It is hard for us to believe, in days when the adoption process is so slow and ponderous, that in Victorian England thousands of children were orphans and longing for a family of their own.
Dr Barnardo was one of the instruments that God raised up to bring help to the homeless hordes on the streets of London.
Barnardo was the son of a rich merchant in Ireland, he intended to become a medical missionary to China but his life passion became the rescue of orphaned children.
He was ably assisted by his wife, Sylvie. Together they raised four of their own kids, one of whom was a Downs Syndrome child.
The year they were married they moved into their mansion, situated on 60 acres of land and gave shelter to two children from the London streets. Forty years later they had provided refuge for over 100,000 children, girls as well as boys, and had fifty branches of their ministry in different parts of England.
Not only did Barnardo and his wife give succour and shelter to their children, but religious instruction was also mandatory in all their homes. If their little charges did not know their own parents, then Bernardo was determined that they should come to know their heavenly father before they left his care.
Be encouraged all you good people who work with children in any capacity. There is no greater reward than putting your life investment into kids. Put money into a bank account, you get 3 or 4% back at the most. Impart your resources, love and prayers into children and you will have a never ending return both here and for eternity. Jesus said:
"In so far as you have done it unto them you have done it unto Me"
Jubilate.
Ian
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