“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hands of the wicked.”

Years ago I wrote an article to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette about the atrocities that were occurring in Sierra Leone. I was appalled at the human suffering that was taking place and how the world seemed to have blinders on. I did a fundraiser and had hopes of visiting Sierra Leone to help the many orphaned children and the women who endured unimaginable abuse…but my dream didn’t materialize. It is one of  my big regrets. I had intended to write a book, it would be titled, “Unheard Cries of Terror, Testimonies From The Woman of Sierra Leon.” My aspiration was to bring awareness to the crisis and then to raise money to help these woman become independent and to eventually start an organization that would care for the many children left behind. I am so happy though that Diane Elliot has done something I had only hoped to do that was write the, “The Global Orphan Crisis, Be the Solution Change Your World”a beautifully written book that brings awareness to the orphan crisis from a viewpoint that is based in the teachings of Christ.

Diane’s book is thoroughly and thoughtfully written. She covers the global orphan crisis with hard facts while diving into the complexities and problems that orphans are challenged with daily. Diane gives you an understanding of what an orphan is and the often times tragic factors that lead to them becoming orphans. She talks about the orphan crisis in developed, emerging and least developed countries and gives the reader an inside look at the dangers that are these children’s realities.  These realities include poverty, human trafficking, AIDS, lack of education, child pornography, sex slavery,  forced child labor, being forced into becoming child soldiers, rape, and child abuse, is your heart breaking yet? Most of us hear of these things happening to children and we think it is awful, but because it doesn’t happen in our backyard it can be very difficult if not impossible to grasp the devastation that occurs in a child’s life in so many countries when they become a orphan. Diane makes these faces and lives come alive through the pages of her book.

She isn’t just writing about statistics. She is writing from the viewpoint of being a follower of Christ. In every page I can feel Diane’s heart and her eagerness to help the 153 million orphans globally. As a Christian she views this ministry as a calling from God, as a responsibility to help the fatherless children and she articulates this so beautifully. When you read this book you begin to understand that you too have a duty as follower of Jesus to reach out your hand and open your heart. Diane stresses that no contribution is too small, and that it all leads to the greater goodand imprpvement of these children’s lives. Whether you give your time, money, words of encouragement, or become a parent to one of these children it all MATTERS! She gives you practical ways on how to become involved and change a child’s life and she shares stories of those who have changed their lives by becoming involved. These stories will warm your heart and make you hug your children a little tighter. If you believe in scripture and Jesus then you know these are our children too, regardless of the borders that seperate us.

This book is an invaluable resource for anyone who reads it. If your church is involved in an orphan ministry please have them order this book in bulk! It will enhance and reaffirm to them the importance of the work they’re doing for God’s Kingdom. Or as a single mom if you have a heart to make a difference in a child’s life pick up this book. s a single mom, I feel extremely blessed at the resources I have available to me and I can’t imagine my sweet girl enduring a life with such uncertainty and insecurity. I think as single moms we have the power to impact the lives of  the children of our sisters that we have never met. These women, strangers to us who have children left behind as a result of any number of circumstances, don’t we have a responsibility to them as our sisters in Christ? As mothers don’t we share a bond with them and their children? I applaud Diane Elliott for writing this book with such an open heart and soul. She did what I didn’t. I am so thankful for this book that will inspire the reader to extend their village and reach outside of their backyard into the hearts and lives of children globally. You will thank her too.

Purchase Diane’s Book- http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41830&pid=88689
Read Diane’s Blog-http://www.globalorphancrisis.com/