Connection is the Goal - Empowered to Connect

Watch as Dr. Karyn Purvis, co-author of The Connected Child, explains why it is important for adoptive and foster parents to always keep connection as their goal, regardless of the behaviors or challenges they are facing.

Are you an adoptive parent?

How about a foster parent?

Have you ever considered either?

If so, I've got some good news for you! Empowered to Connect (along with Dr. Karyn Purvis) is hosting a two-day conference designed to help adoptive and foster parents, ministry leaders and professionals better understand how to connect with “children from hard places” in order to help them heal and become all that God desires for them to be.

The next conference is just a few weeks away: September 14 & 15, 2012, in Nashville, Tennessee at Brentwood Baptist Baptist Church. Registration for the Nashville conference is now open!

Can't make that conference? Mark these future dates on your calendar!

Future dates and locations for the Empowered To Connect Conference:

• February 15 & 16, 2013 in Orlando, Florida at First Baptist Church Orlando (click here to register at the early bird price)

• April 19 & 20, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois at The Chapel (Barrington Campus)

• September 13 & 14, 2013 in Houston, Texas at Houston’s First Baptist Church

Summit VIII Reflection from Rebecca...

Rebecca Maas, adoptive mother and orphan advocate, is part of our Lifesong Blogger Network.  We were excited to see her win our Lifesong Blogger Network contest and win a trip to the Summit this year.  Couldn't help but share her kind words and wisdom that she took from Summit this year.

I just wanted to thank you and Lifesong again for the wonderful opportunity to attend Summit VIII. What a great time of refreshment and encouragement for me. 

It was also a time God used to open my eyes to the realities adoptive and foster families are facing after placement.  I know that God had been slowly opening my eyes to families in my area who are struggling after bringing their child home. There is no support network set up for them.  The church is really failing in this area.  They are cheering for and encouraging families to adopt/foster children but are not educating and following through with the families once the child is in the home.  I truly think it is ignorance.  I don't think they realize that the hard work STARTS when the child comes home.  After five seperate adoptions I can honestly say adoption is not for the faint at heart.  It is a lot of work and takes a huge amount of faith.  Adoption is probably the hardest thing I have ever done and the most rewarding.  

Thanks again for the opportunity!

To learn more about Rebecca, follow her blog at www.thissideofeternityblog.blogspot.com.

Empowered to Connect Conference Dates

Listen in with Michael & Amy Monroe talk about "Being on the Same Page" in order to love your children well...one of the many topics covered through Empowered to Connect!

Empowered To Connect, together with Show Hope, hosts the Empowered To Connect Conference — a two-day conference designed to help adoptive and foster parents, ministry leaders and professionals better understand how to connect with “children from hard places” in order to help them heal and become all that God desires for them to be.

The next Empowered To Connect Conference will be on April 20-21, in Denver, Colorado at Mission Hills Church. Registration for the Denver conference is now open! If you cannot join in April for the Denver conference, then be sure to mark your calendar for the September conference in Nashville, Tennessee on September 14-15, 2012.  Visit www.etcconference.org for more information and to register online.

Mission's Night

You couldn't take one step without seeing a child at Mission's Night, hosted by the Apostolic Christian Church in Bloomington, IL. It was a dynamic evening full of different ministries that this congregation has been supporting.  It was their desire to highlight these ministries and have them connect to their church body in a family friendly way presenting the importance of serving in the Kingdom and how they as families can get involved.

The Lifesong for Orphans "Experience"...

Handprint Wall - showing the 2300 children Lifesong has help bring into families through adoption financial assistance. 

Africa before Lifesong...

Africa after Lifesong...

The Forgotten Initiative

It was so great to connect with the youth and impact their minds and hearts of the importance of working with God for His Kingdom!

Information on Adoption Tax Credit

As many of you may be aware, the current maximum allowable tax credit of $13,360 for all adoptive families is scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2012. 

Unless Congress acts to extend or make the adoption tax credit permanent, it will revert at that time to a maximum of $6,000 for parents adopting children with special needs.  No tax credit will be available to other adoptive parents.

The National Council for Adoption has just released their Adoption Tax Credit Advocacy Kit that is available by logging onto their website at www.adoptioncouncil.org.  

Regardless of the level of involvement that you are prepared to engage in, we urge you to review this valuable resource and find ways to make your voice heard for the sake of all adoptive families and the children they endeavor to bring into their homes.  Whether it is a few strategically placed phone calls or a full-blown campaign, everyone can have a part in promoting permanency for children.