Adoption and Foster Care
Millions of children around the world need a family. Many homes seem to have something missing that adoption or foster care offers to fill. Exploring adoption or foster care means playfully weighing many practical concerns in your head against the often-inexplicable tugging of your heart. Consider the impact you could have in the life of a child who would not otherwise have a father or mother.
How might God be leading you to change their circumstances? What kind of home and family might you be able to provide? Which route is best - domestic adoption, International adoption, or foster care?
With so many factors to consider, where do you start?
How might God be leading you to change their circumstances? What kind of home and family might you be able to provide? Which route is best - domestic adoption, International adoption, or foster care?
With so many factors to consider, where do you start?
Step ONe
Understand God's Heart for Orphans
the Bible is extremely clear about God's care, concern, and provision for orphans. It's easy to grow anxious if you explore adoption with your own limited strength and understanding. There is peace, however, in seeking to know and reflect on God's heart for adoption. You can do that by reading and meditating on verses in the Bible about adoption and care for orphans (for example, Deuteronomy 10:18, Exodus 22:22-24, James 1:27, Job 29:1-12, Esther 2:7 and 2 Samuel 9:3). As you read these scriptures, consider seeing aside time for fasting and seeking the Lord's will for your home.
Seeking God's Heart for orphans will stretch your perspective. It will change the kind of cost/benefit analysis you bring to your decisions. It also can give you peace and patience for the details of adoption and can grow your trust in God's ability to provide for you in what He's calling you to.
the Bible is extremely clear about God's care, concern, and provision for orphans. It's easy to grow anxious if you explore adoption with your own limited strength and understanding. There is peace, however, in seeking to know and reflect on God's heart for adoption. You can do that by reading and meditating on verses in the Bible about adoption and care for orphans (for example, Deuteronomy 10:18, Exodus 22:22-24, James 1:27, Job 29:1-12, Esther 2:7 and 2 Samuel 9:3). As you read these scriptures, consider seeing aside time for fasting and seeking the Lord's will for your home.
Seeking God's Heart for orphans will stretch your perspective. It will change the kind of cost/benefit analysis you bring to your decisions. It also can give you peace and patience for the details of adoption and can grow your trust in God's ability to provide for you in what He's calling you to.
Step Two
Educate Yourself
One of the best ways to increase your understanding of both the head and heart issues of adoption is to spend time with others who have adopted to hear from them the joys and challenges of each step along the way. Connect with families that have adopted or have had foster placements in their homes to learn from those who have walked this path before.
Much about adoption has changed in the last few decades. New opportunities have emerged alongside new challenges. At the same time, various churches and non-profit ministries have expanded their support for orphans and adoption, providing a broad range of information and services about things such as federal tax benefits and financial assistants through grants available to adopting families. Take advantage of media resources and books at the Faith@Home Center in the church foyer.
One of the best ways to increase your understanding of both the head and heart issues of adoption is to spend time with others who have adopted to hear from them the joys and challenges of each step along the way. Connect with families that have adopted or have had foster placements in their homes to learn from those who have walked this path before.
Much about adoption has changed in the last few decades. New opportunities have emerged alongside new challenges. At the same time, various churches and non-profit ministries have expanded their support for orphans and adoption, providing a broad range of information and services about things such as federal tax benefits and financial assistants through grants available to adopting families. Take advantage of media resources and books at the Faith@Home Center in the church foyer.
Going Further - Resources
Handbook on Thriving as an Adopted Family:Real-Life Solutions to Common Challenges by David and Renee Sanford - will equip readers to be successful adoptive parents. It is the one parenting resource that provides comprehensive, topical, Bible-based solutions for the inevitable challenges after adoption.
Reframing Foster Care by Jason Johnson - Gives readers realistic and inspirational insights on the foster parenting journey.
Fields of the Fatherless: Discover the joy of Compassionate Living by C. Thomas Davis - Inspires readers to share God's heart for orphans and offers a brand range of helpful resources and organizations.
HowtoAdopt.org - A service of Shaohannah'a Hope, the organization founded by Christian musician Steven Curtis Chapman. It provides background information, responses to myths about adoption and practical steps for pursuing adoption.
Handbook on Thriving as an Adopted Family:Real-Life Solutions to Common Challenges by David and Renee Sanford - will equip readers to be successful adoptive parents. It is the one parenting resource that provides comprehensive, topical, Bible-based solutions for the inevitable challenges after adoption.
Reframing Foster Care by Jason Johnson - Gives readers realistic and inspirational insights on the foster parenting journey.
Fields of the Fatherless: Discover the joy of Compassionate Living by C. Thomas Davis - Inspires readers to share God's heart for orphans and offers a brand range of helpful resources and organizations.
HowtoAdopt.org - A service of Shaohannah'a Hope, the organization founded by Christian musician Steven Curtis Chapman. It provides background information, responses to myths about adoption and practical steps for pursuing adoption.
