A Heart for the Vulnerable: Living Out James 1:27

In the early 2000s, God moved in the hearts of two church congregations on opposite sides of the world, motivating the members of both fellowships to care for the children within their communities who needed care and a loving home.

These two movements merged in 2017 and have continued to serve together, encouraging churches all over the world to devote the second Sunday of November to supporting vulnerable children in their communities.

James 1:27 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.” I’m very grateful to serve at South Tulsa—a church community that has taken this Scriptural truth to heart, seen the need, and responded. We have families in our fellowship (two this year!) who have opened their hearts and homes to children through adoption and foster care.

We have also partnered with wonderful organizations in our community who support Adoption and Foster Care children and families—Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, CarePortal, and Nightlight Christian Adoption and Foster Care.

There is still a great need in our city and state. According to okfosters.org, 736 more foster families are needed in Oklahoma, and KTUL reports that there are efforts to open 430 new homes, including 63 in Tulsa County.

I invite you to seek the Lord with me in prayer, asking if there is more that we can do to help end this crisis. How would He lead us to faithfully stand today to help care for vulnerable children in our city and state? Perhaps you can…

• Consider opening your heart and home to a vulnerable child. 
• Ask an Adoption and Foster Team committee member about being on a South Tulsa Adoption or Foster Family support team.
• Join the CarePortal response team.
• Pray for the vulnerable children and families in our community.