Connecting God's Children is a Christian ministry that strives to raise awareness of the need for forever homes for children, living in both our local community and abroad, and to share knowledge, equip and unite communities to respond to God's call to care for orphans. As Christians, it is our responsibility to love, foster, and care for all children everywhere. It is our ministry to connect orphans with forever families and to prepare all God's Children for life's journey. www.cgcministry.org
Once our eyes are opened, we can’t pretend we don’t know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act. Proverbs 24:12
Facts About Orphans and Vulnerable Children
There are 143 million orphans and 400 million vulnerable children in the world, according to UNICEF
By population, orphans would be the 8th largest country in the world China -1,321,851,888 India -1,129,866,154 USA - 301,139,947 Indonesia - 234,693,997 Brazil - 190,010,647 Pakistan - 169,270,617 Bangladesh - 150,448,339 ORPHANS - 143,000,000 Russia - 141,377,752
Somewhere in the world, a child dies every 5.2 seconds due to malnutrition, disease, or neglect. 16,600 die every day Over 6 million kids will die this year alone!
Each day 38,493 children age out of orphanages or government protection programs. Over 14 million this year Most with little or no skills to survive
In Russia, of those who age out of the orphanage system 10-15% commit suicide by age 18 60% of girls become prostitutes 70% of boys become hardened criminals
In the United States, there are 520,000+ kids in foster care 120,000 are immediately adoptable
In the New York foster system, 60% of the kids who age out end up homeless.
We are Together: The Children of Agape Choir (South Africa)
Without the King (Swaziland)
Yesterday (Africa)
Recommended Reading
Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families & Churches by Russell D. Moore
Beneath the Mask: Understanding Adopted Teens by Debbie Riley
Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control: A Love-Based Approach to Helping Attachment-Challenged Children With Severe Behaviors by Heather T. Forbes
Castaway Kid by Rob Mitchell
China Ghosts by Jeff Gammage
Fields of the Fatherless by Tom Davis
from ashes to africa by Josh Bottomly
Girls Like Us by Rachel Lloyd
Invisible Kids by Holly Schlaack
Orphanology by Tony Merida and Rick Morton
Out of Many, One Family: How Two Adults Claimed Twelve Children Through Adoption by Bart and Claudia Fletcher
Scared: A Novel on the Edge of the World by Tom Davis
Terrify No More by Gary A. Haugen and Gregg Hunter
The Connected Child by Dr. Karyn Pervis
The Lost Daughters of China by Karin Evans
The One Factor: How One Changes Everything by Doug Sauder
There Is No Me Without You: One Woman's Odyssey to Rescue Africa's Children byMelissa Fay Greene
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
Toddler Adoption: The Weaver's Craft by Mary Hopkins-Best
Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew by Sherri Eldridge
Please send blog submissions and book, film, documentary, and ministry suggestions to connectinggodschildren@gmail.com. For questions and information about CGC, adoption, foster care, or orphan care email info@cgcministry.org
Thank you for your heart and ministry to kids like I once was.
ReplyDeletePerhaps we can find a way to use me as an encourager for those who are involved or thinking of becoming involved in caring for at-risk kids.
In Hope.
rb mitchell
author
Castaway Kid
wwww.castawaykid.com