Immanuel

In the 1850’s thousands of homeless children lived on the streets of New York City.^[1] Many sold matches, rags, or newspapers to survive. For protection against street violence, they banded together and formed gangs. There were almost no social services for these homeless children.

A young minister, Charles Brace, took up their cause. He founded the Children’s Aid Society. Brace worked to get the homeless children out of the city and into the country. He used trains to do this. His desire was to get farmers and others in the midwest to adopt the children–to give them homes and a more healthy way of life.

More than 100,000 children were sent, via “orphan trains,” from New York City to homes in rural midwest America.^[2] The children often boarded the train having no idea where they were headed or if they would even be adopted. They were leaving the only place they knew for places and people they’d never seen before.

Read More »Making Room: Present (Matt. 1:18-25) Chris Altrock – December 4, 2016