The Bakers...Serving with passion

Our History:


Our History

Philip Hayden's love for the people of China was demonstrated in a quote he kept in his dresser drawer, which said,
"The greatest proof of Christianity for others is not how far a man can logically analyze his reasons for believing, but how far in practice he will stake his life on his belief."
(T.S. Elliot)

In 1991, American teacher Philip Hayden went to China and began volunteering his spare time to help China's orphans. Philip Hayden's love for these orphans had a huge impact on his teammates, Tim and Pam Baker, who joined him in volunteering. The Bakers soon took in their first orphaned baby, Esther, who they later adopted.

While on a trip to northeast China with Tim, Phil died unexpectedly as a result of a rare heart defect. He was only 28 years old. Phil's death and the adoption of Esther had a profound impact on the Bakers. They couldn't help thinking about the orphans who slept to the right and left of Esther who were still in the orphanage. The Bakers knew they could not adopt them all, but they wanted to help them as Phil had. This desire to help led them to establish the foundation in his memory in 1995.

The primary work of PHF is the establishment of our childrens villages in Mainland China, where we take in at-risk and special-needs orphans, love them, provide them surgeries to correct their special needs conditions, and work to find loving families to adopt them. Approximately 95% of the orphans in our care are special needs children, most of whom were abandoned by their parents because they were born "broken". Our philosophy is to take in these so-called "broken" children and transform their hopelessness into beautiful stories of redemption and love. We do this through our four steps to providing hope program.

USA

Philip Hayden Foundation
40335 Winchester Rd. #E-115
Temecula, CA 92591
Toll-Free: 866-JAMES-127
(1-866-526-3712)

CHINA
Philip Hayden Foundation
PO Box 41
Langfang Development Zone
Langfang, Hebei 065001
PR China
Phone: (86) 22-2219-0708
Fax: (86) 22-2219-070

The power of prayer...

Langfang China...
On arriving our first night, we went to a local restaurant for dinner with Leah who is on-staff here. She has been a most wonderful host and we just adore her. While eating, we began to ask questions about just how the children come to live here. And while there are a few children a year that are abandoned at the gate, the majority of their children come here at the request of the orphanage in their home province-and it is usually because they have some type of medical condition that that orphanage is not equipped to handle. The next morning, as we were having breakfast and fellowshipping together, the director, Tim, came in and told us there was a baby left at the gate around 3am that morning. She was found wrapped in blankets, accompanied by 200 RMB (a little less than $30 US dollars) and a note indicating that she was only 6 days old. She has cleft lip and palate. Misty remembers that night the she was awoken at that time with this nagging feeling that someone was at the gate. And low and behold, we now know who it was.....this precious angel that is now being called Misty Mae. And for the record, Tim had hoped to name the next arrival "Misty May" after the famous Team USA beach volleyball player. But his wife wasn't sold on it, until they heard Misty's story! So, we introduce to you, Misty May:

We have certainly been praying for her birth family and this very difficult decision she had to make.

The Wall...

There are two walls in China. The Great Wall and the Adoption Wall at the Phillip Hayden Foundation. Many people's lives have been sacrificed to build and create the Great Wall of China. In the same respect the Adoption Wall at PHF represents some of these same characteristics. Due to their children having medical problems or their family size exceeding the Chinese laws many families have to sacrificed a lifetime with their children knowing that a home at the Shepherds Field Children's Village would be the best home for their precious children. This sacrifice did not come without great sorrow and sadness. But there is hope! The wall at PHF has hundreds of plaques that have a single or several sets of hand prints molded into them.
Each plaque also holds a name of an adopted child or family member! The names are endless. The work at PHF is rewarding. The children are precious. The need is great. The time is right. If you are willing to help with the needs at PHF visit www.chinaorphans.org after all they are doing what the heart of our God would want them to do..to take care of orphans.