Beyond Pure Religion Sunday

On the Western Slope, Canyon View Vineyard Church hosts Pure Religion Sunday (formerly Orphan Sunday or Stand Sunday) every November. The senior pastors adopted two girls internationally and created a church ministry called Woven. This ministry seeks to support families on their fostering and adoption journeys through resources, community, or other means of support. It’s not only for families that are actively on a fostering or adoption journey, but also for those that wish to support families on that journey. On Pure Religion Sunday, the church invites local foster and adoption agencies to set up booths in the lobby of the church to share resources and information about their work. This year, there were over ten agencies present. The pastor also gave a powerful message asking the congregation to think of one thing they could do to help vulnerable children today.

As a church leader, there are a few ways your church can help with the Biblical call to serve orphans and widows:

1. Provide a meal. Kinship and foster families get very little notice of a new placement. The first week is pure chaos as they welcome in these new little ones. A meal goes a long way in providing comfort and support to the new family.
2. Become a respite provider. If you don’t want to become a certified foster or kinship provider, but like kids, then there are other ways that you can support families. Respite is a break not only for the parents, but the kids as well. Adoptive, foster, and kinship families all would appreciate a respite provider to help them out!
3. Have a resource fair. More likely than not, you already have several adoptive, foster, or kinship families in your church community. Ask them what they could use. Invite local organizations to come to your church and tell everyone about the resources they provide. Many organizations provide training, mentorship, respite, meals, and much more to families like these in need. And perhaps someone will feel a pull from the Lord to join that organization as a volunteer! 

By Krissie Yamagucchi, ECHOflex Support Manager