We are the Children of God

My wife and I had the pleasure of attending a Third Day concert Saturday night at their show in Grand Prairie, TX.  One of their recent tracks, Children of God, is a powerful testimony to the scriptural basis for adoption.  Check it out.

It gets even better.  Mac Powell, the lead singer of Third Day, and his wife adopted a little boy in February of last year.  Watch him give his honest testimony at the Catalyst conference in March 2010. 

Can I really afford this??

We had our March meeting last Sunday with Bruce Kendrick from Embrace as our guest speaker. He covered the "million dollar" question that so many of us ask when we start researching adoption--how can I afford this??

Spend enough time surfing the net, and it can lead to some daunting statistics:

• International adoptions may cost anywhere from $15-60k
• Domestic birth mother adoptions may range from $10-35k
• Adoptions from the foster care system range from $0-1500
  

These upper ranges are not the average, but in some cases, adoption can become quite expensive.

The most important thing to remember in all of this, is that God can provide; it's all His anyway. If He "owns the cattle on a thousand hills" (Psalm 50:10) surely he can figure out a way to pay for your adoption!

So, Bruce covered some practical information regarding ways to fund an adoption.

First, consider less expensive alternatives. Adopting through the state foster care system typically ranges from zero to $1500. You may not be called to adopt in this way, but honestly ask God and wait for an answer.

Second, understand the government programs that are available to you.

• Federal Adoption Tax Credit: This is a dollar-for-dollar credit against your tax liability. For adoptions finalized in 2011 and 2012, the credit is actually "refundable" meaning even if you have zero tax liability, you may qualify for a tax refund based on the adoption tax credit. For adoptions which qualify as "special needs", the entire credit will apply. Adoptions which are not considered special needs will qualify for the actual hard costs incurred as a result of adoption. Speak with your tax advisor for additional information on this important resource.
• Title IV-E of the Social Security Act: Children adopted from foster care may qualify for an adoption subsidy under the federal Title IV-E program. An adoption subsidy is an ongoing monthly stipend meant to help offset the cost of raising children adopted from the state foster care system. Not all children will qualify for Title IV-E, but those who currently do may be entitled to receive the subsidy as well as Medicaid coverage. Title IV-E may help bridge the gap for families who would love to adopt but struggle with the additional financial costs of adding children to their families. Title IV-E exists because we the people recognize that permanently placing children into loving, healthy families is far better and far less costly than allowing them to linger in the foster care system.
• Private funding programs: There are many non profits that offer adoption assistance, several of which are faith based. Among them are Show Hope, Abba Fund, and Tapestry Fund. There are many others. The internet is a great resource to research them. This document from Tapestry has a list of several others. Each organization will have an application process, and many of them are matching grants as they want to see you invested financially into your adoption plan as well.
• No interest loans: There are organizations that provide no interest loans. While I cannot advocate taking on debt to adopt, this is an option available to families. They are usually short term loans which are repaid quickly and then as they are repaid the funds are lent to other families.
  
• Your support network: Bruce pointed out that we should not neglect to tap into our own personal support network of friends and family. This is an opportunity to allow our support network to come alongside us and participate in God's plan for building our family. This isn't shirking our responsibility, this is allowing the "church to be the church".

Check out the handout from the meeting.

"For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." --Ephesians 2:10

February Meeting

This month we are prayerfully focusing our hearts on discerning God's plan for orphans & adoption within our church body here at CCBC. With the help of Tapestry ( IBC's adoption ministry) we've complied a list of questions for you to consider and discuss as you seek God's direction for your family. This list is certainly not complete and is only meant as a tool, not a replacement for God's Word or authority in your life:)

 

Ten Questions to Consider As You Explore Adoption

For group discussion

1. What are my biggest fears regarding adoption?

2. Do/will my close family and friends support my decision to adopt? If not, why?

3. How do I define the concept of family? In other words, what is a family?

4. What personal experience(s) do I have regarding adoption – whether positive or negative?

5. Does adoption seem “normal” to me?

5. What have I done thus far to educate myself about adoption and what are the next steps I should take to gain more education?
   
   
   
   

For continued discussion with your family:

1. Have we prayed and asked for God's wisdom about building our family? If not why?

2. What, if anything, do I feel that I would lose or be “giving up” if I choose to adopt?

3. Why do/would I want to adopt?

4. Have I explored the realities of having a child that may never look exactly like me or my spouse? Why or why not?

5. How do I feel about birthparents (i.e.,the biological parents of children who are adopted)

6. If married, does my spouse have the same ideas about adoption that I do?

Scripture for further guidance & prayer:

James 1:5, James 3:17

Jeremiah 29:11

Joshua 1:9 b

Proverbs 3:5-6

Ephesians 3:20-21

Philippians 4:4-8

*HUGE Thanks to Tapestry for providing these Questions

tapestry.irvingbible.org

The Facts from Shaohannahshope

Adoption Is Greater Than The Universe - John Piper

Sooo...Now What?

God, we're open, sooo...now what?
At first it seems like a difficult place to be, but really it's the best place to be. Yielded and open to God.  On your knees, both figuratively and actually on your knees in prayer. Being open while seeking God's direction. Ready to act. Ready to wait.  A place where He can lead you...and He will lead you as you allow Him to.

So, what does that have to do with adoption, foster care or orphan care? Everything.

The truly great thing about asking God for directions is that He will give them to you.

God, would you have me adopt a child? From where would you have me adopt a child?
God, would you have me work with an agency? Which agency?
God, would you have me foster a child?  Would you have me foster siblings?
God, would you have me support orphans?  How would you have me support orphans? 

Proverbs 3:5-6  "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Whys and why nots

Why?
Why talk about orphans that have no hope?
Why ask God for wisdom? 
Have you prayerfully considered adopting, foster care or orphan care? 
Why Not?

Video/audio message & sermon notes from David Platt based on Psalm 10
David Platt Father to the fatherless

If you seek wisdom God will give it to you.  James 1:5  "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

His wisdom looks very different from ours. James 3:17  "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."

What hope do you have? What hope can you offer to orphans that have no hope?
Knowing God is having hope. Overflowing hope by the power of His Spirit. Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."