Near one church, there was a family of four children whose mother and father had died. No relatives had come forward to care for them, so they were left alone. One of the children became very ill. Members of the church took him in the middle of the night to the Rural Medical Practitioner, who referred him to the district hospital, who recommended he go to the city hospital for care. The community members heard about this, and were sure the child would die. The city hospital realized that the child needed a blood transfusion. Again, no relatives came forward to help. When the church members learned that no one was willing to help, one person donated blood for him.

The child recovered and returned home healthy, to the community’s surprise. Then the church began to think about how to take care of these four children. Some believers volunteered to support their education. Some donated rice. The church helped with the eldest sister’s marriage ceremony and enrolled the oldest brother in driving school so that he has a means of earning income. The pastor brought two of the children (ages 6 and 14) into his home to care for as his own, despite the risk that the youngest boy could get sick again and need expensive medical care.

When the community saw the generosity and care that the Christians showed to these children, they became more open to the church’s teaching. Four families received Christ and joined the church! The Village Chief publicly appreciated the pastor and church for their care of the orphans, and he sanctioned the construction of a two-bedroom house for the pastor’s family from the local government building project.

As believers sacrificially cared for a family of orphans, God was glorified and the church was blessed!