Matt Nelson - November 7, 2021
Orphan Sunday 2021
Timeline: 2011 - 111Project launches in Tulsa County through City Church 2011 - We host our first conference in Tulsa County to resource the local church (8046 Conference) 2014 - Hire Chris Campbell as 111Project Executive Director 2015 – OKDHS & 111Project launch Oklahoma Fosters campaign with Governor Fallin resulting in Oklahoma reaching annual family recruitment goal 2015 - Closing of Pauline Myer state ran children’s shelter in Oklahoma City 2016 - Launch of CarePortal in Oklahoma/Tulsa County 2018 – Closing of Laura Dester state ran children’s shelter in Tulsa 2019 – Oklahoma recognized as one of only 5 states in country that has seen a decrease in kids in care and an increase in foster families 2021 – 111Project opens 26th County in Oklahoma on CarePortal officially serving 1/3 of state’s counties (over 4,000+ children being served annually through the CarePortal) 2021 - In October, Oklahoma child welfare numbers drop below 7200 children in care, which is the lowest this number has been in 15+ years. For the Orphan: There is no welfare system in place For the Widow: There are few opportunities for a woman to make money For the Outsider/Immigrant/homeless: There were limited resources for someone without friends, connections, or family. Isaiah 1:16-17 Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. Isaiah 58:10-12 Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble.Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes. James 1:22-27 22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. 26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. How do we accomplish this task? We need a good offense & defense: Offense: to continue to recruit foster parents/families to step into this space so that no Oklahoma child is without a family Defense: to continue to provide resources through the CarePortal for our biological & foster families Fans: people who will come alongside and provide encouragement and support