Reflections from Summit VI

Well bloggy friends... we've been wanting to post a Summit follow up, but have been utterly speechless at what we experienced! In the midst of processing all the emotions the weekend entailed, we've come across some INCREDIBLE postings from others which sum up our thoughts quite well.

One of the special apsects of Summit is to see the Body of Christ (church, gov't, non-profits, individuals) working together in unity - it's all too rare.  It was thrilling to see the high quality "equipping" that was going on in the breakout sessions." - Andy Lehman, Lifesong for Orphans

What just a few years ago was essentially a small, disconnected and often isolated hodgepodge of orphan and adoption advocates…has grown into an increasingly intertwined, unified, mutually-nourishing movement that grows daily.  Clearly, there’s something more at work here than human hands." - Jedd Medefind, Christian Alliance for Orphans

Summit VI stirred so many emotions in my soul and helped reaffirm the knowledge of God’s loving, persistent and personal invitation to join Him in His mighty fight for His children.  I pray that each of us that were blessed to be there would take the words and images that we heard and saw and let them sink deep into our mind and hearts and ultimately produce fruit with our hands and feet as we together seek to bring glory to our Heavenly Father." - Leah Gerber, Lifesong for Orphans

What blew me away was thinking about just how many children each of those hands will come to represent in the months and years ahead as they go out and “vindicate the weak and fatherless . . . ” (Psalm 82:3). - Jason Weber, Hope for Orphans

A countless number of churches, that up until this conference did not have an orphans ministry, were represented by lay people impassioned to get involved. That means, churches from coast to coast, who did not have orphans ministries, will now have the ability to be mobilized. I am truly excited to see how many of these local champions will have success stories to tell at next year’s Summit VII!!" - Shane McBride, Hope for Orphans

YES... you HAVE to go next year!

A Heritage of Caring for Orphans...

Jedd Medefind, formerly the head of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and a Special Assistant to President George W. Bush, is now the President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans, for a coalition of more than fifty adoption, foster-care and orphan-care ministries. The author of two books and numerous articles as well as an accomplished speaker, he lives in California with three children, including a daughter adopted from Ethiopia.

How do you understand the biblical imperative to care for the fatherless? 

What might a church do to help people through the process of reflection preceding an adoption?

What are other ways people can respond to the needs of orphans?

To read the entire interview, click here.

Lifesong Interview on Catalyst

"Put your faith in action...answer God's call to care for the fatherless"

Check out Andy Lehman’s interview with Brad Lomenick from the Catalyst team as he shares how Lifesong can partner with you, your church, your family to make a difference in the life of an orphan.

Catalyst Interview

To listen to the entire podcast, click here and go to episode 94 with Jimmy Wales.

Pure religion in a picture...

Josh and Jenn recently brought home their two darling children from Ethiopia.  Lifesong was blessed to be able to partner with them along with the Louisville Orphan Care Initiative in providing them with a matching grant.

Take a glance with us into their lives as they live out James 1:27 in a very real and active way...

The Lord has given us the privilege of developing a relationship over the last few years with a 93 year old widow at our church named Geneva. I visit Geneva every other week at her home, and we pray at the end of our time together. I've often been struck by the beauty of her prayers for our children, and thought at those times about how God's Word tells us that He cares for the widows and the orphans. It's especially sweet for me to be part of seeing a widow care for orphans too!

   

Thanks Josh & Jenn for being a pure picture of the gospel to the world...we pray that those that see your life will see the light of Jesus and be drawn in by His love. 

Insights & Gifts Video Series

It's so incredible to see the Body of Christ responding to a need... a need to equip parents... a need to bring healing to hurting hearts!

As we are answering the call to adopt, we need to understand that most of the children that God will bring into our lives through adoption will have deep hurts and needs. Therefore, part of our call is to be prepared to be used by God to help this child heal. This is undoubtedly one of the greatest joys, blessings and privileges of adoption – but it will not be easy. The resources and tools on ETC are designed to help those whom God is calling and has called to answer the call well. To know what to expect, to be ready and prepared and, ultimately, to help bring long-term healing to their child. It is precisely this kind of 'love in action' that I believe reflects what it means to be called by God to adopt."

-Michael Monroe, Irving Bible Church/Tapestry

This new 16 video series (developed in partnership with the TCU Institute of Child Development) offers seven insights and seven gifts that are highly relevant for those who are parenting or considering adopting or fostering children from hard places. ETC is also developing a discussion guide for this video series, which will be available in May 2010.

Insights & Gifts: Introduction from Tapestry on Vimeo.

View the rest of the series here. Follow us on Facebook as we highlight each video here.