Adventist Church Designates Sabbath, November 21 as Orphans & Vulnerable Children's Day

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is observing Sabbath, November 21 as Orphans & Vulnerable Children’s Day.

Tragically, millions of children all over the globe have become orphaned for many reasons: war, famine, displacement, disease, or poverty. Of more than 155 million children classified as orphans, 15.1 million have lost both parents. Throughout Scripture, God had expressed his concern by asking that His people show concern and care for orphans. He pictures Himself as “A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation” (Psalms 68:5).

The Orphan Crisis¹

An estimated 153 million children worldwide are orphans (UNICEF)
140 million children have lost one or both parents
15.1 million children have lost both parents
60% of girls fall into prostitution to survive
40% of boys enter a life of crime when they are out of orphanages
50% of orphans use drugs and abuse alcohol
“Orphan Nation” is the 7th largest nation in the world

Some of the Ways You Can Help

Select an orphanage to support
Volunteer for a day with an orphan
Befriend an orphan: Write him/her notes or cards, send birthday/Christmas gifts, etc.
Take a children’s choir or singing group to visit orphans on Sabbath
Consider fostering or adopting an orphan
Sponsor an orphan on a monthly basis
Donate clothes and personal items to orphans
Organize programs for refugee children
Host orphans on special days like Children’s Sabbath, Creation Sabbath, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Children’s Day, etc.
Host an ice-cream night, pizza night or any special treat to get to know orphans
Work with local NGOs to run a Street Children Project
Run a special weekly program for orphans
Make welcome packages for orphans when they attend your programs
Pray for the orphans and adopted children
Donate children’s Bible/mission story books and DVDs to orphans
Involve church kids in writing letters to children of incarcerated parents