A Book Review: Orphan Justice - How to Care for Orphans Beyond Adopting

A few months ago I was asked to read a book and review it on our blog. Seems lots of you out there are reading our story. Maybe it has even inspired you to look into adoption. (A few of our friends are waiting for referrals...) Some of you may read our blog and think, "That is so nice. Good for them." I have heard those words. Actually, adoption is not really nice. It's hard. And complicated. And our calling. It is what God exemplified for us through his Son, Jesus.  And when we see what he did for us and how he loves us, it is our response. Maybe you can't do it - adopt - for whatever reason. That is ok. It's good to know yourself and your limits. But after reading this book, I am more conviced than ever that you cannot sit on the sidelines. There are no more excuses. We have to care for orphans no matter what part of the caring we do. You don't have to adopt, but you can do something. Anyone can do something for orphans.

Here is the book:

Orphan Justice - How to Care for Orphans Beyond Adopting by Johnny Carr

 

I put this book down and felt empowered. Every time I read it. I felt empowered. I'm usually not a fan of non-fiction books that tell us about huge problems in the world. At the end of other books, I feel crummy. I feel the weight of a huge problem with no strength do much about it. But this book is different.

The orphan crisis is a reality. Upwards of 150 million kids will live their lives without God's design of a family unit to care for them. Many of these kids have living relatives, sometimes even a parent, but they are not living in the kind of family that God designed in his perfect plan.

International adoption is not the solution. We believe (as you can imagine and have seen) that adoption is part of the solution. However, there is no way that all 150 million kids will be able to be adopted. Many countries just don't have the infrastructure for that. Even in the US, there are three quarters of a million kids in foster care. We have to address the enormity and complexity of the orphan crisis with strategic, holistic and comprehensive solutions. And if we want to do this well and with all of our resources, we have to help everyone - EVERYONE - play a part and do something. To many, adoption is not an option. I understand that. I am ok with that. Johnny Carr goes to great lengths to go beyond adoption and help every person feel empowered to do something.

Here is the brilliance of this book: its structure. There are many contributing factors and complexities to the orphan crisis. He breaks them down, each into a chapter. At the end of each chapter he gives the reader concrete examples of what they can do in three different levels. ANYONE can... MANY can... A FEW can...

Carr has the background, experience, and knowledge to really lay these out well. As an adoptive parent, he gets the respect of the adoptive community. As someone who works alongside the church, we can see that he knows the Bride of Christ and its role. He is employed by one of the largest Adoption Service Providers in the U.S. This agency is well known and is involved in foster care, domestic adoption, and international adoption. He is the kind of expert we need writing this book.

I found his writing so very authentic. He knows the good, the bad, and the ugly. He is not sugar coating anything. He brings the reader to some of the hardest places to go, yet maintains the grace to keep the reader plowing through the tough stuff in order to get to the empowering advice.

This book is important to read, not just for the adoption community, but for every person who follows Christ. God deeply cares for the fatherless. If you follow Christ, your mandate is clear - love the fatherless. Have you ever wondered how in the world you can do that in a practical way? Johnny Carr's book, "Orphan Justice" can educate you on the situation and move you to action in an engaging way.


http://orphanjustice.com/

Orphan Justice: How to Care for Orphans Beyond Adopting from PMI on Vimeo.