Lifesong Ukraine update

Please enjoy these updates from Denis, director for Lifesong Ukraine orphan care -

Recently we had a special church gathering where 3 of our kids were baptized!  It has taken many years of labor, prayer and encouragement for them to be where they are right now. We are thankful for His mercy in their lives. Please be prayerful as they go through the school and mature in Christ.”

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“Tanya and I were able to take the new 9 passenger van to Volodya and Lilya, who are raising 10 kids (5 biological and 5 adopted, 1 with HIV).  Before they drove a compact size car.  I know it is hard to imagine how they all fit into that vehicle but every Sunday they would pack in and go to church together as well as make daily trips to school! 

Needless to say how happy they all were to see us coming in two vehicles and leaving in one. It is a longterm prayer need which God has answered through our joint efforts.”

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“It has been great to see the Zap team grow and we now have a group of 15 older kids consistently visiting church!  However we still need 1)more staff on sports, one-on-one, and job skills 2)more families for adoption and foster care, and 3)a new transition home!

Among those who have been changed, Vova, 17, recently repented! He wanted to be a professional boxer but now desires to be a preacher. It’s hard to believe but it’s a true story. Vova came from bad company, was beaten many times, and took part in major street fights. But God changes lives. Now he wants to be in our transitional program for graduates!”

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Testimonials from our special needs program:

Lena, teacher & speech therapist: I have worked with these kids for almost 2 years. I want to be a tool in God’s hands so He can touch those kids through everything we do while at the orphanage. I see change in their lives little by little.  Also, the hearts of non-Christian staff members are changing because of our CCP efforts!

Vitalik, photography teacher: The boys we work with have a big heart and a huge desire to learn new things. It is a great joy to work on photography with them.

Pasha, 24, future orphanage graduate: I believe that God is my Saviour and that He is now living in my heart. I am looking forward to the time when I can leave the orphanage and function well in the society and church. Thanks to the LS team for the great support they provided and that they led me to God.

Dark to Dawn

Imagine being a foster child… graduating from high school, being on your own, and having no family to support you?  

Dark to Dawn, a ministry based in Thousand Oaks, CA, is organizing an event to support foster youth in Ventura County, where about 40-50 kids age out of the foster care system every year.  Their goal is to rally the Christian community together to embrace the local foster youth. 

This event will tell the story of 4 young people who've transitioned from foster care into independent living.  They’ll share their experiences and struggles, allowing the local community to meet them, learn about them, and love them, as the Lord loves them.

What an inspiration to reach out to the foster youth in our own communities?  What about you?  Have you been a part of a recent foster youth outreach?  We'd love to hear from you!  As Christ's hands and feet lets encourage each other to change how our communities love orphans!

To learn more about Dark to Dawn check out there website at www.darktodawn.org

Great fundraising idea!

Looking for unique ways to raise money for your adoption? For your orphan care ministry? We are always so amazed at the unique, fun, innovative ideas that we hear about!

One of our church fund partners, Kentwood Community Church in Kentwood, MI holds an annual Easter flower fundraiser. This is the 2nd year and continue to be AMAZED at how God uses this fundraiser! The flowers are purchased from a local retailer at a discounted price and church members purchase the flowers in honor/memory of a loved one. The proceeds from the sales are then used to fund the KCC adoption fund with Lifesong.

The flower fundraiser is a great way to let your whole church know that we have a fund and that you are helping families.  Then, God draws hearts into it and called some people to generously give.  Amazing!"

This has been a GREAT way for KCC to inform families that they are helping to bring down the financial barrier to adoption as well as raise funds for the account. This year, God moved BIG and provided $13,794 for their adoption assistance fund! Praise God!

 Their stage looks so beatiful with all these flowers!

National Foster Care Prayer Vigil

Many kids in foster care feel like they don't have a prayer...let's change that.

2010 National Foster Care Prayer Vigil
May 16-23, 2010

The National Foster Care Prayer Vigil is calling followers of Christ together across the country during the week of May 16-23 to cry out to God on behalf of children and youth in our nation's foster care system, their families, their workers, and the church as it responds to the needs of those involved in the foster care system. 

A prayer vigil can take on many forms. It can be a formal, church-wide event, or it can be an informal gathering with your family after dinner. In fact, the possibilities are endless. A prayer vigil can be:

Part of a regular Bible study group in your home Part of a regular Community Group meeting Part of a Sunday School class A Prayer walk through your city A gathering of friends at a park, or the beach A lunchtime gathering with co-workers Whatever and wherever you want it to be Are you ready to COMMIT to praying? Click here.

The important thing is not what the vigil looks like or how well it's planned, but rather that

believers come together to pray for those in need.

Is God calling you to be the voice for your city? See the map for a listing of vigils already scheduled.  See the links to the left to learn how you can become equipped to add your city to the map.

Gather together.  Pray for the kids.  Watch God work.

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.