The Greatest Gift
November 26, 2018
adoption community, Beyond Adoption, Megan V., National Adoption Month, orphan ministry, other ways to care for the orphan
This November we are highlighting the work of NGOs in China doing work on behalf of orphans. I have absolutely no first hand knowledge of any. How can this be? Meredith Toering is one my favorite Instagrammers, but I don’t know her or the precious work she’s doing for kiddos with heart issues beyond that. …Read More
Holistic Care, Family Preservation & Community Advocacy: The Mission of ICC
November 18, 2018
Beyond Adoption, child sponsorship, family preservation, International China Concern, NGOs, orphan ministry, other ways to care for the orphan
Precocious Bobby grinned ear-to-ear as he crunched the delicious corn his chubby fingers had threaded onto skewers not long before. Through his special education class at International China Concern (ICC), he learned about… • Planting and harvesting from ICC’s on-site garden. • Washing and preparing food together as family. • Temperature and cooking in the …Read More
Returned to the Orphanage: the Children of Guangdong
May 21, 2017
Children Who Wait, Lifeline, orphan ministry, other ways to care for the orphan
On March 21st, I came across a post from Lifeline’s China program director that said: “Please join us in praying for the precious children who are being cared for in our Foster Center in Zhanjiang, China. Because of some new laws being implemented this year in China, we were notified very unexpectedly last night that …Read More
Love Stories: A Beautiful Thing
April 30, 2017
April 2017 Feature - Love Stories, Beyond Adoption, foster care, Harmony House, NGOs, orphan ministry
We are so quick to fill in the blanks, aren’t we? We get one part of a story, and we use our imagination to complete the rest. But it’s too simplistic to do that with the care of orphaned children halfway around the world… to see an image and create a tragic narrative, hear a …Read More
Stay the course. Help is on the way.
April 27, 2017
a father's perspective, adoption community, orphan ministry, Randall
In an article posted by on orangeblogs.com it’s noted that 90% of people with special needs do not attend church. A study concluded in 2014 shows that 1 in 6 people in the US have a diagnosed special need. That means for my small city of 160,000 people there are roughly 26,000 with a diagnosed …Read More
Love Stories: What I Saw When I Stopped Searching
April 25, 2017
April 2017 Feature - Love Stories, Beyond Adoption, Kelly, orphan ministry, other ways to care for the orphan
We are so quick to fill in the blanks, aren’t we? We get one part of a story, and we use our imagination to complete the rest. But it’s too simplistic to do that with the care of orphaned children halfway around the world… to see an image and create a tragic narrative, hear a …Read More
Love Stories: A Second Chance
April 24, 2017
April 2017 Feature - Love Stories, foster care, Lifeline, orphan ministry, other ways to care for the orphan
We are so quick to fill in the blanks, aren’t we? We get one part of a story, and we use our imagination to complete the rest. But it’s too simplistic to do that with the care of orphaned children halfway around the world… to see an image and create a tragic narrative, hear a …Read More
On the Ground in China: Prayers Answered
January 24, 2017
agency-orphanage partnership, AWAA, Beyond Adoption, medical mission trip, orphan ministry, other ways to care for the orphan
Prayers answered overnight, relationships forged, and a path cleared to serve more than twice the number of children planned – this is the incredible impact of a recent medical mission trip to help orphans in China. On this recent trip, Dr. Kanhka Linthavong and his team saw God work in powerful ways. The group of …Read More
On Medical Mission: Telling the Stories of Orphans with Special Needs
October 4, 2016
agency-orphanage partnership, AWAA, Beyond Adoption, medical mission trip, orphan ministry, other ways to care for the orphan
Dr. Kanhka Linthavong is a North Carolina doctor with a huge heart for adoption. His family is in the process of adopting a child from China, and he loves how adoption demonstrates how God brings us into His own family. In just a few days, Dr. Linthavong will be traveling to China on a medical missions …Read More
Beyond Folded Hands: Praying for China’s Orphans
August 24, 2016
Beyond Adoption, Kelly, orphan ministry, other ways to care for the orphan
I’m not an artist. I’m better with words. At least, that’s what I’ve always believed, that’s what I’ve always told myself. I feel at home with a pen in my hand. It’s familiar and comfortable. I know what to do with it, and I am confident that the ink on the page will eventually produce …Read More
Beyond Adoption: Lifeline’s (un)adopted Foster Home
December 14, 2015
Beyond Adoption, December 2015 Feature - Beyond Adoption, Lifeline, orphan ministry, other ways to care for the orphan
In July 2014 thirteen precious children were moved from an orphanage in southern China to a new foster center called City of Grace, opened by Lifeline Children’s Service (un)adopted ministry. This new safe haven became a place where nannies greeted the children with open arms and welcomed these children worthy of love. Over the course …Read More
Orphan Sunday: An Answer to Prayer
November 29, 2015
Amy A., orphan ministry, Orphan Sunday, other ways to care for the orphan
Thanksgiving was just a few days ago, and I find myself reflecting on all that I am grateful for this year. I filled my belly with turkey, Mama’s dressing, corn pudding, and pies while sitting around a table with some of the people I love most. I celebrated the presence of my new son and …Read More
Three Ways the Church Can Support Adoptive Families
October 25, 2015
a father's perspective, October 2015 Feature - It Takes a Village, orphan ministry, Randall, supporting adoptive families
A MOST NEEDED ASSET According to research data, of the tens of millions of families who have considered adoption, only 5% have walked the process through to completion. Certainly, there are a number of reasons for this. Psychology Today notes financial burden, obstacles, legal red tape, and emotional turmoil as the leading deterrents in completing …Read More
Let Us Not Hinder
August 21, 2015
Desiree, orphan ministry
And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to …Read More
Prayer Mama
July 5, 2015
epidermolysis bullosa, orphan ministry, other ways to care for the orphan, Whitney
There are adoptive families of all sorts. Families who adopt and have biological children. Families who have only adopted children. Families who adopt more than one over several years. Families who adopt two at the same time. Families who adopt only one. Families who knew from the start that they would adopt one day, and …Read More
it’s my birthday and I want to do something wonderful. join me.
July 3, 2015
orphan ministry, Stefanie
This is a post from my personal blog. But I’m sharing here because it’s my birthday, and you’re my friends, too. And I think you have as much of a heart for the fatherless as I do. So welcome to a little birthday party, friend. I love it when it’s my birthday, because I get …Read More
A Baby Shower Half-a-World Away
June 13, 2015
Hannah, orphan ministry
Amy Carmichael wrote, “But God is the God of the waves and the billows, and they are still His when they come over us; and again and again we have proved that the overwhelming thing does not overwhelm. Once more by His interposition deliverance came. We were cast down, but not destroyed.” Over the past …Read More
Kingdom to the Chaos
March 9, 2015
adoption community, Amy A., orphan ministry
Exactly one year ago, I had the privilege of hearing Beth Guckenberger speak at Created For Care. While many things she shared became engraved in my heart, one of my favorites was her illustration of bringing the Kingdom to the Chaos. When God created the world, everything was good and in perfect peace. Then, Adam …Read More
Caring Creatively
November 21, 2014
adoption community, Advocacy, Desiree, orphan ministry, orphan prevention
November is National Adoption Month. Pretty cool, huh? You would think that this is primarily a “Christian holiday” but I’ve been thrilled to see the secular media highlighting adoption & foster care and even adoption ministries throughout the month. (See Huffington Post article HERE.) But adoption is just one, albeit amazing, facet of God’s call to …Read More
Stepping Up to Adoption/Orphan Ministry
May 23, 2014
orphan ministry, Rebecca
Amidst piling documents into our first dossier, we sensed that our adoption journey was to be a wider stretching. Beyond becoming mommy and daddy to three beloved gifts from China, God nudged us further. Our hearts enlarged for more kids than those to be in our family. We stood in our daughter’s social welfare institute …Read More