Russian Orphan Statistics

I found these statistics the other day that will just absolutely break your heart. These kind of statistics can be found worldwide, it’s not just a Russia problem…

• At around age 16 or 17, orphans are forced to leave the orphanage system and enter the world with limited education and minimal support. Within the first five years, almost 90% of these orphans end up in crime, prostitution, drug and alcohol addiction, or commit suicide.
• In Ukraine and Russia 10% -15% of children who age out of an orphanage commit suicide before age 18, 60% of the girls are lured into prostitution, 70% of the boys become hardened criminals. 
• Another Russian study reported that of the 15,000 orphans aging out of state-run institutions every year, 10% committed suicide, 5,000 were unemployed, 6,000 were homeless and 3,000 were in prison within three years.

As one of my friends commented the other day, hearing these startling statistics should not only make us sad, but as Christians, it should lead us to act! There are so many ways to care for the orphans, as well as ALL of those who are hurting or in need. God might lead you to adopt a child yourself, you can support adoptive families, you can sponsor a child through an organization like Holt International, He might call you to go on a missions trip to serve at an orphanage, you can DEFINITELY pray for orphans and for adoptive families…I don’t know what He wants YOU to do, but you better believe He wants us doing something! WE are His hands and feet! “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.’”Matthew 25:40

I strongly encourage every single one of you to read the book, “Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches” by Russell Moore. Be forewarned…your life will never be the same.