Sara (adopted from Korea) playing "God is Good" during service
I had the privilege to speak during "Orphan Sunday" at Trinity World Outreach Center in Louisville, KY this weekend and I was inspired by how the attitude and posture of this church is "ready to serve"!
Here is a glimpse into Orphan Sunday at TWOC:
- dedicated the entire day (2 services) to Orphan Sunday
- Pastor Steve preached on God's heart for orphans & spiritual/physical adoption
- engaged 7-8 local church based orphan initiatives and organizations
- launched a Church Adoption Fund
- displayed the Heart Gallery of waiting children in Foster Care
Have you ever dreamed of an Orphan Sunday at your church?...and wondered how you go about doing that?
Check out this letter Kevin & Susan wrote to Pastor Steve to start the discussion:
Pastor Steve,
...Our house is full, however, our heart still breaks for children who are in need of adoption. At times we've not known what to do with these feelings, so sadly, many times we would just ignore it. That is no longer acceptable to us. We feel God is leading us to somehow start a ministry to help others adopt, guide them...encourage tthose on the fence to get off the fence, encourage people to give to help others adopt.
We feel this ministry can best be done within the framework of the church.
We would like for you to prayerfully consider the start of an adoption ministry at TWOC, and one Sunday annually to be set aside as "Adoption Sunday"...
[Kevin and Susan] would embark on the responsibility of being the "go to" people in organizing the ministry and involve others in the church...
What struck me was how well this ministry & Orphan Sunday came together, it was approached the right way:
1. Kevin & Susan Mercer felt called to launch the ministry....and ACTED by starting a discussion with their church leadership
2. Wrote a concise, respectful, well-thought out plan and proposed the idea to Pastor Steve in an honoring way that didn't create more work for Pastor
3. Pastor Steve warmly embraced the concept, saw that this ministry is one aspect of "doing ministry outside the four walls of the church", and empowered his congregation
Launch an Orphans Ministry in Your Church
see a vibrant church orphans ministry at work (Tapestry Adoption/Foster Ministry)