Why Do We Work With Orphans?

Part of the outreaches that Baptist Evangelism has been involved with since 1998, with Carelink International and in just the last few years working with orphans we have been confronted with questions like, "Why?" "Why meet people on a physical level?" "Why treat the body?" "Why branch out into 'social activism' and help orphans?"

The better question is, Why haven't we sooner? A continuing theme throughout the Bible is that of God being the champion of the undeserving, the unable, the "underdog". God was never ashamed to call Himself the champion of the weak, the helper of the helpless, or the Father to the fatherless. So why, as His representation on earth, should we do anything less? 

This isn't social activism

This isn't a social gospel program. This isn't even some "gimmick" to give people the Gospel. This is just God honoring. This is the effectual working out of the love of God shed abroad in our hearts, moving us into a Christ compelled mission of touching people's lives and demonstrating the salvation of man.

Perhaps one of the most oft quoted passages in the work of orphans or the underprivileged would be James 1.27,

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, to keep himself unspotted from the world."

Where is James coming from in writing this? Where does this definition of pure religion come from? This all stems from the outflow, the outward appearance of faith. We help others because we have been helped. The work that Baptist Evangelism is doing in providing humanitarian aid and caring for the fatherless is action prompted by transformation. It is also demonstrative of the work that has been done. Again, we help because we have been helped. God became Father to every single believer when we were made joint heirs with the Son. We, though destitute and sinking ever further into the mire of our own iniquitous pit, were raised up by the strong arm of the Lord and made to sit with Him in heavenly places. This imagery is acted out in the care of orphans. They are destitute and hopeless by themselves. But, not by any merit of their own, they are raised up in strong arms of Christians who are giving themselves to provide for the weak. 

This is not an article written solely to address the purposes of the ministries of Baptist Evangelism, but also a call to arms for others to join us. If you have been changed change other's lives. If you have been touched by the hand of the Lord, touch others. We have been given much and much will be required of us. Are we exercising a pure religion? Are we being Christ-like and giving ourselves for the wretched and the poor? These are the marks of Christian. Are they found in your life?  

Networking

May Update

Mourning to Morning Guesthouse

The theme that we've adopted for the ministry in Haiti is "Mourning to Morning". In wake of the devastating earthquake we realized so much of the Gospel is about bringing people from mourning to morning. 

In a social aspect this means bringing the physically, mentally, and socially hurting (mourning - grief) to a place where they can see the Bright and Morning Star of God. We believe the Scripture when it says that "joy comes in the morning."

This joy, however, is by no means restricted or limited to physical joy or a relief of physical mourning. At the center of bringing physical relief is the relief of spiritual mourning that Christ brings. When we're dead in our trespasses and sins, separated from God, we have no joy. We have no peace. We have nothing but mourning. But when Christ, the Son, comes we behold His glory and we are set free. We, through Christ, are brought from mourning to morning. 

   As part of these works we've acquired a building in Port Au Prince where we can host groups to come to Haiti. This aspect of the M2M Ministry Center is known as the Mourning to Morning Guesthouse. 

Read more: Mourning to Morning Guesthouse