“Being a neighbor means positioning ourselves
in a way that we are close enough
to see them and know them.”
~Jocelyn Wilson
It was wonderful to have Jocelyn Wilson from South Texas Alliance for Orphans come and share with us on Sunday. The mission statement of South Texas Alliance for Orphans is “We exist to serve and equip churches in fulfilling the biblical call to care for children and families impacted by the foster care system.” It is important to note that there is a mission field right here in San Antonio. Jocelyn shared two powerful passages of scripture. Matthew 22:37-38 says “37) Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’38) This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” And the second passage is found in Luke 10:30-37, The Good Samaritan. A Jewish man is attacked and injured, two people see him and walk by, not offering any help and then the Samaritan saw him and helped him. In verses 36 and 37 we read something very important.36) “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. 37) The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
The Bible is very clear how the Lord feels about children and about orphans. And these verses talk about loving others and showing mercy. Jocelyn encouraged us to think about two questions: “Who are our neighbors?” ”What does it look like today, in San Antonio, to be a neighbor?”
What has happened to hospitality and being neighborly? We don’t have to do this in our own strength. The enemy wants us to be inward-focused. He wants us to not be fulfilling scripture. We don’t need to depend on our own strength to practice “radical hospitality”. Ask God what it is He would have us do? Bottom line, it’s about helping others feel seen, heard, and loved.
There is a crisis in our community. There is a need in our community. In San Antonio, Jocelyn shared there are 3,592 kids in foster care. There are 2,049 children in kinship care and there are 1,106 children waiting to be adopted. San Antonio is our neighborhood. She shared that when we see this from far off it looks like a problem. However, when we see this close up it looks like people, like a neighbor. “Being a neighbor means positioning ourselves in a way that we are close enough to see them and know them.”
The church can provide what these neighbors need. A parent or parents that are working to get their child(ren) back from foster care, beyond the job and housing and classes they will need, they need to have a stable support person to help them as their child comes home. Jocelyn offered several thoughts:
Being a neighbor looks like:
Offering support to the single mom who may be at the end of her rope or resources.
Mentoring a teen that has aged out of the foster care system.
Preparing meals, folding laundry and doing chores for foster families that are in the trenches.
Befriending grandparents that are raising their grandkids.
Becoming a certified babysitter for foster families that need a breather.
Being a CASA volunteer who is an advocate for a child in court.
Being an empty nester and saying “Yes” to the teen who needs a home and love.
“Being a neighbor is caring about what God cares about. He is in the business of restoring families and redeeming generations.”
“God can use our obedience, in loving our neighbors, to actually change the trajectory of a person’s life.”
There are so many opportunities to be a neighbor, to make a difference. May our hearts be humbled before God. May we be obedient to do His work. May we Pray for the Church in our community to step up to this calling. Pray that each church would play its part so that there are more than enough safe families for children. That God would continue to restore broken families and redeem generations.
Each day this week, there is a passage of Scripture to read and a specific prayer need. I asked Jocelyn for specific ways we could be praying and I have included a prayer for each day. May we each take time to seek God and pray for those in the foster care system and those who are helping them. May we also be sensitive to how God is speaking and what it is He may be asking us to do.
Monday:
James 1:27 (NLT) ”Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”
Pray for believers that God is calling to foster/adopt. That they would have the courage to trust him and take the next steps.
Tuesday:
James 2:15-16 “Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16) and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?”
Pray for children in our community that are in homes where abuse and neglect are happening. That they would be safe and get help. That the Lord would bring healing to their families.
Wednesday:
Isaiah 1:17 “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.”
Pray for caseworkers in our community who are overworked and struggling to handle the load the state puts on them. That they may have endurance and encouragement from the Lord as they do the hard work of trying to find safe placements for children.
Thursday:
Psalm 82:3 “Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.”
Pray for foster and adoptive parents. That they would find rest and comfort in the Lord. That He would give them peace and wisdom in what He has called them to.
Friday:
Deuteronomy 10:18 “He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.”
Pray for grandparents that are raising their grandkids. That the Lord would sustain them and bring people into their lives who will offer support.
Saturday
John 14:18 “ No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.”
Pray for youth who are aging out of the foster care system. That the Lord would make himself known to them and position believers in their path to encourage and love them.