what a way to celebrate.

      

Lyla Hamilton was recently welcomed home by Aaron, Stephanie, and big brother Ayan.

Aaron and Stephanie have always had a desire to serve and have spent time overseas in orphanages. After attending an adoption conference, the Lord confirmed their calling to adopt.

Ayan was adopted from Kazakhstan and Lyla through domestic adoption.

Lyla was the first child adopted through the Crosspoint Fellowship Church Adoption Fund. What a great way for Crosspoint to celebrate!

 

Miracles in Montgomery...

Cole & Joy Portis, parents of 7 and orphan advocates are often asked, "Do you love them differently"...

I explained that while they are not my flesh and blood they ARE my children! They had my love before I ever met them!  They didn't have to earn it or prove that they were a good "fit" for our family!  Whatever the future holds....good, bad, ugly...they are MY children and my love for them is equal and unconditional."

The Portis family attends Morningview Baptist Church in Montgomery, AL where they played a crucial role in starting a Church Adoption Fund. They were also recently featured in the Montgomery Living Magazine.

Morningview hosts an Institute of Theology (MIT) program each semester where attendees can earn a lay-theology training certificate.

Food for thought:  

• This church is dedicated to educating believers in order to be firmly rooted in the Gospel...
• This family felt God's calling on their life to adopt... over and over...
• Are you willing to step out in faith as they have?

Check out the Heart Gallery of Alabama which displays children currently in the Alabama foster care system and watch this video that Joy created -

Affording Adoption in a Tough Economy

It is no secret that the United States and most of the rest of the world are experiencing difficult times economically. Unemployment is rising, layoffs are increasing, people are taking salary cuts, spending freezes are in effect, people are cutting back wherever they can, and even doing without when necessary.

Of course, the Christian community has also been hit by economic woes, and many of our brothers and sisters are putting things on hold until times are more stable. What will this mean for those whom God is calling to adopt? Given the cost of private domestic and international adoptions, how can people afford to adopt through these channels in such tough economic times?

Check out the full Hope for Orphan's article "Affording Adoption in a Tough Economy" by Johnston Moore

Church Adoption Fund - in action...

Simple. Catalytic. Effective. And, so much bigger than us...

Watch this video to see how a Church Adoption Fund works at Iriving Bible Church...

So Much Bigger Than Us from Tapestry on Vimeo.

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!