Kentwood Community Church in Michigan takes a kingdom-minded approach, where they seek to help families overcome the financial barrier to adoption. KCC has partnered with Lifesong to create the KCC/Sam & Ellie Adoption Fund in order to provide a way to bring waiting children into forever families.
KCC orphan advocates will be attending a workshop this month -
A note we received from a family whom Lifesong had the privilege of helping with an Adoption Grant/Loan, who just adopted a little boy named Bryson, from Ethiopia:
Dear Lifesong,
Thank you again for your generous grant. We we brought Bryson home on May 24th. We are thrilled! Bryson is doing great and fits in perfectly with our family.
You can pray for us, we are very busy parents with a 4 month old a 1 yr. old :)
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!