// Together for Adoption

As many of you know, Together for Adoption is working closely with the Haiti Orphan Relief Team (HORT). HORT is a cooperative effort of disaster response experts and U.S. based ministries that have unified to respond to the orphan crisis in Haiti. The following was posted on the HORT blog earlier today:

While the initial Haiti Orphan Relief Team (HORT) assessment group was in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas recently, the World Orphans members of the team shot daily video blogs. Unfortunately our Internet connection in Haiti was less-than-desirable and we were unable to upload the videos while in country. So for the next ten days or so we’ll be posting some of those videos. They’ll give you a “moving” experience of what we saw there, in the aftermath of the worst natural disaster any nation has seen in recent history.

As you view the whole series of videos, you’ll see some pretty unsettling stuff.

But you’ll also see the hope and resiliency of the people and the churches that stand ready to help.

Check back each day and forward to friends. Please don’t forget about Haiti. These are the images of today, the suffering of the present. Even though it has long left our news reports here in the U.S., the people are left waiting . . . and hoping, for YOU to help.

Here is the first one:

Haiti Orphan Relief Team (HORT) from World Orphans on Vimeo.

Invitation to Summit VI from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Join Together for Adoption and ABBA Fund at the 6th Annual Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit, on April 29 and 30, in Minneapolis!

The Summit is designed to galvanize and equip churches, organizations and lay leaders for effective and God-honoring service to the orphan.

Have you thought about this recently? When Haiti’s side of the Island of Hispaniola quaked on January 12, the earth was groaning in its bondage to corruption and longing for the day when it will be set free.

According to Romans 8:19-23, whenever the earth quakes and buildings collapse, killing hundreds or hundreds of thousands of human beings, creation is crying out for deliverance—not deliverance from man but deliverance through man.

If God had not given us Romans 8, we might be tempted to look at earthquakes like the ones that hit Haiti and Chile and conclude that creation is crying out for deliverance from man. But Paul is clear: creation longs for deliverance through man! “Creation,” as Paul puts it in Romans 8:19, “waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.”

“Why,” you ask, “is creation eagerly waiting for our revealing?” Because when God finally reveals His children (i.e. redeems our bodies, v. 23), creation “will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”

Since creation was subjected to its bondage of corruption through the fall of man, God has ordained that it be freed from that bondage through the revealing of man, when God makes our sonship visible. As horrific as natural disasters are, they not only serve as powerful reminders that things in this world are not the way they are supposed to be, they also point us forward with eager anticipation to the day when all things will be as they ought to be.

Lest we think that it is creation alone that longs for this future day, Paul adds, “And not only creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:23). By God’s design, we live each day in solidarity with all of creation in “the sufferings of this present time” (Romans 8:18) longing for the day when all things will be made new.

Romans 8 has profound implications for how we fulfill the mandate to care for orphans in their suffering (James 1:27). God has called us to care for them in “the sufferings of this present time” as we wait eagerly for our revealing. This means, among many other things, that we should be the most forward-longing and forward-living orphan care providers on the planet.

One of the consequences of our forward-longing living is that whenever we care for orphans—doing what we can to alleviate their suffering and give them a better future—we point to the day when the earth will be made new. Not only do we give the world a glimpse of the renewed earth where orphanages will no longer exist, we also give orphans a foretaste of it.

One of the several ways in which I found myself encouraged by Southern Seminary’s “Adopting for Life Conference” last weekend was the number of pastors I talked with who are committed to long-term orphan care ministry. My breakout session (“Adoption, Orphan Care and the Church: Finding your place in the story of redemption”), which I presented twice, had a great mix of pastors and congregants who were seriously exploring what orphan care ministry would look like in their context.

If you live in the tri-state area of North Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and God is working similarly in your church, or you’re just interested in adoption, let me strongly encourage you to attend “Share His Hope 2010 Orphan Care Conference.”

Share His Hope 2010 is an orphan care conference held in Asheville, NC March 19-20; hosted by Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church.

The purpose of Share His Hope 2010 is two-fold. The first increases awareness about God’s movement to awaken His Church to care for the orphan. Scripture is clear on this command, but we (His people) have been blinded by the Enemy far too long. It is time to wake up and obey what God commanded us to do. Isaiah 1:17, “Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”

Secondly, Share His Hope 2010 will provide training for individuals and churches to learn how to start “Orphan Care Ministries” and/or “Adoption Ministries” in their own churches. While adoption was God’s plan for us from the beginning, He continues to use adoption in the lives of orphans today. However, the myth that “adoption” is the only way to care for orphans must be dispelled. Share His Hope 2010 presenters and exhibitors will provide practical information about various ways God’s people across our nation are reaching out and sharing His compassion for the orphan.

Share His Hope 2010 is hosted by Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church. Johnny Carr (Bethany), Chris Wheeler (Show Hope), and myself are the keynote speakers. They also have an excellent group of exhibitors (Show Hope, Hope for Orphans, ABBA Fund, Nightlight, etc) and a great lineup of breakout sessions.

Conference Schedule – (March 19-20, 2010)

Friday

5:00 – 6:30PM Registration
6:30 – 8:30PM General Session – welcome, worship, testimony, speaker
8:30 – 9:30PM Exhibits

Saturday

8:00 – 8:15AM Registration/Coffee/Snack
8:15 – 9:45AM General Session – welcome, worship, testimony, speaker
9:50 – 10:15AM Exhibits/Break/Snack
10:15 – 11:05AM Break-Out Session I
11:15 – 12:05PM Break-Out Session II
12:05 – 12:50PM Box Lunch
12:50 – 1:40PM Break-Out Session III
1:40 – 2:40PM Exhibits/Break/Snack
2:40 – 3:30PM Break-Out Session IV
3:30 – 3:40PM Break/Snack
3:40 – 5:00PM General Session – worship, testimony, speaker, prayer

You can register here. Visit Share His Hope 2010 on Facebook.

Jedd Medefind writes:

These words from an email sent me by a friend in Port-au-Prince highlight the struggle of those seeing the tragedy in Haiti firsthand, grappling with how to share what they are seeing with friends without appearing sensationalistic:

I am struggling to find a balance to educate people. Some things seem too awful to put in writing. In the rural areas, there are still MANY bodies visible in unreachable places in the rubble. Like many third world countries, Haiti has lots of dogs and they are feeding on the carcasses. Children are seeing this. One person with me says 80 countries and several war zones have not prepared him for what we are seeing. Most of the public schools were shoddy government construction and hundreds of children died in them but I have not seen this reported. We have seen heavy equipment digging where schools were and bodies of children remained.. One man told us the villagers already went thru the rubble searching for their children, but they found “mostly parts not bodies.” We all have photos and stories like this but not sure how to share. Please pray about this…we need discernment. Most of the media have stayed in Port au Prince downtown.. The world has not seen the full reality and may never now that we have Tiger Woods and the Olympics. This is only a 3 hour flight from the U.S and Americans can help in such big ways. This is way beyond 3rd world poverty…
All that being said, while I write this, the sun is setting and people are singing praise songs on the roof next door. Another church near us has no roof but the people kneel there at 4:30 every morning on the concrete to pray and worship. The faith here is overwhelming.

On my way right now to Austin (TX) to speak at “A Future & A Hope Adoption Conference.” There are over 350 people attending. Eager to see what God is going to do.

Click on the image below to see the full list of breakout sessions for the upcoming “Adopting for Life” conference.

If you have not yet registered for the conference, you can do so here.

I have the privilege of speaking at three wonderful adoption conferences over the next several weeks. If any of these conferences are in your neck-of-the-woods, let me encourage you to consider attending.

Saturday, February 20th:

A Future & A Hope Adoption Conference is hosted by Grace Covenant Church of Austin, Texas. Grace Covenant Church is one of those growing number of churches whose orphan care and adoption ministry is driven by the gospel.

Friday-Saturday, February 26-27th:

Southern Seminary is hosting a conference on adoption entitled, “Adopting for Life.” They have put together a great list of general session and breakout session speakers.

Friday-Saturday, March 19-20th:

Share His Hope 2010 is hosted by Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church. Paul Pennington, Johnny Carr, and myself are the keynote speakers. They also have a great lineup of breakout sessions.

Anthony Bradley writes:

There are only 36,913 black kids ready to be adopted today because they are truly without parents. If one family in every black congregation would adopt one child, all the black children currently in the system would have a Christian home, especially black males. It really is that simple.

There are approximately 46,000 black congregations in the U.S.

Read the entire article.

If you live in the Upstate of South Carolina, you might be interested in attending this February 19th benefit concert. Looks like it will be a wonderful event.

NIGHTLIGHT CHRISTIAN ADOPTIONS
And
Children in HIS Image Program

Dedicated to Assisting Families Seeking to Adopt the Orphaned Children of Haiti and Around the World

Present in Concert
Lori Sealy

Chili Dinner and Concert
February 19, 2010
6: 00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

$5.00 per person (children 3 and under eat free)

Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church
Simpsonville, SC

All children are special. The Children in HIS Image program helps families adopting children who are waiting for loving homes. Come learn about the children and their needs.

You will delight in Lori Sealy’s music for children and adults alike. Lori is an adult adoptee and the background singer, Becky Edmondson, is an adoptive mom.

RSVP as seating is limited. However, walk-ins are welcome, seating permitted. Contact us at info@nightlight.org or call 864 268-0570.

Press Release:

RALEIGH, NC –A volunteer team of U.S. disaster response experts and orphan care providers is coming together to provide strategic help to Haitian churches. The team will equip and train Haitian church leaders to provide local, long-term care for orphaned Haitian children in the aftermath of the January earthquake.

The Haiti Orphan Relief Team (HORT) is a cooperative volunteer effort of disaster response experts and orphan-care professionals from many U.S.-based ministries that have joined forces to respond to the crisis in Haiti. An initial HORT on-the-ground team will deploy for a two week period beginning on February 14, 2010. The team will work to identify churches in Haiti that can be paired with U.S. churches for ongoing partnerships in caring for orphaned children, so that local resources can sustain this effort beyond the HORT team’s deployment.

“We know that this disaster is not going to be fixed overnight, but by putting in place key pieces of infrastructure, efforts can be sustained and strengthened long after the HORT team has returned to the United States,” said John E. Roberts, past Director of the Federal Government’s National Interagency Training Center, and Incident Command System (ICS) team commander for HORT. “We are looking to build a long-term solution to the immediate crisis.”

Recognizing that many Haitian church facilities were destroyed, HORT will use advanced mapping techniques developed by the U.S. government to physically identify the church facilities that are best able to provide long-term solutions to children now and in the future.

“We are looking for churches that want to become part of the long-term solution to the orphan need in Haiti. We encourage U.S. churches to come alongside the churches of Haiti to address this catastrophe,” said Paul Myhill, President, World Orphans, and a member of the deployment team.

A Valentine’s Day fund-raising drive is under way to help HORT deploy. Donors can personalize an eCard with a Valentine message and for every eCard sent, the team will personally deliver a Valentine to a Haitian orphan.

“Outside help alone won’t reach Haiti’s deepest need. If we’re serious about helping Haiti’s orphans toward a bright future, it’ll be absolutely vital to equip and support committed local Haitian churches to care for the orphans in their communities,” said Jedd Medefind, President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans.

More about HORT can be found at: www.haitiorphanrelief.org

Collaborators in this effort include:

Christian Alliance for Orphans
Global Aid Network
Hope for Orphans
Lifesong for Orphans
Love Haiti
Loving Shepherd Ministries
Sweet Sleep
Together for Adoption
University of North Carolina, School of Public Health
World Orphans

Ryan Bomberger writes:

Abortion is not just a women’s issue. It is a human issue. And today, for African-Americans, it is a human crisis. Nearly 40% of all black pregnancies end in induced abortion. That’s over 3x the rate of white women and 2x the rate of all other races combined. There are beautiful alternatives: adoption and parenthood, but they are not money-makers for abortionists.

Check out this campaign: Too Many Aborted.

Upcoming Webinar Series:

Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, authors of When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself, will present a free, three-part webinar lecture series on the appropriate relief and development response to the Haiti earthquake disaster. To learn more about this webinar series and to register, go here. This webinar series looks excellent.

[HT: Bernie Alimonti, Director of Special Projects for the Chalmers Center]

Francis Chan wrote this children’s story to illustrate what God ordained the church to be in the world. Since God has called the church to care for orphans, I think “The Big Red Tractor” also applies to the current orphan care movement that is growing within the church.

The Big Red Tractor from Jacob Lewis on Vimeo.

Click on either image below to read the entirety of the article (PDF).

Jedd Medefind, President of Christian Alliance for Orphans, interviewed me on Twitter today about the Haiti Orphan Relief Team (HORT). You can read the full transcript here.

On January 4th I listed what I’m asking God to do in the church in 2010 for the sake of the orphan. Since the orphan crisis is a global crisis and Christ’s Church is a global Church, I thought it would be helpful to do a series of prayer-posts that focus on the orphan crisis in different countries throughout the world. While the earthquake in Haiti has increased needed awareness of Haiti’s orphan crisis, we must be careful not to forget the needs of orphans elsewhere. Lord willing, this series of posts will help remind us that there are children all over the world who need our prayers, advocacy, and care.

10 Prayers for the Sake of China’s Orphans in 2010
by Wendy Cosby

[Wendy serves as the program director for Show Hope and oversees the adoption assistance, church ministry and short-term mission trips programs.]

Gracious God, we pray:

…that you would show yourself to be both Father and Defender to orphans in China – for those currently finding shelter within the orphanages as well as those living on their own. Protect them, care for them and secure justice for them. May they cling to you as their refuge.

The children of men take refuge in the shadow of Thy wings. Psalm 36:7b

…that the inherent value of these children would be deeply established in the hearts of those living most closely at hand with them. We pray the overseers of the orphanages, as well as all care providers, would have a supernatural love and tender heart for the least of these entrusted to their care.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

…that the caregivers of these children would have opportunities to learn more about best practices for those in their protection. Give them hearts to advocate on behalf of these little ones and seek their best interest always.

Make me know Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me. Psalm 25:4-5a

…particularly for the adoption of older children and those with special medical or mental needs. These children are often marginalized, even within the orphan community worldwide. We ask for adoptive families to be raised up, both in China and abroad, who would be blessed and able to care for orphans with special needs.

I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, who call you by your name, I Am the God of Israel. Isaiah 45:3

…that any unnecessary obstructions would be removed from the adoption process: bureaucratic barriers, financial barriers, or cultural ones. We pray that every child who remains waiting would one day be able to know the love of a forever family, and that you guide their placements into faith-filled families in China and abroad.

God sets the lonely in families. Psalm 68:6a

…for the many families who are in the adoption process from China. Lord, we ask that you strengthen their hearts, and help them to be content in your love for them and the child they are adopting. Give them a peace that surpasses all understanding as they wait and trust in your sovereign timing.

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! Psalm 27:14

…for a viable support network for those orphans aging out of the system; that they would be provided the transitional opportunities and services needed to gracefully move into adulthood. We pray that you would raise up servants from faith communities in China to become advocates for the least of these who still need love and guidance.

For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

…that there would be a spirit of unity and mutual support among those serving in China. We pray that their love for each other, and the orphans whom they serve in your name, would be as salt and light to all those around them.

Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven. Matthew 5:16

…that your people would move forward in wisdom and strength as they pursue meaningful and creative ways to fulfill your call on their lives this very day. Raise up other workers for the harvest who will join in this work to be your hands and feet in China.

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:15

…that you would strengthen the marriages, homes, families, and faith of your servants in China, all to the glory of your name. We pray for continued favor for the work of their hands as you multiply their efforts for your glory.

Therefore my brethren, who I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. Philippians 4:1

Churches all across the country are embracing the ministry of orphan care and the miracle of adoption. God continues to raise up churches that are committed to James 1:27 ministry from a gospel-driven perspective. When it’s the gospel that’s driving a church-centered movement like this, that’s a recipe for long-term, life-changing engagement for the good of orphaned and vulnerable children all over the world.

Grace Covenant Church of Austin, Texas, is one of those many churches whose orphan care and adoption ministry is driven by the gospel. Jason Kovacs and I have the wonderful privilege of participating in Grace Church’s February 20th adoption conference. What excites me most about this conference is the number of churches in Austin that are behind it. God is growing a strong orphan care and adoption movement in Austin through its churches, and this conference is evidence of that growth.

If you’re looking for a church-hosted adoption conference to attend this month, let me recommend Grace Church’s “A Future and A Hope Conference.” Julie Kouri has done an excellent job putting this conference together.

Jan Flinte, a friend of our family, wrote about her experience in Jacmel, Haiti last week:

Yesterday Leann and I headed over to the large refugee camp that’s now a part of our community. As difficult as it was to see, it was a good visit. We talked and played with a lot of different kids. It was kind of surreal. In so many ways it was business as usual. The kids were still just kids. They were laughing and joking and playing. Some were making kites, some were using sticks to build model houses, some were playing clapping hand games. Almost all of them wanted their pictures taken.

But when I took a step back—it made my heart grieve all the more because I knew the reality of the situation. Amongst the happy children there were desperate parents. Two specific parents who were hopeless enough to offer me two of their children then and there because they just weren’t sure how they were going to move on.

There was this other mother there. She was the mother of a very small six month old baby. Her baby was sick. Very sick. The baby had her face winced in pain the whole time I was there, but she could not cry louder than just a tiny, tiny whimper. She was obviously dehydrated. I asked the mother what kind of symptoms she’d been having and she said the baby has been throwing up and having diarrhea for several days. I asked if she’d taken the baby to the medical tent located in the center of the camp. She said that she hadn’t because there were always so many people there. She didn’t want to wait in line. I begged her to take the baby the next day. I told her if she didn’t want to wait in line she should get there very early. She said she could go, “demen si dye vle” (tomorrow if God wills). I plan to check on her tomorrow. I can’t stop thinking about her.

There ware an estimated 6,000 homeless people living in this camp. SIX THOUSAND! In a city of about 35,000 that’s a staggering amount. Where do you go from here?

God save Haiti. You’re the only One who can.

If you are interested in raising awareness and relief dollars for those who are suffering in tent cities like the one in Jacmel, consider hosting a Cité Lespwa in your city. We would love to see churches all over the country hosting one of these events.

As part of our Church-Centered Haiti Orphan Care Initiative, we are working very closely with The Haiti Orphan Relief Team (HORT).

HORT is a cooperative effort of disaster response experts and U.S. based ministries that have unified to respond to the orphan crisis in Haiti. The team will deploy to Haiti for a two week period, beginning February 14, 2010, with the specific mission of supporting the churches of Haiti to care for orphaned children. This will be accomplished by pairing U.S. churches with Haitian churches, to provide ongoing resources and support. HORT will collaborate with and train Haitian partners to sustain this effort beyond the deployment period.

If you would like to donate a tax deductible gift to fund the cost of this strategic deployment, you may donate online here or send a check to:

Haiti Orphan Relief Team
PO Box 413
Castle Rock, CO 80104