“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”

— Isaiah 1:17

On January 1, 2004, our neighbor Brenda Smith was shot four times while walking home at night, and I witnessed the aftermath. At that time I was an intern at Roseland Christian Ministries, and I was living near the church with my coworker and friend, Steve Turner. We soon learned that Brenda’s three children—two teenage girls and a 10-year-old boy—were home alone, without family support.

The Bible calls us to care for widows and orphans, and Steve exemplified this teaching. He took it on himself to care for the children, reaching out to relatives and case workers, regularly driving the kids to the hospital where their mom lay in a coma for four months. During that time the children ate at our dinner table four nights a week. Steve made sure they had groceries, and he gave the youngest, Vincent, haircuts, offering stability during their time of need.

Steve wasn’t a blood relative, but he became a protector to these children. Vincent, now grown and a father himself, still calls Steve regularly, a testament to the lasting impact of his care. Steve’s compassion made a difference in that family, stepping in as a father figure when that was needed most. He became a true advocate, reflecting God's heart for the orphaned, abandoned, and vulnerable.

Lord, thank you for advocates who help to support children not their own. Fill them with compassion and strength, reflecting your love as they nurture and guide young ones in need. Amen.