Dalits and Bricks

One of the blessings of semi-homeschooling our Fab Four is the gift of time. There are many days that are a challenge for them and for me too, still God is here.

Our son in kindergarten has the assignment to draw a picture of a place that he'd like to travel to. He started to tell me about Zambia because it started with a Z-like his name also starts with a Z. We are not like other people-usually it was just being well strange, but now we are actively trying to live our faith with our children. That shouldn't be strange, but sadly for our children and many other Church families it is. Not a guilt trip, but fessing up to our sin and how God's grace has allowed us to act and think differently about the way we gift :) We also have some friends that we support and pray for that are doing incredible things through God in Zambia (shameless plug for McB's) Then he surprised me when he mentioned about the boy walking with the stack of bricks on his head...then I knew he wasn't talking about precious Zambia, but another part of the world that is equally as precious to God's heart.

We had recently watched DVDs from Lifesong and Gospel for Asia...as well as our favorite DVD about our soon to be son Hudson that we re in process to adopt:)

There was a part of the DVD where we saw a young boy with a stack of bricks on his head. He was a Dalit and one of the hundreds that GfA is actively reaching out to with the transformative Hope of Christ. My son remembered what he saw on the DVD and he was moved to care. As a child of God and his mommy how could I do any less?  I grabbed 2 bricks from the pile in the garage ( long story but let's just say the city frowns upon my definition of recyclable materials and I don't want to just haul them to the dump) Anyway, we took the bricks and went outside.

I had them put one brick on their heads and then I held another-too heavy for them to have both without supervision and didn't want to risk an emergency room visit as we were not wearing shoes.They were shocked at how heavy the bricks were and how scratchy they felt against their skin. It was really powerful for all of us to attempt to break the bricks into powder or ever smaller pieces. Again, with my help as they clapped the bricks together and broke of little pieces. My son told me" I didn't like it. Holding the bricks, got a scratch. We pray for him (the boy)."

Two bricks, four fab kiddos, and one incredible DVD make for a powerful lesson about God's heart for the Dalits.  Thank you GfA, we can't unsee and now we will never forget our Father's heart for these precious ones.

CCBC has the incredible opportunity to sponsor 5 of the hundreds of precious little ones through GfA's Bridge of Hope. All that is needed is for CCBC families to act and commit to sponsor these children. They have an incredible letter writing opportunity for you to learn about the child you commit to sponsor as well as a precious pic of the child for you to put a fce to the name as a very real prayer card reminder of what you are doing wth your monthly commitment. We will have these sponsorships available this weekend-part of orphan care-but these children are not orphans, but they are in need of the support of the Church as GfA reaches out to them with the Hope of Christ.

Please see us at the table in the atrium with the Gift tables. We will have representatives there all morning. We'll be there at 9 and after 11 when we finish mix a meal with our family. Get a free copy of the book No Longer a Slumdog...it will change the way you pray and think about global orphan/least of these care.

I recently heard about this ministry, and I am overwhelmed by what God has done through them in the past 30 years...and what He is going to do for the future. AMAZING!

Also, will add that they have a Christmas catalog that has many ways to give that are very affordable, meaningful to children as well as the gift recipients and oportunities to partner with others in your life to give as a group. The water buffalo- not everyone's got one, as the Veggie Tale song implies, but a few more families could get them:) Wonder what "Jesus brought us a water buffalo?!"  sounds like in um, Hindi?

Can you imagine if your child put a waterbuffalo on his/her list for Christmas this year...for someone else?! What about the gift of rabbits and a pig, sponsoring a national missionary or buying a ricksaw...what about purchasing a live camel for someone else as the addition to your family's Christmas nativity?!

Seriously, you must tell me if you do buy a water buffalo-how amazing would it be to create a CCBC "living nativity" GfA style?! Oh yes, there is a generator and LCD Projector kit available to gift as well...God certainly is creative:)

Orphan Sunday Simulcast Event

Orphan Sunday is tomorrow and we are SUPER EXCITED!!!
 Not just for the day, but how God has and will continue to move the Church to act on behalf of orphans now, in 2012 and beyond. Beautiful, truly beautiful!

Our friends at First Baptist of McKinney are hosting a simulcast event that we are attending. Love having friends that let you "crash at their house"  Check out their link The Journey

The Journey...: ORPHAN SUNDAY IS NOVEMBER 6TH!!!

The Journey...: ORPHAN SUNDAY IS NOVEMBER 6TH!!!: SUNDAY MORNING: Come learn how YOU can make a difference in the life of a child. Not everyone is called to adopt or be a foster parent, ...

Giving of Life Campaign

Check out this amazing opportunity! It costs you NOTHING, just register and vote. Please do read what it is that you are registering for to be sure that you are in agreement.
Several ministries that we are partnering with personally or as Abba ministry have opportunity to receive much needed funds!


Go to Giving of Life Campaign and vote between now and 5:00 PM EST on November 4! Ask your friends to do the same!

One of the most precious ministries that I had the pleasure of speaking with last week is God's Littlest Angels a ministry to the children of Haiti is now in 3rd place...how incredible would it be for them to move to first?!

There are also SEVERAL ministires listed that need your votes!
The ABBA Fund is not far behind as one of the top voted for ministries, they help fund adoptions!
Orphan Outreach serving Guatemala, Honduras, India & Russia...they also do backpacks & undies for orphan collections:)
Children's Hope Chest serving Russia, India, Uganda, Swaziland, Ethiopia, South Africa and much more
Both Hands from Lifesong serving widows & helping to fund adoptions...we're hoping to serve with them!

and local as well as incredible ministry of Embrace Go and vote for them too!

While you're there voting and checking out these amazing ministries or others you may find listed, pray for them and the children that they serve. As God begins to open your eyes and heart to the needs seek ways for you and your family to partner with these that do so much!

God is doing the impossible...as only He can!

Gospel for Asia

At first this may seem like a strange ministry to mention on a blog about adoption and orphan care. Truly this is Abba our Daddy God is very concerned about. Gospel for Asia, focused on mainly South Asian countries of:
India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Donating to a Ministry that Touches Your Heart

Joining the Prayer Team 

Sponsoring a missionary

Sponsoring a Bridge of Hope Child

Equipping a Women Missionary

There are many ways to support this ministry alongside your family. You can read more details about Gospel for Asia here.  We will have information from Gospel for Asia as well as copies of No Longer a Slumdog on November 6, 2011 Orphan Sunday in the atrium area from 9:00-12:00.

Power of a Prayer Mommy...and Daddy:)

Overwhelmed by reminders of God's faithfulness. There have been now 4 women that have been praying for and advocating for our precious soon-to-be son. Several of these precious Prayer Mommies have been praying for years!

We are overwhelmed by glimpses of His plan (and precious pictures of our son!!!)  before we knew he existed. Glimpses of His soverignty and radience that always was even before the framing of the world began.
We know that prayer is powerful. Truly humbled by the reminder of the power of a Prayer Mommy...and perhaps a Prayer Daddy too:)

Will you take your position as a child of God and become a Prayer Mommy or Prayer Daddy for an orphan today? 
When you do pray, please pray expectantly and consistently for the fatherless and the motherless.

Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Orphan Sunday 2011

We're prayerfully getting ready for our first Orphan Sunday at CCBC! Very excited and grateful for the opportunity to share our passion and ministry with the whole church body.

We will have tables with materials and information from a variety of ministries & agencies. Our goal is not to just raise awareness but to equip for action!

There are many ways to act on behalf of orphans as individuals or together as a family. For this year, we've planned to have information from adoption/foster care agencies that are local, national and that we know personally or know of families that have personally worked with them. The church is neither promoting or endorsing one specific agency or ministry, but there are folks that are in process or have previously worked with most of the ministries or agencies.

Both Brian & I as well as Jeff & Amy will be available to speak to you and follow up with you on Orphan Sunday and beyond. We know personally how challenging the adoption and foster care journey can be. And how amazing it can be too. There is much to discover about caring for orphans including the adoptable and sponsorships!

If you want more info be sure to email or tell us what your questions are and we plan to have a panel-style meeting in the future:)

Adoption & Foster Care
Buckner
Dillon
Gladney
Little Flower
Refuge House
AAC
Chosen Child
God's Littlest Angels in Haiti
Embrace
Tapestry
The Journey
Bibles for Babes
Heart Gallery


Orphan Care & Support
Christian Alliance for Orphans
Show Hope
As Our Own 
Lifesong for Orphans
Lifesong for Orphans McBrides in Zambia
Hope for Orphans
Nehemiah Vision Ministries
Project HOPEFUL
CCBC Mission trips/activities

Helpful Resouorces
Fields of  the Fatherless
Red Letters
Orphanology
Power of a Positive Mom
Thrive Don't Simply Survive
Choosing to SEE
Wait No More
Thriving as an Adoptive Family
10 Ways You Can Help
Focus on the Family
Faith@Home