Startling Orphan Statistics
These startling orphan statistics are more than mere facts; remember that each number is a precious child . . . a real little kid. Every one is precious in the eyes of God, and He has an extra-special place in His heart for those children who are orphans (see verses here). But whatever you do, don’t let these overwhelming statistics discourage you. Instead, allow God to take these needs . . . and move your heart . . . to do something.
Anything.
Even something small.
Maybe you could help . . . even one.
143,000,000 ORPHANS:
It is estimated that between 143,000,000 and 210,000,000 children are orphans. That’s at least 143 MILLION children in the world today. (Recent UNICEF report.)
To give you an idea of the enormity of this need, keep in mind that the approximate population of the US is 300,000,000; and the population of Russia is 141,800,000.)
ORPHANS in Africa:
Every 15 seconds, another child in AFRICA becomes an AIDS orphan. (At the end of every year, 2,102,400 more children will become orphans, in Africa alone.)
Think: “D-I-N-C-S”: There are more orphans in Sub-Sahara Africa than ALL of the children
in Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Canada, and Sweden – combined!Every day . . .
EVERY DAY, 5,760 more children in the world become orphans.
EVERY 2.2 SECONDS another orphan ages out, with no family and no home.
Older orphans . . .
Older orphans are vulnerable . . . to abuse, suicide, prostitution, slavery, becoming child soldiers, immorality (and as a result, vulnerable to AIDS and disease).
Yet, as orphans are rescued and saved by God, and brought into His Kingdom, the enemy’s plans are thwarted; instead, these older orphans can live happy, productive lives and help to advance God’s cause and mission purposes!
“Defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless; Maintain the rights of the poor and
oppressed. Deliver the weak and needy from the hand of the wicked.” Ps 82:3-4More ORPHAN verses:
Ex.22:22-23 NIV, Is.1:17 NASB, Ps.10:17-18 NASB, Hos. 14:3c NASB, Pr. 31:8-9 NKJV
There are so many wonderful ministries helping and loving orphans. At Harvest Ministry, our passion is to not only feed, educate, and provide for the physical needs of these children, but to raise them to LOVE GOD and to glorify Him through their lives!!!
For ideas about how to pray and to help orphans, click here. Listen to a short motivation audio with Ann Dunagan: COMPASSION for ORPHANS
A CONCISE CALL
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Just feeling God calling me to start some sort of orphan relief/awareness/adoption/fostering/support and no idea where to begin. In NE Kansas. If you can give any direction it is greatly appreciated. God bless.
Lisa, I wish I could be encouraged by your comment to think that the need isn’t as big as we think. But the need for orphaned children is so huge and often so very very desperate. Often one parent dies, but the situation is more desperate than we can imagine. Perhaps the mother dies, and then the father abandons the child, or the child is left to be raised by elderly grandparents or neglected aunties and uncles. Perhaps the father dies, and then the widowed mother is left with no means of support. Sometimes (and this is a situation we have often found), one parent dies of AIDS, and the other parent is alive, but extremely sick and dying. Other times, children are totally abandoned with no knowledge of where the parents are located. Often because so these children have no support system or accountability, these neglected and non-parented children are often abused, or treated horribly, sometimes captured as child slaves and used as street robbers or beggars, or prostitutes, or child soldiers. I am glad to hear that you are “absolutely on board” with God’s mandate to care for the widows and orphans. The fact is, the need is great . . . and bigger than we even can comprehend. Every child is a beautiful and precious human being . . . loved by God . . . and we need to do what we can to help.
Hi, I am absolutely on board with the mandate to care for the widows & orphans; however, I think that sometimes statistics like these can be misleading. UNICEF classifies anyone who has lost *one* parent as an orphan. This greatly inflates the numbers and is misleading just because most people consider orphan in the traditional sense: a child who has lost both parents. http://www.unicef.org/media/media_45279.html
Dear Pastor Gredo Wekesa,
May God help you in the work that you are doing with orphans and street children. We appreciate what you are doing, but are unable to help with additional needs. May God give you wisdom and direction and practical ideas. Keep praying and put your trust and hope in GOD.
Im pastor Gredo wekesa of siisa rehabilitation center.We care,support orphans and street children.We need your support.God bless you.
i am organising an orphans foundation in my own locality, any helpful advice?