Scripture That Guides US
At Kepte we don't rely on our own understanding. Instead we seek to discern how we should move by studying God's Word in order to understand His character, and ultimately, His will for our organization.
Below you will find the Biblical references that have inspired us to act and how we interpret God's character and will in these verses.
James 1:27
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
What this means for Kepte:
Kepte sees this part of scripture as a clear mandate for the Kingdom of God to be the fundamental solution for orphanhood.
As the inspiration for our organization’s name, Kepte believes that “episkeptesthai” the Greek word for “to visit” used in this verse means more than merely stopping by to say hello, bring encouraging words, and provide temporary support.
At Kepte we believe that the Kingdom approach to visiting orphans in their affliction is to permanently join them in bearing the weight of their circumstance just as Christ permanently joined us in bearing the weight of our circumstance of spiritual orphanhood.
James 1:22-25
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in the mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”
What this means for Kepte:
Kepte sees these verses as the conscription and empowerment from God to his Kingdom to walk boldly in the fulfillment of God’s call in James 1:27. We also believe that these verses are more than an invitation but are actually an expectation of the Kingdom to fulfill the Word of God heard in James 1:27 and throughout the rest of the Bible.
Matthew 25:31-40
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'”
What this means for Kepte:
Kepte sees these verses as the blueprint for what visiting orphans in their affliction looks like. Here we see Christ explaining that the Kingdom will be distinct from the rest of creation by sharing in the burdens of the least of these.
At Kepte we believe orphans truly are the least of these and that there are even those who are least among orphans. We also believe that it is the duty of the Kingdom to permanently clothe, feed, heal, welcome, and nurture the least of the least of these, those orphans who are least likely to be provided a permanent solution to their affliction.
We believe that God has revealed the ideal form for this permanent solution in the model of the *nuclear family.
*Nuclear Family: a family unit consisting of a married couple and their dependent children living together in the same household
Luke 10:2
“And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
What this means for Kepte:
Kepte sees this verse as Christ’s acknowledgement that there is an abundance of Kingdom victories ready to be claimed and too few members of the Kingdom prepared and equipped to claim them.
We believe that in the areas of orphanhood and adoption the harvest is indeed plentiful, and the laborers are indeed few. At Kepte we have chosen to step into this gap by seeking to motivate and empower members of the Kingdom of God to value and reap this Kingdom harvest.
Luke 10:7
“And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages.”
James 2:14-17
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
What this means for Kepte:
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Kepte sees these verses as a call for the Kingdom of God to provide “the things needed for the body” for orphans in the form of a family to belong to as well as “the things needed for the body” for Kingdom laborers who are willing provide that family and belonging to orphans.
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To accomplish this, Kepte will be providing annual grants disbursed monthly for adoptive families that meet Kepte requirements so that parents have the availability to take on the task of being dedicated to raising their adopted child well
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Kepte’s mission is to radically value the nuclear family by motivating and empowering Christians to fulfill the Biblical call to visit orphans in their affliction by bringing them into our families and raising them well.
