The Church can help children grow up in families.
Churches have a powerful opportunity to help children grow up where they belong—in families. Together, we can care for vulnerable children in ways that create lasting change.
ROOTED IN SCRIPTURE
God's heart for children includes family.
Scripture is clear about God’s concern for orphaned and vulnerable children. James 1:27 calls us to care for orphans and widows together in their distress. Throughout Scripture, we see God’s concern for families experience poverty, loss, injustice, and vulnerability—and His call for His people to come alongside them. Caring for children means caring for families.
ROOTED IN SCRIPTURE
God's heart for children includes family.
Scripture is clear about God’s concern for orphaned and vulnerable children. James 1:27 calls us to care for orphans and widows together in their distress. Throughout Scripture, we see God’s concern for families experience poverty, loss, injustice, and vulnerability—and His call for His people to come alongside them. Caring for children means caring for families.
$4.5B
Given each year by individual U.S. Christians to support residential care for children worldwide
40%
of donors learn about the orphanage they support through their church
68%
of mission trips to orphanages are organized through churches
*Statistics from Barna Study 2026
THE OPPORTUNITY
Churches can help change the way we care for vulnerable children.
For generations, Christians have responded to God’s call to care for orphaned and vulnerable children with generosity and compassion, and churches have tremendous influence over how Christians put that care into action.
As we’ve learned more about what children need to thrive and why children become separated from their families, we have an opportunity to think differently about how we care.
Today, churches can help lead the way toward approaches that strengthen families and help more children grow up where they belong.
How We Can Work Together
Talk
Have questions about family-based care or your church’s approach to orphan care? We’d love to help you explore how to best support vulnerable children.
Invite
Invite Otem Collective to share about family-based care with your church, missions team, leadership, or small group.
Partner
Invest in work that strengthens families, reunites children, and helps organizations transition toward family-based care.
Pray
Join us in praying for children, families, communities, and the growing movement toward family-based care.
Talk
Have questions about family-based care or your church’s approach to orphan care? We’d love to help you explore how to best support vulnerable children.
Invite
Invite Otem Collective to share about family-based care with your church, missions team, leadership, or small group.
Partner
Invest in work that strengthens families, reunites children, and helps organizations transition toward family-based care.
Pray
Join us in praying for children, families, communities, and the growing movement toward family-based care.
RESOURCES FOR YOUR CHURCH
A Deeper Look at Family-Based Care
Practical resources to help your church explore family-based care, ask thoughtful questions, and consider how to best support vulnerable children and families.
Children Belong in Families
Explore why family matters, what Scripture and research tell us about children’s needs, and how we can care for vulnerable children in ways that strengthen families.
10 Questions to Ask When Supporting an Orphanage
A practical guide to evaluate whether your support is helping children move toward safe, permanent families.
Family Activity Guide
Help children and families in your congregation learn why families matter and how they can care for vulnerable children together.
Children Belong in Families
Explore why family matters, what Scripture and research tell us about children’s needs, and how we can care for vulnerable children in ways that strengthen families.
10 Questions to Ask When Supporting an Orphanage
A practical guide to evaluate whether your support is helping children move toward safe, permanent families.
Family Activity Guide
Help children and families in your congregation learn why families matter and how they can care for vulnerable children together.
Let's rethink orphan care together.
Whether your church has supported orphanages for years or is just beginning to explore family-based care, we’d love to connect about how you can best support vulnerable children. Our hope is to see more children growing up in families, whether that’s through Otem Collective or another organization.
407-392-4324
info@otemcollective.org
