Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO)

CAFO President Jedd Medefind reflects on the feeling of gratitude this Thanksgiving on the CAFO blog: "Nothing is a more accurate gauge of my life with God – and, really, my entire well-being – than the level of thankfulness in my heart. When I’m distant from God and focused on myself, gratitude is rare. If things go well, I’m self-satisfied. If things go poorly, I’m irritable and complaining. But when I’m walking near to God, gratitude comes naturally as breathing. I notice and name the blessings, thanking God and others for them. Even hard experiences remind of the countless gifts that remain all around me, despite real struggles. That gratitude is a beautiful sensation – light, free, and self-forgetful. In my view, it is the best feeling." Read his entire account of this feeling (and how to get more of it) at https://lnkd.in/eCt-p9WH

Giving Tuesday is around the corner, and this year we're giving back! We will be sharing our member organizations' Giving Tuesday messages through our Stories next Tuesday, Dec. 3. If you are looking for a reputable nonprofit to support, we hope this will help connect you with a great organization working on behalf of vulnerable children and families. Give these organizations some love by liking and sharing their posts! For a complete listing of CAFO members, visit our membership directory >> https://cafo.org/members/ #togetherwegive #givingtuesday #cafoalliance

“Resilience grows not from the absence of struggle, but from the presence of support.” - Drs. Nicole Wilke & Amanda Howard Drs. Mandy Howard and Nicole Wilke share an excerpt from their new book, Overcoming: What Scripture & Science Say About Resilience, on the blog today – including new personal stories they wish they shared in the book! Read the full post and download a free chapter at https://lnkd.in/efU-jgKn Nicole Wilke

Building resilience in kids starts at home. Scripts can provide us with thoughtfully chosen responses to use in challenging moments. Dr. Nicole Wilke, Director of the CAFO Research Center and co-author of Overcoming: What Scripture & Science Say About Resilience, shares some of her favorite scripts to use for cultivating resilience in children. ?? Learn more at cafo.org/blog “At the end of the day, building resilience in our children isn’t about having all the right words at all the right times. It’s about consistently pointing them toward truth, even when we’re tired, overwhelmed or unsure.” https://lnkd.in/eDiNHMP6

Adoptive mom, author and co-founder of Show Hope, Mary Beth Chapman shares her story and her journey of BECOMING through the various joys and trials she’s navigated and how God has used it all to impact the lives of many children through the ministry of Show Hope. Be encouraged and inspired by Mary Beth’s testimony from CAFO2024 in Nashville, TN. You can watch Mary Beth's full keynote on our YouTube Channel at the link below: https://lnkd.in/e_7SsPHv

Books and movies can build resilience in children. Today on the CAFO blog, our team is sharing a list of helpful books and movies to cultivate resilience in the children you care about the most. What books and movies would you include? Drop your recommendations in the comments! https://lnkd.in/et8YY6zy

Your Organization as a Place of Spiritual Formation Wednesday, Dec. 11 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST As Christian leaders, we long to help vulnerable children and families to thrive spiritually — and in every sphere of life. To succeed, this work must begin with us and our teams. How can we cultivate this in our organizations? Join CAFO President Jedd Medefind to hear a compelling vision — and learn some very tangible practices — for making your organization a place where people are growing together to BECOME more like Jesus each day. Register here: https://lnkd.in/ewDMHyXT

Pure Religion Sunday 2024 was incredible! God was truly at work, and we believe the impact this day had on the Kingdom will be felt for years to come. Here are some of our favorite photos from #purereligionsunday. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do! P.S. – scroll to the end for an extra “sweet” photo! ??

Drs. Nicole Wilke and Amanda Howard explore the ins and outs of resilience in their new book,?Overcoming: What Scripture and Science Say About Resilience. They reveal that “resilience is a good gift we can give our children through small actions repeated over time. We can’t do the overcoming for them, but we can build the scaffolding to heal from early adversity, to conquer challenges, and to fulfill their potential.” Read more about understanding and cultivating resilience in children at https://lnkd.in/eMqJ8Qbs

Wondering how to effectively catalyze your church on behalf of the vulnerable on Pure Religion Sunday? In our latest blog post, we’ve put together some thoughts around how to speak about God’s heart for vulnerable children and families, and how to inspire your congregation to take their right next step. Read more at?https://lnkd.in/ed-YT9Fr