Time to play....

In our holistic approach at World Orphans we recognize the value of children getting to play and have the time to just be children and have fun. We also recognize that because of hunger, war, abuse, poverty, sickness and other struggles, that many children around the world do not experience the freedom of having a childhood that includes fun and games and time to play.

So as we seek to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ and care for children in a holistic way that meets all of their needs, spiritual, physical, emotional and mental, we desire to include sports and games. I have found it to be the case everywhere in the world I have been, that a big step in connecting with a child is to play with them...which is why we value our HisKids Sports Program.

Both in the United States and around the world we have seen that sports and games are a powerful tool for both outreach and discipleship.

Outreach: World Orphans short-term teams, in partnership with the World Orphans partner they are visiting, will host a HisKids Sports Outreach event. That involves sports and games designed to illustrate and talk about God's character, our need for Him, and the glorious truth of the Gospel of Christ. In addition to sharing the Gospel, it's a great opportunity to have fun, work with the local church, bring positive attention to the local church, and love on children in the community.

Discipleship: Sports and games as an avenue for discipleship - teaching and training children to help them better understand the Gospel and what it looks like to apply the Gospel to daily life and relationships. In the US we have seen success using HisKids Sports in both schools and churches, and we are pleased to announce that in November we will be doing vision-casting and training regarding an on-going HisKids Sports discipleship programs for our World Orphans partners. That will mean that in addition to outreach events done while teams are visiting, that our partner churches around the world will have HisKids Sports as a tool to use both in the homes where orphans are cared for as well as in children's ministry at the church for an on-going ministry with children of the community.

All this is why we are so excited about the soccer field that just opened at our Project in Iraq. We anticipate the opportunity to play being a door for relationships that ultimately will lead to sharing the Gospel and discipleship.

Bringing Hope to Desolate Places (Iraq) from World Orphans on Vimeo.

Click HERE to make a gift towards the completion of our project in Iraq
Click HERE to read the blog of the World Orphans family living in Iraq