastor announce with giddiness to the church that he will be going in upcoming weeks to go get this child and bring her home, I cannot help but praise the sovereign Lord for the gift of adoption.

I am thankful for the example that the Platt family has set.  I truly believe that many of the families that attend Brook Hills would have been involved with foster care and/or adoption because of a calling that God had for them apart from the church they attend.  But I also believe that the example and the vocal challenge that David Platt has given the Church of Brook Hills to pray for orphans, to become a foster parent, or to adopt a child has spurred many families to follow after God's will for them to be involved in foster care and/or adoption.  He's given them an extra little push in that direction, and I couldn't be more thankful for it.  I hope for and look forward to the day that I am blessed enough to be included!

Each week Brook Hills collectively prays for churches and ministries, locally in Birmingham and also globally.  This week we will be praying for the Alabama Baptist Children's Homes as a faith-family.  I urge anyone that reads this to take it upon yourself to join us in that this week.  I pray that Orphan Sunday is not just a Sunday that comes and goes each year.  For families who immerse themselves in the lives of orphans, this is a calling that they live out daily.  We, as God's church, should continually lift up them up in prayer and unite ourselves with them as the Body of Christ. 

We are serving the one true God and he is the Father to the fatherless.

Resources:
Mandi Mapes, This Love
The Church at Brook Hills Podcast from 9/5/09 Faith Loves (on adoption & foster care)
The Church at Brook Hills Podcast from 7/2/11 The Child Yet Unborn (David Platt's announcement of adoption from China)
Orphan Sunday Video by the Christian Alliance for Orphans
Alabama Baptist Children's Homes & Family Ministries website
The Church at Brook Hills Weekly Local Prayer Guide (this week for The Children's Homes)