Changed Lives @ Lifesong India

Please enjoy these updates from Bob and Siromani Stoll, directors for Lifesong India orphan care -

“Dear Friends,

                -your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corin. 15:58

His name is Yedukondalu – or was. About 30 years ago, Yedukondalu was brought to our Jyothi Nivas home by his poor parents who were illiterate and of the untouchable caste. They wanted him to have a chance at a better life! Even though they worshipped multiple gods, it didn’t seem to matter to them that he would be cared for and taught by a Christian organization.

While with us, he received the care and education his parents wanted for him, but he also heard the message of Jesus Christ daily, without fail. When he left our home to get employment he had not yet become a committed Christian.

One day while Siromani and I were visiting India he appeared at our Jyothi Nivas home, told me he had received Jesus ads the only true God and asked me to baptize him and his wife. We gladly arranged for the baptisms and at his request we gave both he and his wife Christian names. Now, his name is James and his wife’s new name is Sarah. His testimony follows:

Yeddukondalu (James) – fish merchange, Narsapur, India

I belong to a Hindu family. I entered Jyothi Nivas when I was 8 years old. The home manager, staff, and pastors used to teach us from the Word of God. Therefore, along with studies I learned Christian songs and God’s Word. I got married and we are blessed with a son and daughter. In the year 2000, the month of February, Bob Stoll baptized my wife and me. We are growing in the Lord, doing our traditional business as fish merchants.

Since Bob and Siromani Stoll have established such good homes, many people like us have benefited. Many students have completed their studies and become teachers, nurses, merchants, pastors, etc. May God bless the sponsors and may the ministry grow and become a blessing to many more.'

There are many, many more people who now have names like James and Sarah. They are the fruit of our labor. That’s why we are in India… and that’s why we greatly appreciate your prayers and support!”

Church orphan ministry webinar!

How does an adoption fund fit with your church's mission/vision?

• Evangelize the lost – Adoption is evangelism at its core…Bringing the mission field home, where children are loved, cared for, and discipled to know Jesus Christ as their Savior.

• Edify the saved – Adoption Fund challenges, encourages, and enables Believers to put their faith in action, by stepping out in faith to adopt (fulfilling God’s commands in scripture).

• Minister to those in need – There are millions of children waiting for forever families who would like to adopt them, but just can’t because of the financial barrier.

• Be a Conscience in the community –  As th e Church becomes obedient to God’s commands concerning the fatherless, the community will see Jesus Christ is alive and working in the lives of His people to care for those children who can’t care for themselves.

Read more. Reserve your spot now!

What can 250 kids in central CA do in 1 week?

Last week, Trinity Pres in Clovis, CA had their annual Vacation Bible School and decided to partner with Lifesong to raise money for the children in Ziway, Ethiopia.

Our friend Candice summarizes the week on her blog.

"Each day I would give the kids a scenario of what life is like in Ethiopia, show pictures on the screen and then introduce our prayer points for the day. They got cards to take home and show their parents and learned ways that they could be in prayer for the children in Ziway. Thursday night we showed the Ethiopia video and it touched many who were there. The kids really get into these mission projects and I am constantly amazed at how HUGE their hearts are for the orphans and less fortunate children. These young ones do SO much more in one week to serve the Lord than some adults do in a year!

They did everything from lemonade and kool-aid stands, to making bracelets, passing out baby bottles to fill up, painting rocks, baking cookies, and even selling frogs!"

"There were around 250 children last week bringing in their pennies, nickels and dimes to make a difference for the Kingdom of God- having complete faith that the Lord would provide the funds. And can you imagine being there on Friday morning- hearing all of their excited voices and seeing their little faces light up when they heard the total amount brought in... $4,700 for the children in Ethiopia!!!  This was enough to build an entire playground structure as well as an additional $1,200 for the children's school supplies such as desks, uniforms, books, etc. Our amazing God did that! These children truly have missionary hearts and I seriously cannot wait to see how the Lord will continue to use them throughout their young lives." 

Thank you Candice! Thank you Trinity Pres! We are amazed at how God moves hearts, including the hearts of these young children & pray that their hearts are captivated by His heart for the fatherless!

Equip Yourself to Take a Stand - Pt. 2

As a follow up to this post introducting Red Card Kids, we'll be highlighting the first 2 lessons in the Red Card workbook!

Lesson 1: God's Heart for Children

-If everyone embraced the idea that children are created in God's image, how would this change teh way children are treated?

-Memorize Mark 10:14b. Use your prayer card to review God's heart for children and pray for them.

Lesson 2: Poverty

-How would your daily routine change if you spent 4-5 hours fetching your family's water each day? Knowing that your nearest source of water is 4 miles away, what would you do to reduce your water usage?

How will YOU respond? CHECK BACK SOON... we'll be sharing about each lesson over the next few weeks!

Bring healing to hurting hearts!

Introducing the Created To Connect: A Christian’s Guide to The Connected Child. 

This study guide, created by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Michael & Amy Monroe, is designed to help illuminate the biblical principles that serve as the foundation for the philosophy and interventions detailed in Dr. Purvis’ book, The Connected Child.  Together with the book, the study guide is a great tool to help adoptive and foster parents better understand how to build strong and lasting connections with their children, and is ideal for use in small groups as well as by individuals or couples.

Visit the Empowered To Connect website to download and print the entire (76 page) study guide, or view and print it chapter-by-chapter.  There is no charge for this or any of the Empowered To Connect resources, but be sure to let other adoptive and foster parents know about this new study guide.

Check out the video series here.