This is Why- The Shape of Things to Come PT 2

Meet Isaac. We are praying that Isaac is the shape of things to come. And we know he will be.

Isaac lost his father when he was very young, when he succumbed to the health-ravaging effects of AIDS. His mother is alive, but also suffers from the disease and was unable to take care of the numerous children her husband left her to care for.

Isaac’s mother and father are the antitheses to our goals here at O.LI.

Their lives represent the exact thing we are endeavoring to prevent from happening to the children we care for.

I don’t know the history of Isaacs parents in terms of their childhood. But it is very likely that they were among the millions of fatherless children out there. They very likely went without proper care. Without education. Without God’s Word or instruction. They very likely embodied the learned behaviors of those that helped them to survive the harsh realities of a lonely and hopeless childhood.

They somehow survived long enough to bring several children into the world. Unfortunately, at this point, other than Isaac, they are children that are very likely to repeat the same mistakes as their mother and their dead father. Simply because that is what happens to the vast majority of children born into such sad conditions. If they survive, they will do so by imitating their family and peers. And then they will have children of their own at a rate of 2 ½ times others outside of their sector of society. And they will have them more than 5 years earlier as well. They will again become the example to the children they bring into this world and the cycle will continue. The cycle of poverty. The cycle of crime and disease. The cycle of a life without morals. The cycle of a life without the hope of salvation. And they will grow exponentially in numbers over the generations.

There are 719 million of them. This is our battle. This is our opportunity. We will be a part of determining the shape of things to come in our world. Simply by doing or not doing.

Dire words, I know. But the point of this is not one designed to instill a sense of doom. I am simply presenting a mathematical equation that has two possible outcomes based upon the variables within that equation. Those variables that are known, are what and who are required, but the outcome depends greatly on the quantity of that what and who.

I say all of this only to stress the incredible value of what you do for the innocent children that you are caring for in this mission. I say these things so that you can truly value by comparison when you consider first, just a single child and his story. Then we can consider a much brighter future. A much better outlook on the shape of things to come.

So, let’s take a closer look at the life of Isaac. From what could have been, to what is now, and what very likely will be. Keep in mind that Isaac is not unique in terms of the children that we care for. To the contrary, he is the epitome of the before and after that we see in this mission.

We already talked about his early life. Where and what he came from. But what has Isaac become in the years under the care of Life of Favor Children’s Home via his compassionate and loving sponsors here in the U.S.?

I can tell you that Isaac is happy and healthy. I can tell you that he is receiving a quality education and has dreams of hopes of a bright future. I can tell you that he is VERY thankful and that he loves his Lord and Savior. That he reads God’s Word and spends time in worship and prayer. I can tell you that the impact that has been made on his life in a positive way is one that he will never forget and that I have no doubt he will pay forward whenever he can.

Just the day before I sat down to write this letter, we received a very curious and surprising message from a contact form on our website. It was from Isaac. Apparently, Isaac decided to do some research to see just who Orphan’s Lifeline is. And let us know how he feels about this mission. Here is what he wrote: “Hi our dear parents. How are you doing today? Hope you are doing well. Back to me in Uganda; I am doing well and so happy to be one of your sons... so happy to be at school and I will work hard and excel. Thank you so much for your support.”

Imagine our surprise to receive this message from our website. The very first of its kind. But it won’t be the last. Not even close.

Here are some more words from Isaac. Excerpts from letters he has written to his caring sponsors who have forever changed his life. “How are you doing over there? To me in Uganda, I am doing well and am so happy to write this letter to you. I thank God for the gift of life. “From another letter: “I greet you in the name of Jesus. …I thank you so much for paying my school fees and this year 2020 am going in primary seven. May God bless you!

Just think about the words he writes and what those words imply. Words of thanks. Gratitude to God for his very life. Thankfulness to those who have given him a better life. Thankfulness to those who are caring for him from afar. Thankfulness for the simplest things in life, and recognition of how very precious those simple things are. He is a grateful, young man who takes nothing for granted. A young man with a loving heart and a bright future that knows the source of all the good in his life comes from God.

Now, as I have said, Isaac is not unique to our mission. We have thousands of letters from more that 800 children, expressing the same sentiments. They are all the shape of things to come.

From a mathematical perspective, they are just the beginning.

Over our 23 years in this mission, outside of Russia where we began this good work, more than 2000 children have made their way to become young adults that are prepared for a life of success and service.

And based upon extensive research, and historical examples, when you include such factors as a loving and caring home environment, a quality education, coupled with the key ingredients of God’s Word, and belief that Jesus is indeed our Lord and savior, the exponential and generational outcomes are truly amazing.

Remember last month when we talked about how 1 disciple has become 2.8 billon? The same math applies here because of Jesus. We haven’t just helped out a few thousand fatherless children; we are effectively changing the lives of millions in the future. In fact, if we just continued this work for another 20 years, just three generations from now, we will have positively impacted the lives of over 4.5 million. That is based upon an average of 1.5 children per adult that have been helped directly or are the product of a home with the same values. And that is if ONLY half of them pass on those values.

Imagine, 200 years from now, 4.5 million people just like Isaac because of your simple, yet profound acts of kindness and love, given in the example of Jesus and to God’s glory.

But it’s not just the good you will have caused to happen, but the bad you will have prevented. For example, based upon the same research and the same exponential factors, you will have prevented more than 28 million crimes and almost as many unwanted and uncared for children.

I won’t even go further into the future, because by now, I am sure you can see the picture clearly.

Never think for a moment that your kind and loving gifts are just helping one or a few innocent and suffering, fatherless children. Even that would be profound and worthwhile beyond words. For just how precious is the life of a single child? To us, and to God? He makes it very clear how precious they are to Him. So just imagine what you are REALLY doing collectively when you consider the impact on future lives throughout the generations to come. You are changing the world, one child at a time. You are truly and profoundly, changing the shape of things to come.