Family Friday: Bruce & Karen

Bruce and Karen have a story of patience, faithfulness and perseverance. Through pregnancy difficulties and adoption hurdles and heartbreak, God had slowly been preparing their heart and home for what He had planned for them. 

Through the hard times, Bruce and Karen thought maybe God didn't want them to have children of their own.  But things changed on Mother's Day 2011.  A friend from their church told them of a little boy who was deaf in Hungary who needed a forever family. AMAZINGLY, Bruce and Karen had both been learning sign language because they believed God was calling them to start a deaf ministry at their church!  After much praying, fasting and wisdom-seeking, they believed God was opening this door for them.  Even though it was scary to think of the challenges ahead, they chose to walk through it!

Through a matching grant from the James Fund (Partnered with Lifesong for Orphans), Bruce & Karen were able to raise the funds they needed to complete their adoption.

First meeting with their new son, Marcell.

First official family picture!

We were blessed to find Lifesong and to be accepted for a matching grant.  Our friends and family donated over $3,000 and James Fund/Lifesong matched every penny of it!  Receiving the checks from Lifesong was an added encouragement to us as we continued on our adoption journey. The costs of adopting internationally are so large that at times we felt overwhelmed. But knowing Lifesong was behind us, and people there were praying for us, helped us continue on our journey.

-Bruce & Karen

the James Fund - Greater things are yet to come!

Family Christian Stores is a leading specialty retailer with nearly 300 locations and over 4,000 employees in 36 states who are being intentional in caring for orphans!

Watch this video for a great glimpse of the awesome things God has done through the James Fund (charitable foundation of Family Christian Stores) and....

- sponsoring Employee Mission Trips (Mexico, Dominican Republic, Guatemala)

- Funding employee & non-employee Adoption Financial Assistance Grants/Loans (through Lifesong)

even greater things are yet to come!

Next time you BUY...BUY from Family Christian Stores (and help orphans) next time you need to buy Bibles, Books, Music, Childrens, Gifts, Apparel, Software, Cards, Church Supplies, DVD's, etc.

How can you use your Company/Corporation intentionally....to care for orphans?

A Story that Never Grows Old...

Mark and Aditi’s story began when an amazing chain of events was set in motion following her first mission trip to an orphanage in Mexico. While there, Aditi felt a call by God to adopt. After Mark and Aditi were made aware of three young orphans in Guatemala (sisters in need of a home) - they were told they would probably not meet the two criteria required to adopt these particular girls. Because the sisters were not to be split up, the orphanage specified that prospective parents must be bilingual and have no other children. Surprisingly, Aditi and Mark met both requirements and nearly immediately were qualified and approved for the adoption.

Two miracles of the heart were taking place simultaneously. God placed an unquenchable longing to adopt three girls deep in the heart of this couple. They had a dream of becoming a family to three sisters, seemingly forgotten in a Guatemalan orphanage.

They faced mounting costs and unpredictable obstacles. But nothing could have prepared them for what they witnessed during the adoption process as they experienced God’s promises to orphans—in action. Promises to help them and to rescue them.

During the adoption process, Aditi and Mark experienced financial challenges towards completing this adoption - “It was tough...but we never lost hope. Each time we encountered financial problems, God provided help”

After two and a half years, and feelings of doubt and frustration the Guatemalan embassy gave final approval - “Those little girls were saved for us,” shared Aditi. “It’s like we were a family the whole time.”

Although the amount of time it took to complete the adoption process was unusually long, Aditi and Mark look back and are convinced that God was using the time to strengthen their faith. As their marriage was tested, they became more prayerful. They received personal encouragement from people all over the world. People they never met were praying for them and they felt it. Aditi added, “We know this was a miracle and we are so thankful for our girls. We can see that God was always in control and He used our story to show His glory.”

The James Fund and Lifesong for Orphans partnered together to help bring Griselda, Gabriela and Beatriz home through Adoption Matching Grants.