Whitfield on Orphans

George Whitefield was one of the preachers of the first Great Awakening in America (1735-1742). Upon arrival in Savannah, Georgia, he was extremely moved by the plight of the many children who were orphaned as a result of the death of their parents who were settlers in the poor colony of Georgia from England, France, and Germany. Whitefield therefore started Bethesda — a house of mercy. During a severe financial shortage, Whitefield said, “I would rather sell myself as a slave on a ship in order to provide the funds for the orphanage than to see these children go hungry!” In serving Christ, are there those today who would be willing to give themselves as slaves, as servants, to take the Gospel and minister to the up to 13 million AIDS orphans in Africa, the 100 million street children and 150 million orphans of the world?