"Yes You Can" Churches...

See how God is using one church to equip and encourage another church. Churches serving other churches - what a great concept, eh?!

Here are two great examples of this at work...

While I was in Michigan last week the folks at Kentwood Community Church shared with me how they started the Grand Rapids alliance of church orphan ministries. They told me their team of folks brainstormed and strategized for a long time, on how to create this local alliance.  The concept felt overwhelming and intimidating to actually get it implemented, so it didn't get off the ground for a while.

Then they heard Michael & Amy Monroe, talk about how simply the DFW Alliance works, and how simply it can get started.  It did NOT have to start out as a huge movement or awareness campaign.  How simple it could be to just get started by meeting together, and go from there.

That simple encouragement and experience was the tipping point for the Michigan folks to form the WMOAMA (West Michigan Orphan Adoption Ministry Alliance).

Sometimes we make things too hard, more difficult than they really need to be.

Another example...A foster family (Matt & Kasidy) attended a Hope for Orphans workshop hosted by the Tapestry Adoption/Foster Care ministry.  They were so moved by this conference, they felt led to start an orphan ministry in their church (Heights Church in Richardson, TX).  Michael & Amy Monroe , Anthony & Kristen Violi, and other folks at Tapestry and in the DFW Alliance followed-up with Matt and Kasidy, and now they are "off and running"!  

This past week they met with the Heights Church leadership, received approval from leadership, and now they are in process of announcing the launch of this ministry in November. Their ministry will likely deal with local foster care initiatives to begin with.

Thank you so much for being willing to help out knowing the two of you [Michael & Amy] are there lessens the anxiety that Kasity and I are feeling starting this out not knowing where God will take it.  - Kasidy

These two examples illustrate the power and benefit of a local alliance of ministries...how important it can be to connect churches who are actively involved - to churches who want to be involved.  Churches sharing and working together for the orphan and vulnerable children. It is simple, yet beautiful. It is catalytic.

The orphans and churches desperately need more "yes you can" church ministries...those that are willing to say God has blessed us and we want to bless you so that you can say "yes" to what God is inviting you to be a part of.  

To all of you local churches and champions who are eager to say "yes", folks we want to serve you...

Tapestry Adoption/Foster Care Ministry/DFW Alliance

How Your Church Can Become Equipped (Focus on the Family)

How Your Church Can Become Equipped (Hope for Orphans)

Orphan Care & Adoption Summit IV (April 30 & May 1, 2009)

Adoption, Ukraine and...ESPN?

Mark Richt Family and Adoption

This is a powerful video, shown on ESPN's Gameday, about Georgia head football coach, Mark Richt.  The Richt's adopted two children (Zach and Anya) from Ukraine - one of whom had a facial deformity.  They are powerful witnesses of God's grace and calling in their lives. It certainly makes me want to become a Georgia Bulldog fan!...

Listen for Anya's heart and perspective - I have a lot to learn from this young lady.

Andy

Beauty out of Ashes...the Sam & Ellie Adoption Fund

I was in Grand Rapids, MI this week speaking to the WMOAMA (West Michigan Orphan Adoption Ministry Alliance) – a fantastic group of churches who are actively creating orphan ministry. This alliance in Grand Rapids is aptly led by Jodi Lewis and Joni Johnson, who also lead the Families of Promise orphan ministry at Kentwood Community Church (KCC). 

They asked me to share how Lifesong for Orphans comes alongside the local church to serve and equip them in Church Adoption Funds and Church Sponsor-an-Orphanage initiatives. 

What is inspiring to me is how God brought beauty out of brokenness – the experiences that created the Sam & Ellie Adoption Fund.

In August of 2003, money was given to KCC in loving memory of Ellie Johnson, an infant who was loved and prayed for by many KCC friends and family.  The money was to benefit the children of KCC, but no specific purpose was designated.  Our nursery was already well equipped and the children’s programs well funded.  We didn’t know how God wanted this money to be used.  After much prayer, it seemed that this money would be best used to bring orphans home to their KCC families.

In may of 2005, Sam Johnson, brother to Ellie, died after living only 17 days.  Again, people generously gave to this fund, this time knowing it would be used to help fund adoptions for KCC families.

Well known and respected, Lifesong for Orphans, has partnered with Kentwood Community Church to facilitate and administer the adoption fund

~ Dan and Joni Johnson  (parents of Sam and Ellie)

Imagine...Sam & Ellie...2 children who arrived in Heaven "early"...through that sadness and sorrow...God has brought great joy...2 orphans from Ethiopia who've been adopted into a Christian family through the Sam & Ellie Adoption Fund.  God is good at bringing beauty out of ashes. (Isaiah 61:3)

2 precious orphans from Ethiopia...now adopted as son & daughter

Lifesong and the KCC Families of Promise orphan ministry worked together to create an Adoption Fund that would remove the financial barriers that prevent so many children from being adopted – through Adoption Matching Grants and Interest-Free Loans.

Here are the Top 3 Barriers to churches creating Adoption Funds...and Lifesong's Solutions to overcome the hurdles.

1. Barrier: Church staff “plate is already full” to administer fund           

Solution: Lifesong will manage/facilitate the Fund & carry the administrative load on behalf of church, using mutually agreed upon criteria (reviewing applications, accounting, donor receipts, disbursing funds on behalf of adoption, etc.)

2. Barrier:  Church feels uncomfortable/awkward approving/denying their own families (viewing financials, etc.)

Solution: Lifesong will provide all the screening, reviewing, approving/denying as a ‘partner’ on behalf of the church, using mutually agreed upon criteria for those decisions

3. Barrier:  Adoption Fund is unfamiliar territory

Solution:  Lifesong has passion, and expertise in adoption funding processes, maximize stewardship, use existing grant/loan procedures, IRS approved, ECFA approved (establishes financial integrity & avoids recreating the wheel)

And one of the best aspects….Lifesong manages & administers the Adoption Fund  - at no cost to churches!

Learn How This Works

I Want to See Another Working Example (Irving Bible Church)

What Other Churches Partner with Lifesong for Orphans

Vova & Svyeta - indigenous foster care/adoption

You asked for more Ukraine pics & highlights...so here you go!...

a view from a Ukrainian orphan's perspective as they live in an orphanage

One of the deepest forms of love and relieving needs of the 132 million+ orphans is - giving them a family.  The reality is that not all of the world's orphans will be adopted internationally (very roughly 20,000 +/- adoptions by US families each year).  It has been said that only the global Church (Body of Christ) is big enough to solve the 132 million orphan problem - no other corporation, no government nor non-profit entity as the ability to deliver a solution. No other entity has a distribution system that is big enough, wide enough, and deep enough - except the worldwide Body of Christ.

 We seek to mobilize the Church, His body, where each member can provide a unique and special service: some to adopt, some to care, some to give financially.

Vovya & Svyeta (Lifesong Family Home parents)

Ok...that sounds really good, but what does that really look like?  

I want to introduce you to some of my HEROES...

A Ukrainian Christian couple (Vova & Svyeta) who have made themselves available for how God wants to use them to love on the orphan children in Ukraine. They have dedicated themselves to becoming Ukrainian foster/adoptive parents in a Lifesong for Orphans family home (foster/adoptive home). 

One and a half years ago, Vova & Svyeta adopted their first child after having 3 children biologically. They currently have adopted/fostering 7 children.

Thank You to the several US churches who have made Ukraine Orphan Care a part of their missions commitment and have an "Adopt-an-Orphanage" initiative in Ukraine.

Thank you to the Ukraine Vision Team and several major donors and advocates who have sacrificially and generously "dug deep" to help Lifesong Ukraine staff to "go deep" in these children's lives!

Thank you for believing in the model of encouraging & equipping the indigenous Christians to live out James 1:27

Thank you Vova & Svyeta, Denis and the entire Lifesong - Ukraine Orphan Care team for saying 'yes' to God's calling!

Thank you God for never tiring in being a Father to the fatherless!...

What would happen if each of the 300,000 churches in the US where to come alongside of one indigenous church and one indigenous orphanage or initiative?

...There would no longer be 132 million orphaned & vulnerable children in our world... Get Started

Lifesong Family Home (the whole clan)

Lifesong Family Home (kitchen/dining area)Lifesong Family Home landscapingLifesong Family Home (backyard)

Life & the Election - what is at stake?

As we think about the Presidential Election just a few weeks away, I can't help but to think of what is at stake in this election for some of the most vulnerable, and voiceless children...the unborn.  As Christians - let's not be just pro-life, but pro-adoption too...so that we support those birthmothers who courageously choose LIFE!

Here are a few excerpts from Randy Alcorn's recent blog posting...you really need to watch the video to understand the context of these statements below. 

(This picture is of a born child and a picture of that same child months earlier in the womb.)

Based on what they've repeatedly said about the abortion issue, there's every reason to believe Obama/Biden would appoint pro-legal-abortion judges and McCain/Palin would appoint anti-legal-abortion judges. The difference in years to come could mean millions of children's lives.

(4D ultra-sound image)

...Planned Parenthood knows. You'll see it in the video at the end, and the wording of the question to Obama about appointing judges.

...Here is an example how the real Obama has been "moving the party forward to elevate the issue of the sanctity of life. . ." On July 17, 2007, Obama stood in front of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the lobbying-political arm of the nation's largest abortion provider, and pledged, "The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do."

Obama is a cosponsor of this so-called "Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA) (S. 1173). It is a bill that would invalidate virtually every federal and state limitation on abortion, including all parental notification and consent laws, waiting periods, and limitations on public funding of abortion. Or, as the National Organization for Women put it, it would "sweep away hundreds of anti-abortion laws [and] policies." These laws in the aggregate have saved—are saving—countless lives.

Cardinal Justin Rigali, in a September 19, 2008, letter to members of Congress, explained with great clarity the sweeping power of the language contained in theFOCA:

"First it [the FOCA] creates a 'fundamental right' to abortion throughout the nine months of pregnancy, including a right to abort a fully developed child in the final weeks for undefined 'health' reasons. No government body at any level would be able to 'deny or interfere with' this newly created federal right. Second, it forbids government at all levels to 'discriminate' against the exercise of this right 'in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information.' For the first time, abortion on demand would be a national entitlement that government must condone and promote in all public programs affecting pregnant women."

1st trimester - 11 weeks

[Randy speaking]...Let me remind you that when I first heard him speak I wanted to vote for Obama. I have no hatred or disdain for him. I think he's likable, sharp, and has some good ideas.

What I am feeling is profound sadness that he would sacrifice children on the altar of choice. And, yes, I admit to being grieved that many Christians are following him, as if the legalized killing of children created in God's image were just one more secondary political issue (some issues, including slavery and Jew-killing and child-killing, are bigger than that).

I totally understand disenchantment with the Republican party; what I don't understand is why innocent children deserve to be punished by your vote.

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did [or didn't do] for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did [or didn't do] for me.' Jesus, Matthew 25:40,45

So...will the candidate's pro-choice/pro-life issue stance be a determining factor in who you will vote for?

Andy

Read Randy Alcorn's full blog post