Orphan Care Equips Spanish-Speaking Families

In our efforts to end the orphan crisis and assist people in need, Saddleback’s Orphan Care Initiative helps equip churches to launch ministries that promote adoption and care for vulnerable children. With so many Spanish-speaking churches around the world, our Orphan Care team recognized the need for translated materials that would support foster and adoptive parents.

At a time when one-third of all foster children are Hispanic, the demand for Spanish resources has never been greater. That’s why our Orphan Care Ministry recently translated training materials for Spanish-speaking churches and our own Spanish-speaking families at Saddleback.

Participating in the translating process are dedicated volunteers who are currently transcribing existing content and creating new formatting for the materials. Among these Spanish resources is the study guide for small group, The Connection: Where Hearts Meet. Authored by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Elizabeth Styffe, this 13-part study is designed to help foster or adoptive parents in the way they relate to their children to bring healing to each child’s heart.

"A large percentage of children who enter Child Protective Services are placed with relative caregivers who primarily speak Spanish,” says Max McGee, Orphan Care Ministry Manager. “This translated resource will be a vital tool to help them connect with the children placed into their care."

 It’s not uncommon for new foster or adoptive parents to struggle with understanding or disciplining a child, or to face the challenges of welcoming a child into their home. The goal with these translated materials is equip them with practical tools and healthy ways to connect in the home environment. Scheduled for release in late 2017, the Spanish version DVD and workbook of The Connection will be available on pastors.com.

These translated resources are not the only way the ministry has assisted families in need. On August 22, the Orphan Care Initiative promoted Vision Night for OC: New Hope for Vulnerable Children. Held at Saddleback Anaheim, the event brought together 50 local churches to discuss the orphan crisis around the world.

To learn more, visit www.saddleback.com/orphancare.