there's still time...

If you're a central Illinoisan and are looking for something to do this weekend, there's still time to sign up for the 

Connecting Hearts

with the Forgotten 

 conference hosted by East White Oak Church in Carlock, IL.

The keynote speaker will be Ted Kluck (check out his website here), who i, honestly, know very little about but after looking a little over his blog and website have decided emphatically that he's a pretty cool guy.  PLUS he's an adoptive daddy of two little boys from Ukraine which *side note!* i am leaving for tomorrow morning!  (wahoo!)  This means that you might want to stay tuned over the next couple weeks for some "on location" blogging about what Lifesong is doing in Ukraine.  Can you wait?  I can't!

Other speakers include:

- our very own and well loved VP, Andy Lehman.  In all honesty, every time I have the privilege of hearing Andy speak I'm a little blown away, and suddenly start feeling very cool that I get to call him "boss."

PLUS

- my big sis (and adoptive/foster/biological parent of 6) Jami Kaeb (check out her blog here).  Can I just say how proud I am of her?  Cause I am.  In her life I have witnessed the struggles and the joys that come with both adoption and foster care.  I love listening to her speak, partly because I know the passion that comes across in her speaking is genuine and lived out in her daily life.  I could be biased... but I think she's pretty cool.

You can find out more about the other speakers at this event here.  And if you want to register click here!  Did I mention it's free?  Cause it is... just so you know.

Have a good one, all!  Next time you hear from me I just might be in Ukraine! ...or an airport.

Chosen for Life Conference

**This event has been cancelled as of 10/14/10.

First Christian Church in Champaign, IL is hosting an adoption and foster care conference on Saturday, October 23rd, featuring author and keynote speaker, Jill Savage.  If you're looking for a great opportunity to be challenged and encouraged in the adoption/foster care journey check it out! 

To register go to www.fcc-online.org

ETC Success

I attended EmpoweredToConnect and it was -- amazing!  This is a content-rich conference, with valuable insights on parenting children from hard places. There are real challenges in parenting -- and ETC provides REAL solutions, with real HOPE!  The messages are shared with the love, care & compassion of your grandma, and at the same time...deep, meaningful counsel and guidance.

This is a must-attend for every adoptive or foster parent.

-Andy Lehman

 The Empowered to Connect conference, sponsored by Show Hope, was held at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN on September 10-11 and was an all around success.  Not only did the 400+ attendees, from 20 different states, receive powerful training and advice, but more than 150 child welfare professionals or adoptive families received Continuing Education Credits or Adoptive and Foster Parent Training Certificates for their participation in the event!  Very cool.

Big thanks to Show Hope, Dr. Karyn Purvis, and Michael & Amy Monroe for the huge amount of work that went into this event.

Dark to Dawn Conference

• Be inspired by God's word and heart for orphans
• Learn more about the financial  aspects of adoption
• Meet ministries covering a wide range of orphan/foster care and adoption avenues
• Leave with ideas about how you and your family can be involved

Register now!  http://www.darktodawn.org/calendar.php

To learn more, please go to www.DarktoDawn.org.

Rescued

Our Lifesong director in Liberia, Bishop Emmanuel Jones, has a passion for children that is contagious... probably because he understands from experience what it's like to be hungry and abandoned.

Bishop Emmanuel Jones from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

Now, after spending years helping orphans and street children through their Master's Home of Champions program, he and his wife, Ramona, have taken their passion a step further and invited three newborn triplets, Faith, Hope, and Joy, into their home!

Imagine what it would be like to foster newborn triplets!  

Do you have that picture nice and vivid in your mind?

Now, imagine walking 11 hours to pick them up!  Not driving, walking! 

That's exactly what Emmanuel did when he discovered their need for a home!   

Wow!  What an awesome visual of Christ crossing leaps and bounds to rescue us!