Millions of children around the world are without parents to love and care for them. But every child needs support to grow up happy and healthy. Helping orphans is a biblical call to action for all of us.

Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. — Isaiah 1:17, NIV

But how can you help these little ones in need? Here, we share the importance of standing in the gap for the vulnerable, how to help orphans and one supporter’s personal story of how they learned to support children through Compassion.

What’s Here:

What Help Do Orphans Need the Most?

Millions of children around the world are orphaned. This means they’ve either lost one or both parents or they simply lack parental love and care.

Without a caregiver, orphans are often in need of food, shelter and other necessities. And since many are alone, they need protection from exploitation and violence.

The trauma of orphanhood can also result in children needing mental health support and spiritual encouragement. The needs of orphans are critical and many, which is why it’s up to us to fulfill them.

What Does the Bible Say About Orphans?

Isaiah 1:17 (quoted above) is far from the only Bible verse that talks about orphans. After all, these little ones have a special place in God’s heart. And he asks us to hold that same special place in our hearts for them too.

In fact, James 1:27 (NIV) says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

As Christians, we’re called to look after the orphans and those in need, just as Jesus did. He healed the sick, fed the hungry and befriended those who may have seemed “less than.” We must do the same.

How to Help Orphans: 4 Practical Ways

1. Sponsor an Orphan

Many orphans around the world live in extreme poverty. This means they lack necessities such as medical care, food, clean water and education. You can change that by sponsoring an orphan through Compassion.

Through child sponsorship, you donate to a child monthly. This connects them to a local church that gives them what they need to thrive physically, emotionally and spiritually.

In partnership with the local church, we ensure their pressing needs, such as medical checkups, are met — and most importantly we introduce them to the hope found in Jesus, which can change their lives completely.

Learn more about the benefits of sponsoring an orphan.

2. Give Aid to the Vulnerable

Orphans often live in child-headed households or with caregivers who are unable to care for them well. Some children live with elderly family members or even parents who are sick. Many of these children are at risk of abuse or exploitation without family to protect them.

At Compassion, we work with local church partners to identify, support and protect children living in vulnerable circumstances. You can help these at-risk children by donating to our Highly Vulnerable Children fund.

3. Be an Orphan’s Voice

Another way you can help orphans is by simply advocating for then. Use your voice to speak up for children who may not have a voice. For example, share ways to serve those in need by talking to your friends and family or by posting on social media.

You can also host a Compassion Sunday at your church to invite your church family to stand up for children in need.

4. Pray

Prayer changes things! Take some time out of your day to pray for God to protect orphans and other children in vulnerable situations. Ask God to bring trusted adults into their lives to advocate for them and intervene when necessary. And pray for orphans around the world to know the hope and healing found in Jesus.

A Personal Story About Helping Orphans

The below story was shared by MeLissa Houdmann, a Compassion International sponsor.

As a 16-year-old, my life was pretty easy. Sure, I fretted about my next algebra test and increasing my basketball shooting percentage. But I didn’t worry about where dinner would come from. My loving parents worked hard to supply me with clothes and food. Like most teenagers, I took those things for granted.

Several years later, I took a trip to Brazil with Compassion and met Anderson, a 16-year-old boy who didn’t take any of those things for granted. He invited me into his home with hospitality I’d never experienced from a teenage boy before.

His one-room home, where he lived alone, contained a bed, a couch and a few kitchen items. I chuckled when I saw his basketball shoes, nicely cleaned, placed next to a bottle of hair gel. While he lived alone, he was still a teenager!

I could tell Anderson was nervous, but he really wanted to tell me his story. He had a gleam in his eye that came from God’s work in his life, and he was bursting to share it. I listened as he shared about his difficult life.

Orphaned & Alone

When Anderson was a small child, his mother left the family. Then, when he turned 10, his father died, leaving Anderson and his two brothers alone. To deal with the loss, his older brothers turned to drugs, and within four weeks, they were also dead — one from a drug overdose and one from gang violence.

At 10 years old, Anderson became an orphan. He had no one to support him, care for him or love him.

Anderson had a life-changing decision to make. He could turn to the streets, or he could turn to his local church and Compassion center that was only a couple of blocks from his house.

Compassion Stepped In

Anderson turned to the streets but quickly learned that he’d made the wrong choice. The dangers, such as violence and drug activity, were unavoidable, and the gangs didn’t provide the support he craved.

One day, he opened the door to the Compassion center. He was greeted by the people who have been his family ever since.

Now, each day, they provide him with a hot shower and a meal. They encourage him to attend school and teach him about a God who cares for orphans and widows. He even calls the center director “Mom.”

When he was 18, Anderson worked at a local pizza shop for one year, saving his paychecks because he dreamed of owning his own business. With help and training from the Compassion center staff, he now runs a car wash service in front of his house.

When he became very ill with a parasite in his brain, the Compassion center provided for his recovery through antibiotic treatment. He is healthy once again, and his small business is thriving. He dreams of improving his business and renovating his little house.

Most importantly, Anderson is continuing to heal from abandonment and loss through the love of Jesus. Despite his difficult circumstances, Anderson chooses to walk with God as his Father.

“We thank God for all the opportunities Anderson has received and that we can help meet his needs. We pray to the Lord that his life will get better and better and that we can have the strength to help several other boys like Anderson who need love, care and protection.” — Vânia, Compassion center director

Helping Orphans: Show Love & Care to the Fatherless

Compassion’s programs are instrumental in keeping orphaned children off the streets and giving them the support they need to flourish. With the help of the local church, they can access nutritious food, clean water, medical care and education, among other necessities.

If you were to visit Anderson’s home, you would see this painted on his wall:  Eu te amo e Jesus também — “I love you and Jesus does too!”

Jesus loves all the children in world, including those living in extreme poverty and those facing life without the support and love of parents. Let’s embrace the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of orphans by being the hands and feet of Jesus to the most vulnerable.

This article was originally published Aug. 13, 2019.

Change an Orphan’s Life

You can change an orphan’s life by becoming their sponsor and providing the love and care they need to thrive.

Sponsor an Orphan