This week our Dominican Republic Missions Team ministered in two orphanages. The children in the boys and girls orphanages had lost their parents due to tragic circumstances. As I observed our Team ministering in the girl’s orphanage, I reflected on how difficult it is to be a child in today’s world even when you have one or both parents to look up to, learn from and receive provision and protection from. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for children who grow up without a parent in their life. Yet these children in the orphanage seemingly had joy and a good perspective about life because they were being loved on and cared for by the Christian leaders in the orphanages. Our team was reminded that there is hope even for orphans because of the love, presence and power of the Lord in people’s lives.

Several years ago Vicki and I were in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Rio has a population of 12 million people, and about 2 million of its inhabitants are children with little or no supervision in their lives. In fact, 50,000 children in Rio spend every night on the streets with no shelter and in the midst of an abundance of alcohol, drugs and gangs which causes Rio to be one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

While Vicki and I were in one of the neighborhoods where there is an abundance of unsupervised children, I asked a minister in that area if there really was any hope for those children. The Children’s ministry leader responded, “I’m glad you asked. One of the leading pastors in Brazil was a child on the streets who came out of this neighborhood.”

It’s amazing what the Lord can do to transform every facet of our life. When a person places their faith in the Lord and their life in His hands, they begin to experience positive changes in every part of their life. Emotionally their life improves, as they begin to experience the peace, joy and love of the Lord in their life. Relationally their life begins to improve as they begin to show to others the love of the Lord. Oftentimes a person’s life improves financially when they become a Christian, because of the Lord’s blessings and because they are no longer wasting their finances on “worldly living.” Other positive changes take place in people’s lives as well because of the presence and power of the Lord coming into their life.

So here is what I have learned. No matter the circumstances or situations, the Lord is able to bring help, hope and healing to every person’s life. Thank God for the message and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives and in today’s world.

Feel free to share with me you how the Lord has brought help, hope and healing to your life.