Adoption Summit IV

No new news on Nathan yet. We are praying that the attorney has our file in hand and that he is making progress on the final documents. In the meantime...

I returned home last night from the Adoption Summit IV in Fort Lauderdale. My precious husband manned our home while I flew to sunny Florida with another gal from our church's adoption ministry. It was a great trip in so many ways. Everything went smoothly. We were encouraged and spurred on in many ways. There were about 600 people in attendance all with a heart for the orphan. Be encouraged blogging friends there are many people doing amazing things for the orphan - and many more with the vision and passion to get a work going!

While we are waiting for more news I would like to share with you some of what we heard.

Dennis Rainey spoke during the first general session. He challenged the group to consider three ways to address the need of the orphan.

1. Pray, dream big, and expect God to use you.

D.L.Moody said,"If God be your partner make your plans large."
Mr. Rainey asked the question, "What are you believing God for that
only He can do?

2. Enlist battle savvy churches - churches that know how to release and equip
workers.

He used the example of Gideon and his ultimate army of 300. Gideon took
1% of the total into war. What if we were to take 1% of the nation's
churches into battle for the orphan?

3. Recruit and deploy orphan activists.

It's war time and we need to have war footing. Stand up and stand out
for the orphan.

Why was I encouraged? Just at a dinner alone I sat with a former pastor that is now recruiting christian foster parents to adopt waiting children, a state agency worker with a strong faith in the Lord desiring to partner with christian foster parents, a couple who retired and moved themselves to Mexico to begin an orphanage which now houses 25 orphans, and a young family that has begun an adoption agency using her social work background to help christian families adopt from Ethiopia! Wow! The Lord is doing a work in the church, He is opening eyes to the plight of the orphan! We have noted in our ministry that often it seems that the Lord is moving so quickly that it feels as if we are running to keep up. May we always strive to keep up with the Lord, may we run the race he has set before us.

Many of you reading this already have a heart for the orphan. You don't have to adopt to come alongside the orphan, there are many ways to serve. I would encourage you to pray, ask the Lord where you fit in His plan for the orphan. The Lord will direct and sustain you.

"...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31