How to make an orphan prayer chain

The look on Kaycee’s face said it all. She stood in front of our fridge, searching the faces of 20 orphan girls from India, pictured in front of the orphanage our church supports. “They really don’t have parents?” she asked a second time, clearly unable to make sense of it with her four-year-old mind.

In today’s me-me-me society, kids are consumed with their next birthday, their next ball game, their next show on Disney+, their next entertaining experience…and most are completely unaware that so many kids their age are suffering. It’s our job to make them aware and help them process it through the eyes of Jesus. Of course, we pray that our adult kids model compassion and teach our grandkids to be compassionate, but they are going a hundred miles an hour and a little reinforcement from grandma won’t hurt!

I’m sure we all agree that it’s a good thing to show compassion, but why? Won’t it just make our grandkids sad and fearful? No! In fact, it’s quite the opposite. According to Charter for Compassion:

I love it so much that the creator of our bodies rewards us physically and emotionally when we do things he calls us to do. Colossians 3:12 says, “…as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” He created us to be compassionate and we experience powerful benefits when we follow his instruction. So cool! And what a mighty miracle to share with our grandkids!

Merriam-Webster defines compassion as having two parts: “sympathetic awareness of others’ distress, together with a desire to alleviate it.” Therefore, a compassionate person not only notices when someone is in distress, but also acts to provide relief. It’s so important to teach both.

So, inspired by Kaycee’s reaction to the picture of the orphan girls, I decided to prepare an activity to grow compassion in my grandkids by exploring the needs of the girls in the photo…and others like them. The end result is something called the Orphan Prayer Chain and directions are below. I’d love for you and your grandkids to join us!

Awareness: What is an orphan and why should I care?

Before making a Prayer Chain, it’s important to clarify that an orphan is a child who has no parents and to draw a distinction between what life is like in your family and what it is like for an orphan child in India. To do this, start with a blank, two-column chart that can be drawn on a piece of paper, typed on a computer, or even created on a coffee table using sticky-notes.  

Label the left side of the chart “ME” and the right side of the chart “Orphans in India.” Next, pose the following questions: What things make you feel comfortable? What makes you feel loved? What do you like to do for fun? As your grandkids brainstorm their answers, write responses in the “ME” column.

Next, ask another question: How do you think the life of an orphan in India is different than yours? Use the internet to explore this question together, reading information and looking at photos. I recommend starting with the Google search, “ministry to orphans in India.” As you explore, make a list on the right side of the chart with what you discover.

Completing the chart will lead to some great discussion with your grandkids, focusing on the first component of compassion: sympathetic awareness of others’ distress.

Action: What can I do to help orphans?

Now it’s time for action! By this time, your grandkids will already be asking what they can do to help. Explain that the Bible tells us to “Defend the weak and the orphans” and to “stand up for the cause of the poor and mistreated.” (Psalm 82:3) 

One way your grandkids can stand up for orphans is to pray for them every day by asking God to help them and keep them from harm. To help them do this, use the printable below to make an Orphan Prayer Chain to hang in their home. 

NOTE: If your grandchildren live far from you, consider printing and sending the supplies for the chain. Once they receive their package, have the above discussion and give directions over the phone or on a video call. TIP: The Messenger Kids App is a great option, allowing parents to set controls and manage contacts. We use this often to video chat with our grandkids and even play games!

How to make your prayer chain:

• Print one single-sided copy of the printable for each child/family.
• As you cut the strips out together, read and discuss the prayers.
• If your grandkids think of prayers that aren’t included already, write them on the blank strips provided.
• Link the strips together (in any order) to create a chain.
• Attach the chain to the bottom of the poster found on the first page of the printable. 
• Now it’s ready for your grandkids to hang in their home(s)!
• Model how they will use one link each day to talk to God about orphans in India. 
• Each day, they can tear off a link after praying OR leave it on the chain and just start over when they make it to the last link. 

More resources for showing compassion

• Save the Children gift catalog: (goats, clean water, bikes, food, education, etc.)
• Here I Am Orphan Ministries gifts of love: (gifts starting at $2)
• Sponsor a child in another country: visit Compassion International or Vision Trust      
• Explore the issue of foster care in the U.S. by visiting www.adoptuskids.org and then pray for a local foster child, the foster family, birth family and caseworker. 
• Offer to pay your grandkids for chores around your house; then help them use the money to help an orphan.
• When shopping with your grandkids, have them pick out a few school supplies or clothing items to donate to a local DHS office for foster kids.

Click below to download your free Orphan Prayer Chain printable

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