By John Menton, WEGO South Africa Director
“Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless. For their Defender is strong, and He will take up their case against you.”
-Proverbs 23:10-11
If you search the Bible from front to back, you will find many issues close to God’s heart and you will also notice three groups of people coming up again and again. God draws our attention to orphans, widows and strangers. What these people have in common is their desperate need of provision and protection and scripture mentions the importance of caring for them more than sixty times. The Lord’s concern for their protection and care is so significant that He identifies Himself by His promises to them. Psalm 68:4-6 proclaims that God is a Father to the fatherless and a defender of widows. He sets the lonely in families. God was clear in the Law – His people were to prioritize room in their fields and their lives for the poor and vulnerable.
Deuteronomy 24:19-21 says, “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.
These sections of their fields, marked with boundary stones, ensured hope and help for vulnerable people such as Ruth, a widow and foreigner (Ruth 2:2-3). The areas became known as the “fields of the fatherless.” But, as we see in Proverbs 23, not everyone was eager to reserve space for them. How tempting it must have been to slide that boundary stone over, perhaps even just a little bit each day!
As needy recipients of God’s greatest blessings of mercy and grace in Christ Jesus, we ought to extend mercy to those in need. Who is God calling us to see, protect, and provide for? Who is often overlooked or forgotten? Who is most prone to loneliness and despair? And do we have room in our fields? In our hearts? In our pews? Around our tables?
Forever Mercy Children’s Home in South Africa was founded to give an answer to these profound questions. We are excited about this new partnership with WEGO to expand this call and work. Would you pray with us and ask God to grow us in sharing in His heart and plan for the orphaned, abandoned, and vulnerable among and around us?
And let’s look forward to what the Lord will do!
Praise God for His faithfulness and provision displayed through those who have partnered with us in prayer and support to care for, pray for and to point these precious children to Jesus.
For patience and wisdom in parenting and teaching children from young adults to toddlers. That we would faithfully train them in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6) and that the Word of Christ would dwell in them and us in all wisdom. (Col 3:16)
That we would daily trust the Lord to provide our needs according to His riches in glory (Phil 4:19) and rely on His Word so that our joy may be complete in the Lord Jesus (John 15:11)
For the salvation of the children, growth in grace and godly character, and for diligence in their school work.
For wisdom and guidance to register as a non-profit organization in South Africa and for the plans to expand the work by building a village of six family homes to care for 36 children.
For our local church that is in need of partners to serve in various areas of Gospel ministry. Pray that we faithfully proclaim the Gospel, demonstrate Christian love, and evangelize our community, and that Christ would grow His church and provide for our needs.