Jesus and Adoption


Our pastor recently pointed us to this book: "Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families & Churches" by Russell D. Moore. While we are only in the process of reading it, we are excited enough about it to recommend it to others. Here are a few exerpts from the first chapter to help you figure out if the book may be helpful. We've also included a few of the chapter titles.


"The gospel of Jesus Christ means our families and churches ought to be at the forefront of the adoption of orphans close to home and around the world. As we become more attuned to the gospel, we'll have more of a burden for orphans. As we become mroe adoption-friendly, we'll be better able to understand the gospel" (p 18).


"Adoption is not just about couples who want children-- or who want more children. Adoption is abotu an entire culture within our churches, a culture that sees adoption as part of our Great Commission mandate and as a sign of the gospel itself. This book is intended for families who want to adopt and wonder whether they should. It is also intended for parents with children who've been adopted and who wonder how to raise them from here. it is for middle-aged fathers and mothers whose children have just told them they are thinking about adoption" (p 19).


"... let me tell you what this book is not. It is not a step-by-step guide to navigating the adoption process, complete with legal advice and agency recommendations..." (p 20).


Contents


Chapter 2 - Are They Brothers?

What Some Rude Questions about Adoption Taught Me about the Gospel of Christ


Chapter 4 - Don't You Want Your Own Kids?

How to Know If You- or Someone You Love- Should Consider Adoption


Chapter 6 - Jim Crow in the Church Nursery
How to Think about Racial Identitiy, Health Concerns, and Other Uncomfortable Adoption Questions


Chapter 7- It Takes a Village to Adopt a Child

How Churches Can Encourage Adoption

Ten Misperceptions of Adoptive Parents- Part 1

Crosscurrent Church recently hosted an information session together with Bethany Christian Services. I was struck by an article in one of the resources Bethany offered to those interested in adopting. The next two posts will share the content of the article. I think it provides good food for thought. If you have a question about any of the points made in this article, please do not hesitate to send them to us at hakonshome@gmail.com.

Source: "The adoption journey: A guide for prospective adoptive parents"

Misperception #1 "The birthmother just doesn't love her child."

In reality, there are many choices available to a birthmother. Carrying a child through pregnancy and then placing that child for adoption actually shows a lot of love. other choices she could have made include the termination of her pregnancy.

Misperception #2 " Adoption is the easy way out."

Just as parenting is not always easy, there is nothing easy about making an adoption plan. Grief and loss are part of every relinquishment and adoption, and they are never 'easy' to deal with. The role of the pregnancy counselor is to help the expectant mother make the best decision for her child. "Best" does not always equal "easy."

Misperception #3 "The birthmother will never get over the grief of relinquishing a child."

Working through grief and loss is a process that takes time. It is important for the birthmother to have a trained counselor to help her through the process, which varies from individual to individual.

Misperception #4 "In a domestic infant adoption, the birthparent will come back in a few years and take the child back."

The termination of rights of a birthparent is a legal process eliminating the option of a birthparent returning for his or her child. It is also an emotional process, and birthparents who opt for adoption don't want to disrupt it.

Misperception #5 "Kids will get confused in open adoptions."

Children are smarter than we give them credit for. They know who is there with them every day. It is not healthy for the child to be denied his or her history, whether it is a medical history or family history.

Adoption Information Session, Virginia Beach

"Religion that God the Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." James 1:27

Bethany Christian Services (www.bethany.org) is an agency dedicated to helping Christians express God's love through adoption. On Tuesday June 16th at 7pm, Bethany and Crosscurrent Church of Virginia Beach (www.crosscurrentchurch.org) will partner to host an information session for those interested in knowing more about supporting adoption.

Please RSVP to counseling@crosscurrentchurch.org for details and directions.

Everything to Me: Song for Birthmother

After several months of Hakon's ongoing adoption process, we have filed Hakon's finalization papers with the courts. Now we await word declaring our legal finalization date. While this is the happiest day of my life, my heart continues to ache for the woman who gave Hakon life. I feel a loss that I cannot express to her how much I love her. Out of that place, I found this song which resonated with what I'm feeling. I pray that one day Hakon will hold her with the high regard this song expresses.



Adoption Tax Credit


Did you know that the adoption tax credit may go away?


As you can tell, we believe that those with a call toward adoption should have barriers (like the financial strain) eradicated. Speak up with us and make your support of a permanent adoption tax credit known!
New legislation can make the tax credit permanent. Unless legislation is passed, the Federal adoption tax credit that allows many adopting families to take a credit of up to $12,150 (2009) is scheduled to expire in December 2010.

Here’s what to do:
(much of the text below is updated from the Adoptivefamilies.com website)


  1. Find the name and Washington, D.C. mailing address of your Representative and Senators at http://www.congress.org/. To find e-mail addresses, click through to the Senator’s or Congressperson’s Web site.
  2. Next, log on to http://thomas.loc.gov/to find out whether your Congresspersons are already co-sponsors of the legislation. On the thomas.loc.gov opening page, under “Search Bill Summary and Status,” search by bill number for H.R. 213. Then click on “Bill summary and Status.” On the page that comes up, click on “Cosponsors,” “Text of Legislation,” or “All Congressional Actions” to follow the progress of the bill.
  3. If your representatives have not signed on as co-sponsors of the bill, send them your request that they do so. Tell them how much you or other families you know are counting on it to be available in the future. Emphasize that the tax credit truly results in more children finding homes. Tell them that this is so important to you that you will be following the bill’s progress through Congress.


    A sample letter to send his here:
    http://abbafund.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/902help-make-the-federal-adoption-tax-credit-permanent/

Abba Fund








I received the most encouraging email the other day! It simply said, “ I stumbled on your blog and was so encouraged to read your thoughts on trusting God for the ‘gap’!” This person encouraged me that “God was at work.” Hmmmm….. that was super nice, I thought.

So, I begin emailing back and forth with this person. After we exchanged a number of emails and connected on our families’ hearts for adoption, I realized that I know this person’s name. He is Jason Kovacs, an article I had read, loved, and discussed with friends several months ago, “Glorifying the Father of the Fatherless” (link below) from John Piper's site. Turns out he is also the Director of the Abba Fund and part of an organization called Together for Adoption. I strongly encourage readers to become familiar with these organizations.
The ABBA Fund provides interest-free covenant loans to Christian couples who are called by God to expand their families through adoption and who need help with the “cash flow crunch” posed by adoption expenses.

Abba is an Aramaic word typically used by a child to address his father, expressing complete confidence that the father would provide every need. The Bible proclaims that God is the Father, Helper and Defender of the fatherless (Psalm 10:14; Psalm 68:5; Proverbs 23:10-11). The ABBA Fund exists to glorify God as one of His instruments in helping the fatherless (James 1:27).

Jason and I spoke on the phone the other day, and my heart leapt out of my chest as he communicated stories of so many families with such a similar passion as well as the history of these organizations. God prompts the hearts of his people for adoption, and I'm learning more and more everyday that God's heart for adoption is consistent throughout The Church. We hope that we are able to partner with Abba Fund to make Adoption Loans more accessible to those around us.

When adoption is placed on one's heart, there is a reason. Money should not get in the way!


Adoptive Parents and Children Gathering


We're happy to announce that we've started a group for adoptive families. We currently have 5 adoptive mothers from the VB Area gathering for support, networking, friendship, and playmates for our children. We currently meet on Fridays, however meetings times are flexible. We've met in our homes, met at playgrounds, walked Mt. Trashmore / the boardwalk, etc.
First meetings are held public places for the comfort of newcomers. We are not affiliated with a specific agency, as we wish to remain open to all forms of adoption experiences.
If you have been looking for connections with people who share your adoption experience, please come meet with us! Please email for more information and/or to get involved. (hakonshome@gmail.com) Spread the word!
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