Ninety percent of US Christians agree children thrive best in families. So why do so many of us still send money to orphanages and residential care? The latest Barna study puts real numbers on a problem we can’t hand-wave anymore: 28% of Christians report supporting orphanages or children’s homes, totaling an estimated $4.5 billion a year. That’s not a villain story. It’s a discipleship, storytelling, and “what do I do now?” story.
In this podcast, Julie Walton, Head of Research and Learning at the Martin James Foundation, discusses what the Barna research (commissioned by Faith to Action) reveals beneath the surface. It digs into misconceptions about why children are placed in institutions, why the word “orphanage” carries emotional and spiritual weight, and why child sponsorship can feel so personal while still missing the bigger goal of family-based care. It also explores the real gap between belief and behavior, including the “feasibility gap” that keeps donors defaulting to familiar giving channels.
The conversation gets practical and honest about the role of churches, mission trips, and proximity. Orphanage trips have shaped people’s faith, but child safeguarding and dignity demand that we rethink how we create meaningful engagement without harming children. We also discuss the surprising finding that younger generations are giving more to residential care and how to invite their passion toward family strengthening, family preservation, and community-based child welfare.