Silent Tears

"Silent Tears" by Kay Bratt is not for the faint of heart.

If you do not have compassion for the fatherless, you will turn away in disgust. If you have love for the children, you will be convicted that you MUST do something for at least one child.

The caregivers need Christ too. Without the love of Christ in them they will not value the children. It is just a job.

"Silent Tears" shows so many of the dynamics of orphan ministry. First of all the needs of the children: love, medical attention, consistent foster homes, adoption. Second, the needs of the caregivers: Christ, help, the example of Christian volunteers, supplies. And the needs of the institutions: prayer for the directors, funding to provide additional caregivers and much needed physical things.

I have spent time in Chinese orphanages. The ones I have been in are more progressive and want to do their best for the children. But I can imagine how quickly those orphanages could become exactly what Kay Bratt descibes without that key director or without those of us trying to help.

Pray for the children, the caregivers, the directors, and the government officials. Pray for Christians to take the command to care for the fatherless seriously and help at least one such child.