Cherish Kids

"When I was about 16 years old, I started bringing home neighborhood kids to help them in any way I could.  I could just tell they were hurting in some sort of desperate situation.  My parents were concerned at first, but I would tell them not to worry, I would take care of them." 

I recently had the privilege of meeting with Marla Robison, the Assistant Director of Cherish Kids, and cherishing kids is exactly what she does.  Helping children find a safe, loving, and nurturing environment has been her passion since she was in high school.  She volunteered for 1 1/2 years at Cherish Kids before becoming their first and only employee. Cherish Kids
is a non-profit organization ran almost entirely by dedicated volunteers who are committed to a threefold mission:

RAISE AWARENESS of the needs of children in crisis locally, statewide and around the world.

OFFER RESOURCES by providing credible information and guidance to families and individuals who desire to help.

PROVIDE SUPPORT by assisting children in crisis with essential needs and providing financial, emotional and spiritual support to families and individuals in their effort to foster and adopt.

The vision of Cherish Kids is:

"... founded on the belief that every child is a gift from God and deserves to be cared for and cherished. Cherish Kids endeavors to improve the quality of life for children who find themselves displaced or orphaned. The vision of Cherish Kids is to make a difference in the lives of children in crisis by collaborating with state, counties, churches and adoption agency leaders."

Unfortunately, there are nearly 2,000 orphans and 11,000 children in foster care in the state of Missouri, 100,000 orphans and over a half million in foster care in the U.S.  While discussing these astounding statistics with Marla, she noted that there are far more churches than there are orphans and if only one family from each church took in a child, every orphan in America would have a home.  The state is overflowing with children who need families, and Marla believes that foster care should have always come from the church.   I have to agree that one of the reasons there are so many children in state custody is because we as the church have placed our calling of caring for the displaced onto the shoulders of the state.  After all,  Jesus himself was adopted by his father Joseph, and we are all orphans adopted by our Father.  We are sought after, sons and daughters of Christ, welcomed as His children.

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.  Romans 8:16

I am reminded of an article I once read by Kinsey Thurlow, titled Is the Church ready for the abortion law to change?  I encourage you to read it in its entirety but she concludes with these impactful paragraphs,

God has defined pure and undefiled religion as caring for orphans and widows (James 1:27). But why? Why did He define it this way? Because it is imitating Him. It is the emulation of the very expression of love that the Father has bestowed upon us. When we were alone, orphaned and without hope, He ordained our adoption through Jesus Christ to Himself.

As a Father to the fatherless who sets the lonely into families, God desires to display His heart through His people.  He commands us to vindicate the weak and fatherless, to do justice to the afflicted and destitute, and to rescue the weak and needy (Psalm 82).

Unless the nation is revived, and God’s people turn toward a fatherless generation of children, we are not prepared for a change in abortion law. Yes, we should keep contending for the law to change, but also for God to raise up a people who are not just against abortion, but are truly Pro-LIFE.  O God, restore the value of life in this nation, and teach us to love and pursue the unwanted.

There are five different ways you can help CherishKids rescue orphans locally and around the world. 

1.  You can donate!

2.  You can volunteer!

3.  You can provide respite care!

4.  You can provide foster care!

5.  You can adopt!

One month after Marla started working with Cherish Kids, she attended her first Adoption Exchange, in which they film a short interview with a child up for adoption so prospective parents can view it.  A 12 year-old boy sat nervously in front of the camera.  Hoping to provide comfort and reassurance, she sat down to talk with him before the interview.  His last comment of their brief conversation was, "I wore my best shorts, do you like them?"  She told him they were the best looking shorts she had ever seen and slipped out of the room so they could begin.  She smiled and waved goodbye to him from afar so he couldn't see the mascara stains and tears streaking down her cheeks.  Marla promised me during our meeting that she will find a spot for anyone willing to help, regardless of their calling, whether it be support through donation, volunteering, or providing a loving home.  I loved how heartfelt she expressed, "There's a place for everyone!"  Truly, there IS a place for EVERYONE! 

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.  Matthew 19:14

Check out Cherish Kids and all of their fun gatherings and events including their annual 5K/10K run by visiting their website or facebook page!