A children’s home of rescue, shelter, and love…the story continues.

“We have got to do something!” In 1990, this phrase weighed heavily on our hearts. Kelly and I had the opportunity to visit the poverty-stricken country of Romania. Reeling from the fall of the Berlin Wall, the nation had just experienced the overthrow of a dictator who led an evil regime for over two decades. Living under severe repression, the Romanian people were living in abject poverty, with many children left orphaned in state institutions.

In a small village, we encountered a desperate situation. Dozens of orphaned children were abandoned in a local hospital. One crib after another, all lined up, filled with babies. Some of the rusted cribs had two children in them. The hospital staff were already overwhelmed with caring for the sick. Nurses brought the children food and changed their diapers once a day, but they were left confined and neglected in their cribs. 

One little girl, about seven years old, was unable to walk. She wasn’t disabled, but because she was stuck in a crib for years, she did not have the opportunity to learn. They called it an orphanage, but it was like a prison just to throw those children away. “There we were, standing there with our own children and looking at all those babies,” Kelly recalls. “We have got to do something! We cannot leave them here.” 

There was little to no government support or oversight at the time, and the hospital director told us that if we found a place for the children, we could take them. So, we knew we had to act quickly. When we returned home, we made an appeal to help rescue those children. Miraculously, the need was met, a home was found in that village, and Casa Sanctuary was opened to rescue and care for abandoned children. Over thirty years later, its doors are still open, providing a safe haven and family for orphans.   

Our Romania trip shares the long-standing heart and mission of World Challenge, which is rooted in the call of James 1:27, “to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.” With your prayers and financial support, we can provide for the current homes and expand our care to support more orphans in need.

A Second Chance

As a young boy, Jonathan found a place of refuge at Casa Sanctuary, along with his siblings. Like many children who walk through those doors, Jonathan’s childhood was overshadowed by family turmoil and brokenness. He not only experienced the trauma of an abusive father who was eventually imprisoned, but his mother also abandoned them. Yet despite enduring pain and heartbreak at such a young age, Jonathan found a home that offered him love, guidance, and hope for his future. 

Today, Jonathan is a young adult who is gainfully employed with a passion for mechanics. He now lives independently but remains part of Casa Sanctuary, as they continue to provide support with his transition into adulthood. Most importantly, Jonathan accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and made a public commitment to Christ through water baptism. 

From a child to a young man, Jonathan was provided with continual physical, emotional, and spiritual care. He found a home and family that not only loved him but also offered him ass transformative second chance. The gospel is what makes orphanages like Casa Sanctuary unique places of refuge. Not only do they rescue children from broken situations, but they help them grow into thriving adults through Jesus Christ—their hope and sustainer!