“What’s the single largest mission field on the planet, a field that is virtually untouched?” asked Reinhard Bonkke to a group of ministers and leaders.
There were several good answers: the 10/40 window, the continent of Africa, China. Each reply named an area where there was still a huge harvest of souls, but Bonkke had a different group on his heart that day. This group he said was simply forgotten by the church.
He again asked the question, emphasizing the words virtually untouched. No one said a word.
Bonkke broke the silence: “It is the orphan population of the world.”
With the weight of this revelation hanging in the air, he went on to say that in his opinion, based on decades of ministering in some of the world’s most desperate places, the followers of Jesus have
fundamentally, systemically, and tragically forgotten the orphans of the world—not out of malice, not out of cruelty, but out of distraction, limited vision, and perhaps assumption that orphan care was someone else’s responsibility.
Come to Me
Jesus clearly expresses his heart for children in Mark 10:13–16, where parents are bringing their little ones to Jesus to bless. Maybe some of the kids needed healing. We don’t know, but we do know the parents wanted Jesus’ hand extended over their children. You would think the disciples would be elated—but no, they scolded the people for bringing their kids to the Son of God.
Angered, Jesus corrects his disciples while welcoming the children with open arms. “Let the little children come to me and never hinder them! Don’t you know God’s kingdom exists for such as these?… Then he embraced each child, and laying hands on them, he lovingly blessed each one.”
Our Shepherd’s attitude sets the tone for us. Out of love, we embrace the orphan and trust the Holy Spirit to show us how to meet the practical needs. A number of people are actively doing this, but many more hands can serve the Father’s children. Will we follow Jesus’ example?
So Many
Worldwide there are 150 million orphans. One in five, or 30 million, are found in India alone. The storylines behind these huge numbers include poverty, labor migration, family breakdown, war, and natural disasters. Vulnerable children are susceptible to child labor or sex trafficking, abuse, neglect and early marriages.
The recent flood on the China—Nepal border caused by a collapsing glacier escalated the effects of poverty in the rural areas along the river. It left families with even fewer options for survival. Tragically, desperate families will sometimes rationalize the sale of a daughter in order to save the rest of the members of the household. Grieving widows—fearful of their own fate and the fate of their children—may fall for offers of quick cash or free education, sometimes from their own relatives involved in trafficking.
After the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, the hardest hit rural areas reported a 40% increase in missing children, the majority of whom were never found. During that same disaster, the National Human Rights Commission estimated that 23,000 individuals were trafficked or were solicited for trafficking. More than 44,000 children were forced into severe survival mode. An undocumented child can be forced to cross the open border between Nepal and India within 24 hours after being abducted.
Even before this most recent tragedy, Nepal was a country in which one out of every ten children is an orphan. Fortunately there are boots-on-the-ground organizations who actively support families in this region.
WIN
We Ignite Nations ministers to orphans and families in Nepal and Northern India, an area known for the danger trafficking presents to children. They help to feed and educate those young ones who have no other means. Villagers receive training on how to identify the tactics of traffickers, so their children will not fall prey to temptations offered of a good job, schooling, or other lies that could lead kids to a brothel or organ harvesting. As you can imagine, this has not been an easy fight against the the forces of evil.
At age 26, Leanna Cinquanta, was called to ministry in India. She lived with a local family, embracing the northern Indian culture as her own.
Seeing the oppression of the children struck a chord in Leanna’s heart. She knew she had to do something about their daily suffering. The Holy Spirit directed her to build relationships, take back the enemy territory as Joshua was commanded to do, and deal with demonic enslavement of the land. She soon realized
…there must be one thing the powers of darkness deem most valuable to the maintenance of their oppressive reign, one type of human life that they want to destroy more than any other—children.
Because children are most precious to God…those powers fear children more than anyone else, because they are the future of nations. If the children can be lifted out of poverty, illiteracy and disgrace, the nation will follow.*
After living in India for a while, Leanna knew the Lord was calling her to support the native missionaries. She started an organization, now named We Ignite Nations. WIN is bringing the Father’s love to lift this next generation out of despair by partnering with native missionaries in India and Nepal.
Hope
Another vibrant organization, World Challenge, is led by Gary Wilkerson. Like WIN, Gary believes transformation takes place by providing needed resources to local, trusted partners. World Challenge works in 37 countries, caring for 37,000 orphans and widows. The power of the gospel found in James 1:27 comes alive as orphans and widows receive care. For just $40 a month, shelter, food, clothing, and medical care are provided for a child in some of the most marginalized places in the world.
In 2026 World Challenge will expand and establish even more care centers in war-torn and impoverished countries. Reaching little hearts with tender-loving care and the gospel makes the biggest impact on our world. (See “The Challenge,” below.)
Build
As prayer warriors what can we do? Well, I’m glad you asked.
First, armed with scripture and the unction of the Holy Spirit, we can “walk the land” as Leanna did. While praying and singing, she travelled the town where she lived in northern India. If we can’t be in an area we are praying for, we can still “walk in the spirit” symbolically even in our living rooms. The Holy Spirit and angelic forces are invited into that space to take the land for the kingdom.
Second, cancelling the demonic assignment over a region sets the people free living within it.
And third, the relationships we build in prayer will increase unity. The enemy cannot stand against a united body. Our power exponentially increases as we join with others in listening to the Holy Spirit for an area, then giving utterance to those words, scriptures, decrees, or songs.
Years ago, I met a woman at our church whom everyone called Sister Norman. In the days before internet, the Holy Spirit would give her the name of a place she had never heard of, and she would begin praying. Her persistent agreement with the will of God marked a land and people for the purposes of the kingdom. Our prayers can do the same.
Prayer
Thank you for White Stone, WIN, World Challenge, and others who have taken seriously the call to care for the forgotten ones. Bring healing and restoration to orphans and other children who have suffered devastating loss. Heal and draw them to Jesus.
Increase wisdom, understanding, and creativity to Ron, Leanna, and Gary, and their teams. Show them where to step, avoiding every land mine the enemy seeks to plant in their path. Let the teams work well together, bearing much fruit in this new season. Refresh them with your love. Strengthen their hearts. Give them restful sleep.
Lord, wake up Your body, to see the harvest fields filled with children. Let the church serve frontline workers as they serve in dangerous and difficult regions. Download strategies to reach these precious ones and to love them well. Arise, body of Christ. Embrace your call.
In the name of Jesus, we cancel every demonic assignment coming against these youth and families. We declare that the praise of children silences Your foes. So be it!
We command your lovingkindness over the children during the day and your songs of deliverance at night (Psalm 8 and 42). The little children are coming to you to receive favor and blessing. They will know their God, and they will perform mighty exploits in the land. Amen!
A Promising Thought
Here’s an idea for autumn. Put a jar on your kitchen table. Each day put a dollar in it. Invite guests or family members to participate as well. At the beginning of December, count your dollars. Select an organization that cares for orphans—one of the above, or another you have in mind. Give. (If you don’t carry cash, you can just put your credit card in the jar for the month. It’ll save you lots of money and benefits the kids, too! 😉
*Leanna Cinquanta, Treasures in Dark Places (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Chosen, 2017), p. 226.(Caution: If you start reading this book, you won’t be able to put it down.)