Sadly, orphan care is necessary. More than 100,000 orphans are waiting to be adopted in the U.S. right now.
Yes, many circumstances are beyond the child’s control but more to the point, many circumstances are beyond the control of parents.
But much of the control is within the control of the parents.
“Children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect. Over 3 million reports of child abuse are made every year in the United States; however, those reports can include multiple children. In 2007, approximately 5.8 million children were involved in an estimated 3.2 million child abuse reports and allegations.” via ChildHelp.org.
- A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds
- Almost five children die every day as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4
- It is estimated that between 60-85% of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates
- 90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by family members
- Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education
- 31% percent of women in prison in the United States were abused as children
- Over 60% of people in drug rehabilitation centers report being abused or neglectedas a child
- About 30% of abused and neglected childrenwill later abuse their own children,continuing the horrible cycle of abuse
- About 80% of 21 year old that were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder
- The estimated annual cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States for 2007 is $104 billion
- Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy
- Abused teens are 3 times less likely to practice safe sex, putting them at greater risk for STDs
Read more statistics here.
The issue of orphan care is not just about orphans; it’s about potential orphans, but more specifically parents who have the power to prevent children from becoming orphans. It’s not just about children. This is about parents who are being parents.
This is why parents need the Gospel. Because of the Gospel, “be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. … Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 5:1-2; 6:4).
The Gospel changes everything even the prevention of doing orphan care.