USA - In the United States alone, there are hundreds of thousands of children who have been abandoned, orphaned or neglected. These children suffer so much at a time when necessary things should be provided for them.

Bethany Christian Services is taking the responsibility to reach out to these children and provide the much needed care that they have been lacking for so long.

Bethany Christian Services has created the "Partners in Prayer" outreach, which is a program that endeavors to get children out of unstable foster care and into permanent families. The chairperson of this program, Kimberly Offutt states, "It is the responsibility of the church, the body of Christ, to save this generation of lost children. So, 'Partners in Prayer' is actually all about the churches getting more involved in prayer and recruitment for children that are in foster care or who need adoptive homes."

Offutt urges that in order for all the churches to be involved in helping these lost children, they must pray for the children and that they can be placed in nuturing stable families. "Having the women's group pray, the men's group pray, the youth group pray. Have them praying for them is the first thing and the basic thing that any church can do." Bethany Christian Services aims to teach Christians the special needs that these children have and after realizing this, they will want to help by accepting these children into their Christian families. Christian families will be able to provide spiritual support and guide children to Christ if they can adopt special needs children.

"Special needs" children are older than five years old, making it difficult for them to be adopted through agencies. Bethany Christian Services is searching for families willing to adopt three to five children so that the children can stay together and grow up together.

"Partners In Prayer" started in Michigan in September. So far there are 25 churches participating in Michigan. She says if this program succeeds Bethany hopes it will spread across the country. If you would like more information about "Partners in Prayer" call (616) 224-7512.