I have just returned from the Christian Alliance for Orphans conference that was held in Minneapolis, MN. It was an amazing conference and it is obvious that God orchestrated my attendance at the conference to provide fresh wind and fresh fire to our involvement in and passion for adoption and orphan care. Our youngest, Alexa Grace, accompanied me on the trip and she was a great little travel partner! I didn't get to sit through too many small group workshop sessions, but she was a super conversation starter and allowed me to do lots of networking.
It was wonderful to spend so much time talking with others who are involved in adoption and orphan care ministry. I was reminded of the message of 1 Corinthians 12: 1-31 where Paul makes reference to the body of Christ being made up of many parts that comprise one body. It was so interesting to see how the different ministries were unique, but at the same time entirely complimentary. I am thrilled that God allowed me to identify a potential ministry partner in every area we are currently working (India, Uganda and Mexico). It will be exciting to see how these relationships grow over the next several months and how His kingdom is served.
I met lots of families who have large blended families of adopted and biological children. It seemed like the magic number was 11 kids! One of these fantastic moms I met was Dorothy at http://www.urbanservant.blogspot.com. I'm thrilled to begin following her blog and I think you'll like it too. I also met two of the moms who founded the ministry From HIV to Home. This ministry exists to support and promote the adoption of children who are HIV positive. Amazing God-honoring stuff!
I could go on and on telling you how God worked out the smallest details to make this trip smooth and to demonstrate that He was in control. My seat mate on the flight up to Minneapolis "just happened" to be a pastor from Jasper, Georgia and on the return flight, the flight attendant moved Alexa and I to the only open row of two seats on the entire plane. Alexa slept on the seat next to me for the entire return flight. God is so good and I give Him all the glory!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Spread the Word - Orphan care isn't an option
Have you heard Kay Warren speak about the importance of orphan care and how it is a responsibiity of ALL who claim to be Christians? Kay is the wife of Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in California. If you haven't heard her important message, here is the link:
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100424/kay-warren-questions-christianity-of-persons-who-neglect-orphans/index.html
Her words hit especially close to home as Jochebed's Hope Adoption and Orphan Care ministry was really born out of a spiritual journey that began with reading Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life.
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100424/kay-warren-questions-christianity-of-persons-who-neglect-orphans/index.html
Her words hit especially close to home as Jochebed's Hope Adoption and Orphan Care ministry was really born out of a spiritual journey that began with reading Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Quick Update
Most of us have been closely following the status of Russian adoptions after a adoptive mother from Tennessee returned her son unaccompanied to Russia in an attempt to void the adoption. Thankfully, our adoption in Christ is permanent and irrevocable. If you haven't read Albert Mohler's recent post on this issue, you definetly should. You can read it here:
http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/04/16/when-adoption-fails-the-gospel-is-denied/
Also, we will be attending the Christian Alliance for Orphans conference in Minneapolis, MN on April 29-30th. Can't wait to attend this important conference to gather the latest information on orphan care projects around the world and to network with others who are involved in this work.
http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/04/16/when-adoption-fails-the-gospel-is-denied/
Also, we will be attending the Christian Alliance for Orphans conference in Minneapolis, MN on April 29-30th. Can't wait to attend this important conference to gather the latest information on orphan care projects around the world and to network with others who are involved in this work.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Adoption Financing Workshop - November 14th
As part of National Adoption Month, Family by Faith Worship Center and the Abba Fund will present a workshop entitled “Financing Your Adoption in Challenging Times”. The workshop will be held Saturday, November 14 at 10:00 a.m. at the North American Mission Board conference center in Alpharetta, Georgia. The workshop is designed to present ideas, strategies and resources for making adoption possible and affordable in these difficult financial times. Jason Kovacs, adoptive father and director of ministry development for the Abba Fund, will be the featured speaker. The event is free but pre-registration is required. Attendees can register online by selecting event registration at www.familybyfaith.com. For more information e-mail info@familybyfaith.com.
Friday, April 24, 2009
A new area of service...
In addition to our ongoing involvement with Casa Hogar Esperanza in Mexico, and our past contributions to two orphanages in Ethiopia, Jochebed's Hope has recently made a commitment to provide monthly support to an orphanage in Uganda. Here are the comments from the director of the orphanage upon receiving our first donation:
"You would be happy to know that this donation is going to help fund a 1-month supply of formula for all the children at the Home. Donations are very important as the Home receives no regular financial support from any church or charity, thus relying entirely on Friends like you to provide for all the children's needs. As you can probably imagine, this becomes extremely difficult at times as we often have between 40 -50 children in our care at any one time aged from hours old up to approximately 3 years. Currently we have 50 children all below 3 yrs.
The home was started and continues up to today, to care for abandoned and parent less babies and children from across Uganda . Every child has been found somewhere, often in appalling places such as rubbish bins, gardens, roadsides, public toilets, etc. The children are found from hours, days, weeks, or months old and often in very poor states of health. We therefore try to provide for all the needs of such children, from medical requirements to daily foods, etc, relying entirely on friends for support. So a big thank you on behalf of all the children who rely on friends like you, but can not talk for themselves. Once again, thank you for supporting these very needy and precious lives in our care. "
Representatives of Jochebed's Hope will be visiting this orphanage in May. The purpose of the trip will be to evaluate long term support needs.
As an adoption AND orphan care ministry, Jochebed's Hope will not provide support to orphanages or organizations who oppose the practice of adoption in principle. While millions of children worldwide will never be eligible for adoption because of governmental restrictions, we will not contribute to those who favor long term institutional care over the permanency of a family. We believe this is a biblical response. Psalms 68:6 tells us that God sets the lonely in families. The family is a crucial part of God's kingdom plans on earth and a basic right of every child.
"You would be happy to know that this donation is going to help fund a 1-month supply of formula for all the children at the Home. Donations are very important as the Home receives no regular financial support from any church or charity, thus relying entirely on Friends like you to provide for all the children's needs. As you can probably imagine, this becomes extremely difficult at times as we often have between 40 -50 children in our care at any one time aged from hours old up to approximately 3 years. Currently we have 50 children all below 3 yrs.
The home was started and continues up to today, to care for abandoned and parent less babies and children from across Uganda . Every child has been found somewhere, often in appalling places such as rubbish bins, gardens, roadsides, public toilets, etc. The children are found from hours, days, weeks, or months old and often in very poor states of health. We therefore try to provide for all the needs of such children, from medical requirements to daily foods, etc, relying entirely on friends for support. So a big thank you on behalf of all the children who rely on friends like you, but can not talk for themselves. Once again, thank you for supporting these very needy and precious lives in our care. "
Representatives of Jochebed's Hope will be visiting this orphanage in May. The purpose of the trip will be to evaluate long term support needs.
As an adoption AND orphan care ministry, Jochebed's Hope will not provide support to orphanages or organizations who oppose the practice of adoption in principle. While millions of children worldwide will never be eligible for adoption because of governmental restrictions, we will not contribute to those who favor long term institutional care over the permanency of a family. We believe this is a biblical response. Psalms 68:6 tells us that God sets the lonely in families. The family is a crucial part of God's kingdom plans on earth and a basic right of every child.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Have a blessed Easter
Enjoy this video - You will need to "stop" the Playlist at the bottom of the page before starting the video so that the two musical sources aren't playing on top of each other.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Why did Jesus come?
Galatians 4:4-8 (New King James Version)
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Have you ever really considered all of the reasons God sent his son, Jesus? If you asked most Christians the short and sweet answer would probably be “to save us from our sins”. While that is true, I love the detailed account that Paul provides in Galatians as to exactly why God sent Jesus to earth in human form. There are four specific reasons that are outlined in this scripture. First, God sent Jesus to redeem those under the law (verse 5). The second reason (also in verse 5) is that we might receive ADOPTION. This is the true definition of a forever family; becoming a part of God’s family by faith in Jesus Christ! The third reason is that we might have an “Abba! Father!. This is the most intimate term Jesus ever used in calling out to God. It is the equivalent of us crying out “Daddy!” And, in verse 7, Paul presents the fourth reason which is providing for us to become heirs. In Romans 8:17, Paul even uses the term “permanent heirs”.
Why did Paul use the term adoption? He is the only writer in the New Testament to use this term and he does so five different times. Paul was an expert on the law. At the time of his writings, under Roman/Syrian a man could disown a biological child at any time for any reason. But, if a man adopted a child, he could never disinherit that child. The adopted child was a permanent heir!
If someone asked you to summarize the entire Gospel or the Bible in its simplest terms, you could do it this way—Creation, The Fall, Redemption, Adoption. Our adoption into the family of God offers the same thing that earthly adoption does…the opportunity for a new life. Simple and straight forward? Yes! And, sometimes, matters of faith just shouldn’t be so complicated.
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Have you ever really considered all of the reasons God sent his son, Jesus? If you asked most Christians the short and sweet answer would probably be “to save us from our sins”. While that is true, I love the detailed account that Paul provides in Galatians as to exactly why God sent Jesus to earth in human form. There are four specific reasons that are outlined in this scripture. First, God sent Jesus to redeem those under the law (verse 5). The second reason (also in verse 5) is that we might receive ADOPTION. This is the true definition of a forever family; becoming a part of God’s family by faith in Jesus Christ! The third reason is that we might have an “Abba! Father!. This is the most intimate term Jesus ever used in calling out to God. It is the equivalent of us crying out “Daddy!” And, in verse 7, Paul presents the fourth reason which is providing for us to become heirs. In Romans 8:17, Paul even uses the term “permanent heirs”.
Why did Paul use the term adoption? He is the only writer in the New Testament to use this term and he does so five different times. Paul was an expert on the law. At the time of his writings, under Roman/Syrian a man could disown a biological child at any time for any reason. But, if a man adopted a child, he could never disinherit that child. The adopted child was a permanent heir!
If someone asked you to summarize the entire Gospel or the Bible in its simplest terms, you could do it this way—Creation, The Fall, Redemption, Adoption. Our adoption into the family of God offers the same thing that earthly adoption does…the opportunity for a new life. Simple and straight forward? Yes! And, sometimes, matters of faith just shouldn’t be so complicated.
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