Sources: Various
“COVID-19 and its many ripple effects have done great harm to families worldwide. This tragedy brings both an immense challenge and an immense opportunity. The local church in every nation has both the calling and the community capable of making a world of difference—restoring broken families, strengthening struggling families, and welcoming children into new families whenever needed.” – Jedd Medefind, Christian Alliance for Orphans
- Maybe you read the recent CDC report Children: The Hidden Pandemic 2021 or saw it cited in news stories.
- Maybe you saw the press release from earlier this month reporting that more than 140,000 US children (1 in 500) had lost a parent or caregiver to the pandemic by the end of June. The numbers have only gone up since then, both in the US and globally.
Several ministries we know are offering ways to learn more or respond.
- The Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) has a great blog and both conducts and curates research. CAFO invites us to participate in the 20th annual, international Orphan and Stand Sunday on November 7. Is this something you or your church would want to be part of?
- Crisis Care Training International is offering their course Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children online starting soon (October 24 to December 17). They also offer the downloadable curriculum materials.
- The Chalmers Center is offering a three-week online course called Helping Without Hurting in International Orphan Care (October 25 to November 9). Worth checking out.