My journey begins anew right here, as the first step must be taken here, on native soil. I have felt it pressed upon my heart to begin an adoption/orphancare ministry for some time now, yet between the struggles of figuring out how and where to start, trying to get support, and just plain feeling defeated and overwhelmed at every turn, I know I must start somewhere or it will never happen. So I begin by taking the first of many steps that will hopefully grow into this ministry that will not only grow in my home church, but will hopefully spread and grow into a large network of ministries that will help children around the world.
It will not be limited to Chinese children or even international adoption. My vision is that this ministry will encompass adoption, fostercare, orphancare, and missions. I want to educate people on adoption and fostercare, offer support to those in the process or who have adopted and need the support of others that will understand the parenting issues that are unique to adoptive families. I want to encourage not only adoption, but to encourage others to reach out to the millions of orphans around the world, currently said to be at 145 million.
There are between 300,000-400,000 churches in the U.S., but only about 100,000 children are adopted in the U.S. each year. I believe it’s long past time for the church to wake up to its responsibility in the plight of the orphan. The ministry will be called GO NEAR, based on principles I’ve gleaned from a message by Dennis & Barbara Rainey of FamilyLife. The idea is that everyone can do something. Barbara Rainey states, “As Christians, we are not all commanded to adopt, but we are all commanded to visit the orphans in their distress.” We can GO NEAR financially – sponsoring a child, raising money for families who are adopting, sending supplies to orphanages; physically – missions trips, adopting, fostercare; and by prayer support – everyone should be a part of this.
We, the Church, call ourselves pro-life, yet we do not support the lives that need us most. God reminds us time and again in His Word that we are to care for the fatherless. He has adopted us as His children and we are to care for the fatherless so they may experience His adoption, as well. I recall an old Steve Camp song that states it simply yet profoundly – “don’t tell them Jesus loves them ‘til you’re ready to love them, too.” Our words are empty if we are not willing to be His hands and feet.
In the midst of my own adoption wait, I have felt led to take another step of faith. How can I call others to GO NEAR if I, myself, do not lead in action as well as words. And so I begin by taking that journey of a thousand miles - well, actually more like 7,000 miles or so - as I prepare to spend a week in December volunteering in Beijing, China.
Due to privacy policies, I will be unable to post the name of the organization on this blog. It is a home for critically ill and special needs children where children are given tender loving care and medical attention so they may have the best chance of life...and the hope of being joined with a forever family. I hope to be able to blog while I am there, depending on computer time availability, so please check back here December 8th through the 16th to follow along.
The journey begins in just 34 days...but it will last a lifetime.
Give time.
Give finances.
Give love.
"I will not leave you as orphans,
I will come to you..."
John 14:18
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Song quote from "Don't Tell Them Jesus Loves Them," Rob Frazier & Steve Camp, © 1989 BIRDWING MUSIC/SPARROW SONG, admin by Music Services. Used by Permission.
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