Zambia (MNN) ― Every Orphan's Hope's Gary Schneider says when their work began in Lusaka, Zambia, the church made it clear that orphanages were unacceptable in their culture. But with thousands of AIDS orphans in the community, something had to be done.
The church then asked to move the ministry to the kids. "Our goal is to have up to eight homes. Each home can hold up to eight children with a widow and really create a new family. The church has said, 'If you can build us eight homes in a community between the five or six churches that are there, we can minister to their needs and make sure that they're cared for in a loving way.'"
EOH has completed three My Father's House Orphan Homes in the Kalingalinga Compound in Lusaka, Zambia. There are currently 20 orphans and 3 widows living in the three homes. The fourth and fifth My Father's House Orphan Homes are the newest in 2007. They are supporting 16 orphans and 2 widows, and the sixth is now under construction.
The team identifies suitable properties or vacant land in a community where the local church and EOH have already established an orphan outreach and discipleship ministry through Bible Camps and Orphan Sponsorships.
For these children, sponsorship money alone is not enough because there is no one left to buy them food...to send them to school...to take them to the doctor...or to teach them about Jesus Christ.
What difference does one home make against millions of orphans? An eternal one, says Schneider. "We take one child at a time and make sure that they know Christ and understand that He has a plan for their future. The task is daunting; it's big. As they say in Africa, 'How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.' That's exactly the approach we're taking with the orphans."
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