How Are You Meeting the Biblical Mandate to Care for Orphans and Widows?

When we accepted our daughter’s invitation to visit her and her husband in Guatemala, we told her the one thing we wanted to do was to visit an orphanage. So our second ‘divine surprise' in Guatemala was finding "Shadow of His Wings," currently providing 5 homes for 64 orphaned girls.

The girls come from various backgrounds, but most have come out of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Several are daughters of prostitutes, with one of them being forced into her mother's profession at the age of six. Some girls have come to “Shadow of His Wings” badly beaten, one by her mother and the other by a stepfather. But all have suffered the lack of food, clothing, shelter, and love. And since most of the girls have received little or no education, “Shadow of His Wings” built Liberty Christian School (currently grade school and junior high). Not surprisingly, they have a need for trained teachers, psychologists, and counselors to help these girls be healed and learn who they are in Christ.

“Shadow of His Wings” long term goals include building homes for at least 150 girls and 100 boys, a high school, a multi-purpose building with a central kitchen, a medical clinic (which will also serve community members), administrative building, 2 small staff homes, and a building for the “Step Up” transition program for the girls who turn eighteen. Additionally, they are planning to have a home for babies with an adoption program. And long term to build a home for widows to be known as Grammy's House.

The Bible says: “pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles…” (James 1:27 NLT) Can you imagine any ministry more responsive to James’ words than “Shadow of His Wings”?

Now, may I ask you to read the following words of Jesus and let them ‘disturb’ you as they do me?
Then He will also say to those on His left, "Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.” Then they themselves also will answer, "Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me." (Matt. 25:41-45).