When a child is embroiled in the foster-care system, he or she is essentially family-less. Neglected, abused or abandoned by biological parents, they become all the more keenly aware of their need for a stable family. Foster care tries to place them in a temporary home, but often moves them from place to place. This instability leaves a child listless, love-starved, and unstable. A permanent home would make all the difference.
Churches are beginning to realize they can and ought to be the difference makers. “Wait No More” is an adoption initiative spearheaded by Focus on the Family to encourage church families to adopt children from foster care. The Denver Post recently featured an extensive story about the program on its front page – amazed at just how effective it has been in providing permanent homes for so many foster children.
Denver Post writer Electa Draper’s article, Adoption Initiative Halves Numbers of Kids Needing Families, affords a journalistic account that highlights the work that Focus on the Family® has been doing to encourage local churches toward foster care:
| | The number of Colorado children in foster care awaiting permanent adoption has been cut in half by a partnership between churches and government that places parentless kids in "forever homes." |
This program is very exciting for children and for their permanent new families as it beautifully affirms God’s call on believers to care for those in need. You may read the article in its entirety here.
If you are aware of anyone who might be interested in building their family through adoption, and the plight of orphans and troubled children, perhaps you can refer them to this blog piece, or share this with your social network. The opportunities are many, and the need is great.
Focus on the Family recently highlighted this program in a Focus email alert, calling us to be actively watching out for widows and orphans. This ministry ought to be applauded for its incredible effectiveness in reducing by half the number of waiting-to-be-adopted foster care children in Colorado! Please visit iCareAboutOrphans.org to learn more about this Adoption & Orphan Care Initiative™, or FocusOnTheFamily.com to find dozens of other practical programs designed to help families thrive.
~Mark Stevenson here:
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great ministry. This is exactly what Jesus calls us to do in the NT and focus on the family is living it out. This has great spiritual benefits and practical benefits.
The spiritual benefits include blessing the kids with a loving home with an assumed married couple thereby being able to pour into their lives for the rest of the kids' lives. In addition, this group is spreading the Gospel through their actions. This is a wholly unselfish act while doing so much good.
The practical benefits include getting these kids out of the state's authority and into a loving home quickly. In addition, it's helping to reduce that section of government, since Im all for smaller government. Lastly, it's providing kids for families who may not be able to have kids themselves or who want more.
This is a great ministry all around and I hope this grows throughout the country.
I just sent this post to my parents. I think they should adopt! I think Focus on the Family is doing an incredible job impacting Colorado and the US. I'm praying they don't get discouraged, but continue to fight the good fight!! We, as the church, definitely need to be more active in taking care of widows and orphans!!
ReplyDeleteThis article and what Focus on the Family is doing hits the “nail on the head!” Children need stability, love, and acceptance. I think we see the lack of such through the increase in gang numbers and young teens/adult relationships. When children cannot find the love of a family, or the acceptance and stability of parents they will turn to whoever or whatever they can to get it. Gangs offer a family like unit to these troubled children. Even though you and I can see they are no family, at a young age a child sees something that will accept them and mimic a family. I am astonished and horrified at the number of young children and pre-teens that find relationships with older men/women. They throw themselves at anyone that will love them and do anything to get the attention a stable home and family would give them.
ReplyDeleteIf more children can have a stable home, I believe gang numbers will decrease and these inappropriate relationships would decrease. We cannot look to the government to place these poor kids. I believe it is 100% the churches job. I think this movement can make a huge difference in hurting children and communities.
-Jonathan Growick
I agree with Terah. I told my parents, after Regent PAD along with other organizations had our own Focus on the Children week, how strongly I felt that they should adopt and also how I would like to adopt in the future. The gift of a loving Christian family is priceless and one I can't wait to be able to share.
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