It is obvious that orphan care is far too ignored by the church, particularly the American church, but is there a reason behind this? Three noticeable reasons are that the need is hidden, the subject does not seem controversial, and it appears to be largely government-funded.
Government Funding
The church often focuses on needs that the government does not. The state will never address salvation or discipleship. There is no expectation of a missionary government grant. However, any government-supported program could always use additional support. There is no need for separation between church and state in this case, yet the church seems to define distant boundaries where the government offers funding. Before abortion was legalized, most of the church did not see a need for unplanned pregnancy counseling. When abortion was declared legal, the government essentially stopped supporting pro-life practices, and around the same time the church stepped up to the plate. Perhaps increasing church-sponsored pregnancy resources, the end result would not have been the same.
With the exception of very few small private organizations, the orphan crisis in the United States is completely sponsored by the government. The church may occasionally give a few pairs of socks or an old teddy bear to the cause, but leave the care-giving and funding at the mercy of the state.
In the case of the international orphan crisis, it is very much the same in many countries. In places such as Canada, Australia, and most of Europe, little to nothing is done because the church is not involved where the government is. In poverty-stricken nations or places where there is less government support for orphans, there actually is more awareness among the American church. Christian sponsorship programs and adoption agencies focus on these communities, knowing that they would not be as successful if they promoted in an area with government input. In international cases, the church also keeps hands-off due to the fact that many celebrities are beginning to take the reigns. If celebrities promote orphan advocacy, perhaps more people will be more inclined to help, but the church will be less inclined.
The church does not focus on the orphan crisis because images of orphans being fed, clothed, housed, and educated suggest that there is no need. Food, clothes, housing, and education is indeed provided to some orphans, but not all, and not always adequately. However, deeper needs, such as stability, companionship, and love cannot always be provided in government-run situations. Worst of all, government plans for orphan care make it nearly impossible to plant and cultivate in these children the gospel, a message that the church claims is at the core of its existence, but apparently is not seen as an issue when it comes to ministering to orphans.
Controversy
The church loves to deal with controversial issues. Nearly every church community has a standpoint on abortion, homosexuality, fornication, evolution, patriotism, and euthanasia. The mere mention of these words evoke a slightly different feeling to each individual. However, with the words "orphan crisis", virtually everyone thinks of sorrow. Even though the general population feels sad about the situation, very few people actually do something active about it.
Along with the mutual thought of sorrow, there is also the thought that, since everyone feels this way, then certainly there are already enough people out there already doing something about it. Unfortunately, as this is the majority though process, there is not enough being done. In reality, if indeed enough people put their feelings about the orphan crisis into action, then there would no longer be an orphan crisis.
Just as this attitude is evident among individuals, it is also evident within the church. With controversial issues, the church feels called to advocate, perhaps as more of a power struggle of who is right instead of a genuine care and concern. At first glimpse of the orphan crisis, there does not appear to be controversy. Even if the church truly cared about controversial issues for a reason other than power, there is indeed plenty of controversy within the orphan care system. The rights of blood relatives, the availability of adoption, and whether orphans should be placed in homes or institutions are just a few potentially highly-debatable issues. Whether or not the church's craving for controversy is pure of heart, topics about the orphan crisis inevitably contain points of argument.
Hidden Need
Perhaps the most predominant reason for the church to overlook the orphan crisis is because it is currently designed to be overlooked. The need for orphan care is hidden, particularly domestically. With clever names such as "foster child" replacing the supposedly politically incorrect term "orphan", just as "group home" replaces the seemingly-corrupt "orphanage", there appears to be less needed for the orphan crisis because it is so rare to hear the word "orphan". Institutions for orphans are stuck in the low-class part of town that few ever venture to, and most of these children are placed in foster homes, which often comes with benefits that institutions cannot provide, but also contributes to making orphans less noticeable. As previously mentioned, the government is the "someone else" that provides for the orphan's needs, thus rarely there is a plea for assistance.
With such an excellent job of hiding the orphan crisis within the very communities of the American church, there should be no surprise of the orphan crisis in distant lands that are even better hidden. This part of the crisis is tucked away in a distant land so far away that the American church can rest comfortably without thinking about the problem. There is occasionally news of another crisis that made the orphan crisis even more devastating, and nonprofits expand their reach by mentioning orphans, but the church is often fooled into believing that these messages encompass the entire orphan crisis. In reality, there are millions of orphans that are not part of any adoption agency or sponsorship program, and therefore are incredibly difficult for the church to reach.
Conclusion
Because of the hidden need, controversy, and government funding, the American church at large ignores the orphan crisis more than what should be possible. Perhaps it is time for a change, to expose the need for what it truly is. It is time for the church to respond to the call for action.
With the "orphan crisis" hidden, perhaps the first step is to unhide it. Describe both in facts and emotions what the crisis is. Hook me into beliving it should be a top priority among so many other worthy causes. The problem isn't necessarily the Church, but the people in the pews who are unaware.
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