On July 24, another lame summer horror flick will hit theaters.  This Warner Bros production is called Orphan, and it’s about a disturbed orphan child named Esther who enjoys murder.  But only because she’s psychologically unstable due to the horrific deaths of her parents.

Needless to say, adoption advocates are disgusted and so am I!  It’s hard enough to find families to adopt troubled kids, and now this movie may make some parents think twice.  It’s definitely not good PR for adoption.

Fortunately, more than 50 Christian organizations joined together to start a grassroots campaign called Orphans Deserve Better.  The goal of the campaign is to increase public awareness about orphans, adoption, and how people can help.

Here’s what’s the press release about the project says::

“The movie Orphan does no favors for the boys and girls who share its name,” said Jedd Medefind, President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans. “Organizations, advocates and ordinary citizens have every reason to raise a respectful but firm counter voice–orphans deserve better than the messages this film conveys.”

Orphan advocates are concerned Orphan will feed perceptions that children who’ve lost their parents are oddities or worse, while also reducing chances they will be received into permanent families through adoption. Meanwhile, movie reviews describe Orphan as the “anti-adoption horror film of the year”–sure to “scare prospective parents from ever adopting.” The controversy has prompted Warner Bros to remove its most inflammatory line from the trailer, but the movie is sure to stir more debate when it is released on July 24.

The website www.OrphansDeserveBetter.Org serves as a hub for the campaign, which supporters explain is intended not to “bash” Warner Bros but to educate and stir response to the needs of orphans.

Individuals are invited to join the campaign in a range of ways. The site enables families and individuals to post their own stories, pictures, blogs and videos that “tell a truer story” than the movie Orphan. The personal accounts show with real-life color that, although sometimes requiring sacrifices, serving orphans brings the kind of joy not found anywhere else.

The site also offers practical steps ordinary people can take to help orphans. In addition, individuals can sign a letter to Warner Bros, urging that a portion of profits from the movie be used to help orphans.

“This campaign is just one small way to answer the prophet Isaiah’s call to ‘Defend the cause of the fatherless,’” said Scott Hasenbalg of Show Hope, which supports orphan care and adoptions worldwide. “We do want to stand up to the distortions portrayed in Orphan, but even more important is to harness this opportunity to enable Christians to live out their mandate to care for orphans in both word and deed.”

The film’s main character—the orphan—is named Esther.  Interestingly, Queen Esther of Bible fame was also an orphan, who was raised by her cousin, Mordecai.  Out of hundreds of beautiful woman, Esther found favor with the king and became queen.  Then she went on to boldly save her people, the Jews, from genocide.  Not bad for a little orphan girl named Esther, is it?  Now someone should make a film about that.  Oh, wait, they did.

Shaohannah’s Hope, the adoption and orphan care ministry founded by Steven and Mary Beth Chapman, would like to extend their deepest gratitude for the generosity of prayers as well as donations offered upon the memory of Maria Sue Chapman. The enormous response has been truly overwhelming, it has not gone unnoticed, and is so graciously appreciated.

Scott Hasenbalg, the ministry’s Executive Director, states, “People have not just been praying for the Chapman family, but crying out to God for them and their healing.”

On behalf of the staff of Shaohannah’s Hope, which is based in Franklin, Tennessee, Hasenbalg continues, “While we don’t comprehend God’s ways all the time, we have a deeper sense of our responsibility to carry out the mission that began more than five years ago. We are committed to working hard together as a team to be a good steward of the support that has been poured into this ministry. We are filled with sadness for this tragedy, but also gratitude to all who has responded with their love, prayers and support.”

As previously reported, the Chapman family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations can be given in memory of Maria to Shaohannah’s Hope Maria’s Miracle Fund. In less than two weeks, thousands of you have responded and over $310,000 has been raised in honor of Maria. Thanks to the generosity of these donations, the ministry of Shaohannah’s Hope continues to give hope and support to orphans around the world to find forever families. In the coming days, more information will be announced regarding the donations offered towards Maria’s Miracle Fund. There is much hope during this time of sadness.

Please continue to keep the Chapman family and the Shaohannah’s Hope ministry and staff in your prayers.

+ How to donate +

Visit: www.ShowHope.org

Or by mail: Shaohannah’s Hope, c/o Maria’s Miracle Fund, PO Box 647, Franklin TN, 37065

–Courtesy of Stacie Vining at Vining Media Relations

On a personal note, I have seen Shaohannah’s Hope in action in helping my friend, Chris Wyatt (not the GodTube founder) adopt a darling little boy from Ethiopia. Obtaining a bit of financial support through the o organization, Chris and his wife, Robin, and their daughter, Caylah, were able to bring Noah home last November. Now officially a U.S. citizen, 2 year-old Noah is a happy member of the Wyatt family. Read about Chris’ experience meeting Steve Curtis Chapman here and the donation from Shaohannah’s Hope here.

Chris, Noah, Caylah (with stuffed puppy), and Robin Wyatt

Caylah and Noah; That kid makes great faces, doesn’t he?