When Numbers Have Names
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, open our hearts to see beyond statistics to the precious lives You've created. Help us understand Your heart for the vulnerable and recognize our role in Your redemptive work.
"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'"
This verse comes from Jesus' teaching about the final judgment, where He identifies Himself with those in need and explains how serving others is serving Him.
REFLECT:
Bill Williams' powerful testimony in the message reminds us that behind every statistic is a story. When he opens his computer each morning and sees numbers like "1,502 children in foster care," he sees beyond the digits to the faces and names they represent. Each number is a child with hopes, fears, and dreams.
The foster care crisis in Sedgwick County isn't just about managing cases or filling beds - it's about responding to Jesus' call to care for "the least of these." When Bill shared how a simple comment from a high school student named Luke led to fostering 47 children over fifteen years, we see how God can use small moments of availability to create lasting impact.
This mirrors Jesus' teaching that when we serve the vulnerable, we're serving Him directly. The crisis may seem overwhelming - 1,500 children in Sedgwick County alone - but each individual response matters because each child matters to God.
I WILL STATEMENT:
"I will defend and care for the vulnerable with my time and resources." Maybe for you that’s taking time today to learn about one specific child’s story through a local foster care organization or talking to someone involved in foster care. Allow their story to move you from awareness to action.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, help us see beyond numbers to the precious lives You've created. Give us courage to move from awareness to action, knowing that when we serve the vulnerable, we serve You. Amen.