Showing posts with label adoption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adoption. Show all posts
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Your Role in Adoption
You might be thinking - "I don't feel God has called me to adoption" (in the sense of bringing a child into my family through legal processes) or "I'm single...I'm not even married; how could I adopt?" or "I'm just a kid - how do I fit in?"
If you understand the theology of adoption, you see that we are all called to the ministry of adoption and the care for orphans. We are considered the Body of Christ for a reason - it takes all parts and each part is equal and important.
Yes, some of you may adopt. And if you do - we should all gather around you in support and encouragement. It does indeed take a village - or rather the Church!
Practical ways you can support adoption/foster care:
If you understand the theology of adoption, you see that we are all called to the ministry of adoption and the care for orphans. We are considered the Body of Christ for a reason - it takes all parts and each part is equal and important.
Yes, some of you may adopt. And if you do - we should all gather around you in support and encouragement. It does indeed take a village - or rather the Church!
Practical ways you can support adoption/foster care:
- Are you a photographer? Offer a free photo session for either the family's adoption application or post-adoption to document their new addition.
- Financially savvy? Help an adoptive couple create a new budget in order to prepare for the cost of adoption. Be a resource for them - point them in the direction of organizations that financially support adoption. (www.abbafund.org provides interest-free loans for adoptive couples)
- Take meals to a family for the first few weeks they have their child in their home. We do this with other families in our church with newborns - regardless of the age of the child, having a new son or daughter in your home can be hectic...who has time to cook?
- Baby-sit an evening a month so the parents can have a date night and continue to prioritize their marriage.
- Consider starting an adoption fund in your church.
- Sponsor a child that is in need of spiritual adoption. www.compassion.com www.worldvision.org
- Become certified to offer respite care for foster families.
- Be an advocate. Educate your church and your community about the plight of the orphan. Is your local church doing anything for Orphan Sunday (Nov. 7)? Great FREE resources are available at www.orphansunday.org
- Be part of the 1K Campaign (http://www.destinynetwork.com), a vision to see 1,000 projects that benefit orphans occur in 1,000 days.
- Pray. Lift up the families and churches all over the world that are attacking the global orphan crisis.
The Theology of Adoption
***Disclaimer:
I am not a great theologian.
I do not claim to have it all "figured out".
In fact, I am currently wading through what God says about adoption, what junk my head and heart believes that I am having to face and re-examine, and what that means for me - as a believer and as an individual.
The following is an brief overview of teachings of individuals that I admire as well as my personal thoughts....not only that, but most importantly the Word. I only ask that you prayerfully consider the theology of adoption for the glory of God and the joy of the orphan.***
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To echo Mr. John Piper - "Adoption is at the heart of the Gospel." But don't take his (or my) word on it...let's see what The Word says.
"Even as he chose in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace." Ephesians 1:4-7
"They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises....This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring." Romans 9:4-8
"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God." Galations 4:4-7
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15
"And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, grown inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." Romans 8:23
If you have have experienced salvation...the acknowledgment you have sin in your life that creates a separation from God that can only be bridged by death, that Christ took the penalty for your sin by offering up His perfection and dying on the cross, and having recognized His love that drew Him to the cross is directed at you by accepting his gift and asking Him to be the leader and forgiver of your life...YOU have been adopted!
You cannot separate evangelism and the Gospel from the plight of the orphan. It is one of the greatest pictures we have of our salvation.
Why is God so passionate about the fatherless? (Exodus 22:22, Deut. 10:18, Deut 14:29, Deut. 26:12, Ps. 68:5, Ps. 82:3, Ps. 146:9, Is. 1:17, James 1:27)
The most recent statistics say that there are 163 Million orphans in the world. The global orphan crisis is one of the greatest barriers to seeing the Great Commission fulfilled in our lifetime.
Why?
Your relationship/experience with your earthly father strongly colors the way you view your heavenly Father. What does it say to a child's heart when he has no earthly father?
We need a movement of the Holy Spirit in the Church to change the plight of the orphan and see the fatherless find a home in Christ.
"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:8
The Love Chapter - 1 Corinthians 13
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:27
*I'm not sure how fluid my thoughts are today - still processing a lot. I hope this at least pricks your heart and causes you to seek the heart of God on behalf of the orphan and the idea of adoption.*
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Some great resources that more eloquently and thoroughly discuss the theology of adoption:
John Piper has a great message on the theology of adoption you can check out here: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/resources/adoption-the-heart-of-the-gospel
"Adoption Within the Story of Redemption" Dan Cruver
Book recommendation: "Adopted For Life" by Russell Moore
There are also a few organizations/resources you can access on my sidebar!
I am not a great theologian.
I do not claim to have it all "figured out".
In fact, I am currently wading through what God says about adoption, what junk my head and heart believes that I am having to face and re-examine, and what that means for me - as a believer and as an individual.
The following is an brief overview of teachings of individuals that I admire as well as my personal thoughts....not only that, but most importantly the Word. I only ask that you prayerfully consider the theology of adoption for the glory of God and the joy of the orphan.***
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To echo Mr. John Piper - "Adoption is at the heart of the Gospel." But don't take his (or my) word on it...let's see what The Word says.
"Even as he chose in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace." Ephesians 1:4-7
"They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises....This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring." Romans 9:4-8
"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God." Galations 4:4-7
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15
"And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, grown inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." Romans 8:23
If you have have experienced salvation...the acknowledgment you have sin in your life that creates a separation from God that can only be bridged by death, that Christ took the penalty for your sin by offering up His perfection and dying on the cross, and having recognized His love that drew Him to the cross is directed at you by accepting his gift and asking Him to be the leader and forgiver of your life...YOU have been adopted!
You cannot separate evangelism and the Gospel from the plight of the orphan. It is one of the greatest pictures we have of our salvation.
Why is God so passionate about the fatherless? (Exodus 22:22, Deut. 10:18, Deut 14:29, Deut. 26:12, Ps. 68:5, Ps. 82:3, Ps. 146:9, Is. 1:17, James 1:27)
The most recent statistics say that there are 163 Million orphans in the world. The global orphan crisis is one of the greatest barriers to seeing the Great Commission fulfilled in our lifetime.
Why?
Your relationship/experience with your earthly father strongly colors the way you view your heavenly Father. What does it say to a child's heart when he has no earthly father?
We need a movement of the Holy Spirit in the Church to change the plight of the orphan and see the fatherless find a home in Christ.
"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:8
The Love Chapter - 1 Corinthians 13
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:27
*I'm not sure how fluid my thoughts are today - still processing a lot. I hope this at least pricks your heart and causes you to seek the heart of God on behalf of the orphan and the idea of adoption.*
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some great resources that more eloquently and thoroughly discuss the theology of adoption:
John Piper has a great message on the theology of adoption you can check out here: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/resources/adoption-the-heart-of-the-gospel
"Adoption Within the Story of Redemption" Dan Cruver
Book recommendation: "Adopted For Life" by Russell Moore
There are also a few organizations/resources you can access on my sidebar!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
God Willing, I Return
Yesterday was hard.
It was our last day at the BCC. The kids were taking their mid-term exams, so it didn't make too much sense to linger the entire day when we couldn't spend it with them and make the goodbyes that much harder. So we went with the band-aid mentality: Rip it off fast so it doesn't hurt too bad. But it still hurt. A lot.
We started off at the kitchen, as the staff requested. We went in to say hey and let them know we were around. "D" got teary-eyed, and we all started getting weepy, so we promised to come back around and take tea with them before we left. We said goodbye to the Buckner/BCC staff and gave them small gifts, stopped into our respective classrooms to tell the kids goodbye and how very much they are loved and prayed for, then went by the medical clinic. The woman that runs it has absolutely fallen in love with Kenda (she is headed to pharmacy school, so worked there on Thursdays). She is about to have a baby at any moment now and has told us that she is trying to come up with a name with all of our initials in it because if it is a girl she wants to name her after us - Whaaaaaat?!?! Crazy! I truly think God only knows the outcome of our stay - He has worked in so many big ways, quiet ways, and unknown ways.
At this point in our day, we are miserable. Our hearts are breaking and we do not want to leave. We went to say goodbye to the T.E.C. girls. This goodbye and the goodbye to the kitchen staff were the ones we anticipated to be the hardest. But - again, the T.E.C. girls surprised us. As soon as we walked in, they greeted us with smiles, hugs, and pure excitement. They had finished our skirts. They had worked all last week on making us each a skirt from some of the fabric we brought them. We tried them on and had a mini fashion show for them. They were delighted that we LOVED them and ensured them that every time we wore them, we would remember them and pray for them. We spent some time taking photos with all of the girls and the instructors and hearing so much laughter and seeing beautiful smiles on these young women we have come to love so. We left, saying goodbye, but with much lighter hearts.
That classroom is where God had intended us to be - it was obvious. We love those girls; they love us. Each one told us that they are praying that we will be able to return - God willing. A few of them seemed certain of the fact that God has a place for us in Kenya. And it's pretty hard for me to argue with them.
We trekked back up to the kitchen to spend some time with the staff there. When we walked in, it was the quietest I had ever heard that kitchen. There was no singing, no dancing or laughing. It was somber; quite unlike them. The air was heavy with the acknowledgment that we were leaving. "D", in true form, made us plates of omelets, ugali, and cabbage. And of course, he made us tea. We gave our gifts to the staff, took photos, and said pretty tearful goodbyes. The sweet "Mom" of the kitchen, let us know that she will miss us everyday, "A" hugged us so hard and told me that he wants to come to the U.S. more than ever now, and "D" just wiped the tears off my face and laughed - even though he had tears of his own.
I do hope that I will be able to return some day. Buckner's work in this country is amazing, and makes me desire even more to partner with them in ministering to these beautiful, beloved people. God willing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last night, to try to cheer us up, we had an exotic dinner at Carnivore - a restaurant in Nairobi. We ate camel, ostrich, and crocodile! oh my.
Today, our in-country Buckner contact took us to visit other ministries Buckner supports in Nairobi - we visited a school in the Korogocho slum and the New Life Home Trust - a baby rescue home that particularly serves abandoned babies that are HIV positive.
The New Life Home Trust was amazing. It was heartwrenching to hear the statistics surrounding the children they receive, but at the same time, encouraging. It was incredible to see the Lord's hand in this ministry. 90% of the babies they receive that test HIV positive at birth, become HIV negative before their second birthday as a result of the incredible care given to them. We saw pictures of babies that were severely malnourished when they arrived, then looking happy and healthy just weeks after being at New Life. A vast majority of the babies that come through New Life are eventually adopted! Yay adoption! I asked about the number of babies adopted domestically vs. internationally. The staff member told me that historically it ran about 20% for Kenyan families that adopted and 80% foreign families. She told me that the Kenyan peoples' hearts are started to be stirred toward their own country's needs and this past year is was 50-50! She told me she prays that in the years to come that 80% of the adoptions would be in-country.
After touring the facilities, we were allowed to feed the babies/play with them for a while. I was assigned to the crawlers/toddlers. What precious, precious children! When I entered the playroom, I had a little one attach himself to my leg! Oh, my heart! We ended up getting to take them outside for play time and we had so much fun loving on these babies. I am happy to say that there were many volunteers at the Home and the babies were very much cared for and content. I have a feeling that one of these precious children belong to my family in the years to come. =)
It has been an emotional ending to our stay here in Kenya, but a satisfying one. To God be the glory for anything accomplished while we were here.
The next two days will be strictly fun - a blessing from Buckner before we leave. We are going on a safari! Whoop! We leave tomorrow and will return on Thursday. I will try to blog about it on Friday. Then, Friday night we start the journey back home!
So please pray for us as we travel, come home, then make the adjustments of returning.
God willing, I will return to Kenya. A piece of my heart will be here forever.
It was our last day at the BCC. The kids were taking their mid-term exams, so it didn't make too much sense to linger the entire day when we couldn't spend it with them and make the goodbyes that much harder. So we went with the band-aid mentality: Rip it off fast so it doesn't hurt too bad. But it still hurt. A lot.
We started off at the kitchen, as the staff requested. We went in to say hey and let them know we were around. "D" got teary-eyed, and we all started getting weepy, so we promised to come back around and take tea with them before we left. We said goodbye to the Buckner/BCC staff and gave them small gifts, stopped into our respective classrooms to tell the kids goodbye and how very much they are loved and prayed for, then went by the medical clinic. The woman that runs it has absolutely fallen in love with Kenda (she is headed to pharmacy school, so worked there on Thursdays). She is about to have a baby at any moment now and has told us that she is trying to come up with a name with all of our initials in it because if it is a girl she wants to name her after us - Whaaaaaat?!?! Crazy! I truly think God only knows the outcome of our stay - He has worked in so many big ways, quiet ways, and unknown ways.
At this point in our day, we are miserable. Our hearts are breaking and we do not want to leave. We went to say goodbye to the T.E.C. girls. This goodbye and the goodbye to the kitchen staff were the ones we anticipated to be the hardest. But - again, the T.E.C. girls surprised us. As soon as we walked in, they greeted us with smiles, hugs, and pure excitement. They had finished our skirts. They had worked all last week on making us each a skirt from some of the fabric we brought them. We tried them on and had a mini fashion show for them. They were delighted that we LOVED them and ensured them that every time we wore them, we would remember them and pray for them. We spent some time taking photos with all of the girls and the instructors and hearing so much laughter and seeing beautiful smiles on these young women we have come to love so. We left, saying goodbye, but with much lighter hearts.
That classroom is where God had intended us to be - it was obvious. We love those girls; they love us. Each one told us that they are praying that we will be able to return - God willing. A few of them seemed certain of the fact that God has a place for us in Kenya. And it's pretty hard for me to argue with them.
We trekked back up to the kitchen to spend some time with the staff there. When we walked in, it was the quietest I had ever heard that kitchen. There was no singing, no dancing or laughing. It was somber; quite unlike them. The air was heavy with the acknowledgment that we were leaving. "D", in true form, made us plates of omelets, ugali, and cabbage. And of course, he made us tea. We gave our gifts to the staff, took photos, and said pretty tearful goodbyes. The sweet "Mom" of the kitchen, let us know that she will miss us everyday, "A" hugged us so hard and told me that he wants to come to the U.S. more than ever now, and "D" just wiped the tears off my face and laughed - even though he had tears of his own.
I do hope that I will be able to return some day. Buckner's work in this country is amazing, and makes me desire even more to partner with them in ministering to these beautiful, beloved people. God willing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last night, to try to cheer us up, we had an exotic dinner at Carnivore - a restaurant in Nairobi. We ate camel, ostrich, and crocodile! oh my.
Today, our in-country Buckner contact took us to visit other ministries Buckner supports in Nairobi - we visited a school in the Korogocho slum and the New Life Home Trust - a baby rescue home that particularly serves abandoned babies that are HIV positive.
The New Life Home Trust was amazing. It was heartwrenching to hear the statistics surrounding the children they receive, but at the same time, encouraging. It was incredible to see the Lord's hand in this ministry. 90% of the babies they receive that test HIV positive at birth, become HIV negative before their second birthday as a result of the incredible care given to them. We saw pictures of babies that were severely malnourished when they arrived, then looking happy and healthy just weeks after being at New Life. A vast majority of the babies that come through New Life are eventually adopted! Yay adoption! I asked about the number of babies adopted domestically vs. internationally. The staff member told me that historically it ran about 20% for Kenyan families that adopted and 80% foreign families. She told me that the Kenyan peoples' hearts are started to be stirred toward their own country's needs and this past year is was 50-50! She told me she prays that in the years to come that 80% of the adoptions would be in-country.
After touring the facilities, we were allowed to feed the babies/play with them for a while. I was assigned to the crawlers/toddlers. What precious, precious children! When I entered the playroom, I had a little one attach himself to my leg! Oh, my heart! We ended up getting to take them outside for play time and we had so much fun loving on these babies. I am happy to say that there were many volunteers at the Home and the babies were very much cared for and content. I have a feeling that one of these precious children belong to my family in the years to come. =)
It has been an emotional ending to our stay here in Kenya, but a satisfying one. To God be the glory for anything accomplished while we were here.
The next two days will be strictly fun - a blessing from Buckner before we leave. We are going on a safari! Whoop! We leave tomorrow and will return on Thursday. I will try to blog about it on Friday. Then, Friday night we start the journey back home!
So please pray for us as we travel, come home, then make the adjustments of returning.
God willing, I will return to Kenya. A piece of my heart will be here forever.
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