Istvan's story

Istvan grew up in an orphanage in Romania in the late 1980s and 90s. Istvan's parents divorced when he was 4 years old. Neither of them wanted to care for Istvan and his sister, so the children were taken to an orphanage, thus becoming “social orphans." (“Social orphans” are children who’s parents who are unwilling or unable to care for them. Globally, there are at least 140 million “social orphans”. When both parents are actually deceased, children are considered “true orphans”. There are about 18 million “true orphans” globally.) Istvan’s father told Istvan he’d be back in two weeks to pick him up from the orphanage. He never came.

Romanian orphanages in the late 20th Century are known to have had some of the worst orphan care conditions in the world. In Istvan's orphanage, part of the orientation process was to put children in solitary confinement for several days. At the 2015 CAFO national summit which I attended last month, Istvan recounted taking off his shoes and banging them on the door of the solitary room, crying for his father. 

Despite such horrendous and heartbreaking experiences, Istvan is thankful for them. As a teenager, through contacts in the orphanage, Istvan met His heavenly Father, the One who will never abandon Him, who will never fail him. Now, Istvan is married to a beautiful Christian girl and they have one son. Because of his heavenly Father, Istvan can be a good father to his own son. In the orphanage, he mentors youth who have been abandoned by their parents, being a “father” to them.    

Seventeen years after Istvan’s father took him to the orphanage, Istvan again met his biological father. Because of the forgiveness he understands in Christ, Istvan was able to quickly forgive his father, introduce him to his grandson, and establish a loving relationship with him.

My prayer is that this type of healing will become the testimony of many more both “social orphans” and “true orphans” who are vulnerable due to separation of loving parents. 

Although we can’t eradicate the world of suffering from abandonment, loneliness, and loss, we can be God’s instruments of mercy, doggedly refusing to accept the pain of sin as the final story. There are no orphans in heaven, and we are told to pray for “His kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.” In my support-raising travels, I recently heard a pastor preach: "Prayer doesn't change God; God doesn't change. Prayer changes us." How can praying for God's kingdom to come on earth as it is in Heaven, change us to BE God’s instruments of change on earth? Specifically for the orphan? Some are called adopt orphans. Some are called to foster orphans. Some are called to visit, mentor, and advocate for orphans (Google: "Christian youth mentorship programs" --many elementary schools have such programs--, or "CASA" for information for your area). Some are called be caregivers in orphanages. Some are called to support, equip, and encourage caregivers. What are you called to do? What am I called to do?

If you’re interested in pursuing ministry with vulnerable children (either locally or internationally), consider attending next year’s CAFO summit, or email me and we can explore ministry options together. 

"'For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, 

now I will arise,' says the LORD."

Psalm 12:5