BORN IN AFRICA FOR THE WORLD’S CHILDREN On Orphan Sunday, the people of Africa stand for the orphan and vulnerable. Orphan Sunday came as a gift a small church in Zambia. While attending a church service near Lusaka, an American visitor witnessed the pastor’s passionate call to care for orphans in that community. During that firstever “Orphan Sunday,” one after another the people stepped forward giving out of their own need, offering their food, and some even taking off their own shoes and placing them in the offering basket for orphans. That visitor was so impacted by what he had witnessed that he began to help Zambian leaders coordinate Orphan Sunday efforts across Zambia and also shared the vision. In 2009, the Christian Alliance for Orphans in the U.S. began providing united leadership to make Orphan Sunday a catalyst for awareness and action across the U.S. and worldwide. Today, churches and organizations in more than 95 nations observe Orphan Sunday annually. We join in the promise of “One Day, One Voice, One Purpose.” May we be as faithful as our Zambian brothers and sisters to reflect God’s heart for the orphan, both near and far. Today, Orphan Sunday is spreading across the African Continent and has been observed in dozens of nations! Churches across Africa have observed Orphan Sunday as a way to call the Body of Christ to care for Africa's orphans! This publication will share some examples of efforts across Africa to encourage your church and community to participate.
EAST AFRICA: THOUSANDS OF CHURCHES UNITE with the dream for a nation without orphans. Zimbabwe The Zimbabwe Without Orphans Team has presented Orphan Sunday year after year, targeting their message to local pastors. Through this consistent messaging, many children in Zimbabwe are finding adoptive families. They have also worked closely with social welfare and in collaborating with social workers.
Uganda The Alliance for a Uganda Without Orphans is collaboration of many churches, nongovernment organizations and local ministry. For almost ten years, the movement in Uganda has grown Orphan Sunday through a focus on clear principles of family reunification, foster care and adoption. The term “Adoption Sunday” is now used to promote children being in families, including those children sent to family as a result of orphanage closure. Radio has been used as a very effective tool in this message. “All possible ways in Uganda to share about Orphan Sunday or Adoption Sunday. Be the Light. 4 Radio stations today talked about it in Central, East North and Southwest Uganda. Glory be to Jesus. Save the date 8/11/2020.”
Letters to pastors are a useful tool for spreading the Orphan Sunday message! This example engaged many churches in 2016…
P.O. Box 70444, Kampala – Uganda, The Sign of the Dove Church, Zzana – Nfuufu signofthedoveug@gmail.com 0701824677/ 0772824677 8th September 2016 All Senior Pastors & Leaders of Ministries Dear Sir/Madam; RE: ORPHAN SUNDAY INITIATIVE AMONG SOUTH SUDANESE REFUGEE CHILDREN We greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This letter is to request you to participate in the Orphan Sunday Initiative to bring hope among orphaned and vulnerable South Sudanese children who are in refugee camps in Adjumani district. South Sudan lies in ruins, her people have been displaced and are in extreme suffering and loss. Who will restore peace in this nation and who will offer hope to these people? An entire generation is at risk and the church of Christ in Uganda and beyond is arising to comfort those in trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Cor. 1:3-4) This year’s Orphan Sunday sensitization will focus to empower 400 South Sudanese churches to become vehicles of hope for the vulnerable children and women who have been affected by the war. Objectives 1. To build hope and unity among South Sudanese people through preaching the reconciling gospel of Jesus Christ. 2. To equip the South Sudanese church ministers with effective biblical trauma counselling skills to reach out to people 3. To provide basic need to the most vulnerable South Sudanese refugee children and widows. Theme: Isaiah 61:1-2 You are requested to support by taking part in the following activities 1. 40 days of prayer and fasting for the nation of Southern Sudan from Sunday 25th September to 29th October 2016 2. Encourage your congregation to collect clothing, bedding, food items, bibles in English, scholastic materials such as books, pens, mathematical sets, school bags, soap, Vaseline, shoes, bed sheets
etc.
3. Take part in the gospel mission from 23rd to 29th October 2016. We need evangelists, sound equipment, vehicles, generators and fuel for this mission in 3 different refugee camps. 4. Contribute money towards training of pastors and leaders in trauma Counselling and peace games for children and youths. (Budget attached) May God richly bless you and supply all your needs through His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Yours’ faithfully Pr. Daniel Kaggwa The Sign of the Dove Church, Zzana National Coordinator 0772824677/ 0701824677
Patrick Bongole M Kisima Island Mission (U) Secretary 0775328299
Pr. Fredrick Kimbagaya Nyanama Full Gospel Church Treasurer 0775471295
www.ugandawithoutorphans.org
Burundi Uganda brought its Orphan Sunday leadership to neighboring Burundi to begin the movement there with a Pastor’s Conference. As a result, many children and families have been blessed with prayer and food parcels as part of this observance.
WEST AFRICA: MEDIA and MISSION combine to reach needy children Ghana Across Ghana in major outlets, the team have engaged Print Media very effectively to spread the message of Orphan Sunday in the community.
Across West Africa, scenes of love and hope have happened on Orphan Sunday in many nations, including Togo, Benin, Cote de’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Senegal reaching many needy children.
The 2020 Orphan Sunday theme is
“BE THE LIGHT”
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16 This has been a dark year for many across Africa, but as followers of the Lord Jesus, we can be the light to Africa’s most vulnerable. In Mozambique, the team is distributing Orphan Sunday flyers as part of the COVID19 outreach of supplies to churches.
Across South Sudan, believers are spreading this theme in anticipation of Orphan Sunday.
Now that you have seen these wonders, it is your opportunity to pray and hear from the Lord. How will you reach a needy child on Orphan Sunday this year?
JOIN US ON NOVEMBER 8, 2020 for the GLOBAL OBSERVANCE! Contact: OSAfrica@cafo.org And check in on the global map here: https://cafo.org/orphansunday/check-in/
Join us as we “light up” Africa during this dark time in our world! Let us bring the light to all needy children in 2020!
An Initiative of the Christian Alliance for Orphans www.cafo.org