Father to the Children

“A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation.” Psalms 68:5, NASB.

As a young teenager George* lived on the streets. He sold cigarettes, newspapers, and repaired shoes to make a living. It was a hard life. Often times he didn’t have enough to eat. In the midst of these struggles George promised himself that if he ever got the money or ability, he’d be a father to children having a hard time.

George put himself through school as he continued working on the streets as a cigarette vendor. After completing high school, he was accepted into an electronics program. Connections that he made at school allowed him to work in the insurance industry. He also taught mechanics at a school. George saved enough money to open his own mechanic shop. He moved to another city to set up his business. By this time he had forgotten his promise to the street children.

When George met Mark he was already married and well established in the community. Mark was a Christian from America. Mark challenged George with the Gospel, and, in response, George gave his heart to Jesus. Mark helped George grow in his faith and challenged him to get involved in different Christian work going on in the area.

When refugees came in from an earthquake on a neighboring island, Mark invited George to get involved with the children in the refugee camps. George saw that many of the children were illiterate, and his heart was pricked as he remembered his long forgotten promise to be a father to the children having a hard time.

He began visiting the camp once a week to teach literacy; however he quickly realized that one time a week was not enough. He then took two of the children into his home and helped to teach them for a year and then send them back to their parents. Through this experience George gained a vision for opening a home to help disadvantaged children. He shared this dream with Mark.

Mark happened to know another American Christian who had a similar dream. This Christian had purchased land several years ago for the purpose of benefiting orphans and other needy children. It took several years and a couple of moves, but today George and his wife are running a children’s home that cares for 11 children. Some of the children are orphans, and others are from poor homes where their parents could not care for them.

All of them are given tutoring and the opportunity to go to school. In addition to academic help, all the children are taught Bible. George works under the principle of 2 Timothy 2:2. He mentors the older children, who in turn are expected to teach the younger children the same material they learned from George.

Many of the children came to faith in Christ under George’s witness at the home. His prayer for the children is that they will grow up to be good Christian people and be involved in Christian work. George sees his time spent with the children as an investment in the spiritual future of his country.

*Names changed for security reasons.

Pray that:

George will have a long and fruitful ministry to needy children.

Many of George’s children will become the future Christian evangelists, missionaries, church planters, and pastors of his country.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.