AMAZING Inspiration!

I just got back from the Christian Alliance for Orpahn's Summit IV in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The conference started off with a performance from the World Help's International Children's Choir. I was moved to tears as I watched these children perform. They were singing African style songs, playing drums and worshipping the Lord with their hands reaching up to heaven. I am just so thrilled that God has opened our hearts and minds to welcoming and loving children of a different culture.

Dennis Rainey spoke on Thursday evening and said something which really struck a chord with me. 99% of the worlds orphans will never be adopted. This is why orphan care is critical. We must be the visible love of God to these children, just as Jesus was the visible God to us.

Kay Warren, wife of Rick Warren the author of Purpose Driven Life and Pastor to Saddleback Church, spoke on Friday. She was choked up the minute she stepped up to the microphone, before even saying a word. She spoke of the 143 million orphans in the world and the 7,500 new orphans each day. She admitted her ignorance several years ago when she did not know a single orphan, a single person that was HIV positive and thought you could "catch" Aids by casual contact. She said that the church, the body of Christ, needs to become "seriously and permanently disturbed" about the orphan pandemic. She talked about the verse Mark 8:34 which says to deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me. About how we will become "gloriously ruined" when we give up our cross.

The scriptures command us over and over again to care for the orphan. I believe there is an awakening that is occuring within the Christian community. "The ground is thawing and Asland is on the move". What is your plan for fulfilling the scriptures command? Are we busy doing the things that God wants us to do? It was the faith that God would use 1 small stone to take down the giant (David & Golith). WE are that 1 small stone.

There were at least 15 people at the conference from NC. Many of us have met each other over the past year or so and several of us just met at the conference. Everyone was so pumped up to get home and start making plans to care for the orphans of the world and to encourage others to step up and do the same. The momentum was infectious and exciting. Can't wait to see what God does!!!!