ONE

Fear is a funny thing.
And of course by "funny", I mean not funny at all.

Now that I'm really advocating for New Horizons and orphan hosting.... and of course by "advocating", I mean spamming facebook.... I think I can safely say that the majority of people I've talked to fall into 3 general categories.

1. They're interested in theory in orphan hosting, but at this point in their lives it's just not for them. Could be a spouse just lost a job, there's a new baby in the family, or they want to wait until their own kids are older. Maybe they were involved with an exchange student program and it didn't go well, and now they're a little gun shy. Maybe they're already over-committed with bible studies, ball practice, homework, school activities, work, errands, and church; and just can't fit anything else on their "family plate". Maybe they're heavily involved with other ministry opportunities and don't want to "divide their loyalties".
I get it. I totally do.

2. They're totally NOT interested in hearing about the program or the "plight of orphans in Eastern Europe". These are sometimes the same ones who think I'm unpatriotic-- somehow less of an American because I'm not "taking care of my own." (Yes, that is a direct quote.)
Maybe they're afraid I'm going to preach at them. Maybe they're really struggling with their own drama, battling their own demons- and they can't handle someone else's.
Maybe they don't want to hear about it because they're afraid they'll be called to do something.

And that brings me to my 3rd category... FEAR.

3. I wonder, of all the people we talk to about New Horizons, how many are held back by fear? How many don't respond.... how many don't host.... how many don't donate.... how many don't share.... how many choose to not participate....
because of fear---
because of uncertainty---
because it puts them in unfamiliar territory---
because it upsets their comfortable routine---
because it's not something they can do on their own---
because it requires a great deal of trust---
because it's easier to ignore the problem, pretending it's not there; than it is to get involved.

After all, it's just ONE kid, right?
ONE orphan who's already been written off by his own family.
ONE boy... ONE girl... who's culture looks upon them as worthless... unworthy... troublemakers... somehow responsible for their orphan status.
ONE who is overlooked.... underestimated.... ignored.... cast aside.
ONE child who doesn't really know what he's missing, does he?

What difference is it really going to make?

If YOU were that ONE... what difference would it make to you?

Matthew 25:44-45 (The Message)
 ⁴⁴ Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?

 ⁴⁵ He will answer them, "I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me."