AdamParker.org

Freedom Through Adoption

Filed under: Adoption, Justice

“Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:3-5

When I think of my life before Christ I think back to my high school years. You may think back to your years in college, your 20’s or 30’s or growing up in the church but never having experienced the love of the Father. Whatever the case, we were in bondage. Whether we were bound by ignorance, idolatry, or intellectualism we were slaves to sin, enthralled by the wisdom of the world yet searching for answers. Little did we know that the Father had His heart set on us and was actively pursuing our adoption as sons and daughters of the living God being brought into His family.

When my wife and I decided to pursue adoption we had no idea where to start. We had been praying for the ending of abortion and the ending of human trafficking for many years and hadn’t made the connection. We knew we wanted to see abortion end in the U.S., but had no grid for it actually happening. If abortion ended then there would be 3,700 additional unwanted babies in the world every day. On the other end of the spectrum, we were asking God for justice for the 100,000 minors involved in sex trafficking in the U.S. each year, most of which have been  involved in the foster care system.

John Piper says it like this “Adoption is greater than the universe. It was there before the universe, it is above the universe and it is the purpose of the universe.”

We then began to see the connection. Even as we were children and in bondage under the elements of the world, the Father sent His son to bring us into His family as adopted sons and daughters. The answer was there the whole time. Adoption at the horizontal level is rooted in adoption at the vertical level. What are we to do to answer the cry of the 3,700 children that are slaughtered in the womb each day? Prayer and Adoption. When the average age of girls entering sex trafficking in the U.S. is 12 years old and there are 122,000 kids in the foster care system WAITING for adoption, what must our response be? Prayer and Adoption.

We can change the destiny of a child. We can reach into the life of an 8 year old girl who next year might get sold into slavery and say “You are mine! Come be apart of our family.” We can physically and practically do this. Lives can be changed forever. Let’s be like our Father and give our lives, open our hearts and our homes and bring justice to those who have no hope.

This article was originally written for the Orphan Justice Center. You can see the original article as I wrote it on their website here: http://orphanjusticecenter.com/2010/08/09/freedom-through-adoption/.

Tags: Abortion, adoption, christ, foster care, freedom, Human Trafficking, Jesus

10 Easy Ways to Care for Orphans

Filed under: Adoption, Justice

I wrote this post last week for the Orphan Justice Center which you can find here, but I thought that many of you would also love to hear some of these practical ideas for caring for orphans that anyone can do. You don’t have to be working in an orphanage in a country that ends with “stan” to be someone who cares for orphans. You can do it right along with your busy schedule.

In America, the task of caring for orphans (which I define here as any young person who has lost their parents through death, abandonment, abuse or neglect) for the most part has been given over to the government and to some whose heart has been moved to action. Most Americans think that adoption is a great thing, but less than 4% of American families have actually adopted according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

In the scriptures we see over and over again God’s heart of justice for the fatherless and His command for all christians to care for orphans. However, much of the church in America has adopted a similar cultural norm of pushing this responsibility off to others and allowing the government to take the lead role.

So I thought I would give 10 easy ways to care for orphans in an ongoing way.

1. Pray for them

When you pray for orphans and for families who are adopting, you are partnering with God’s heart in such an incredible way. In Luke 18 Jesus says that those who cry out night and day will have “speedy justice.”

2. Partner Financially with the Parker Family

We are building a team of partners who want to see an adoption revolution. Our mission is to rescue, adopt and restore orphaned children and our partners are an integral part of making this happen. Click here to become a Partner with the Parker Family.

3. Give Finances to Adoptive Families

We have families in the OJC family who are currently adopting and you may also know families who are adopting. Adoptions range from $7,000 – $30,000 so it really does take a community to rescue a life. We are among many who are CURRENTLY RAISING FUNDS for Adoption. Click here to give towards our Adoption.

4. Help raise funds for Adoptive Families

The task of fundraising for adoption is a hurdle sometimes for adoptive families. Having people who will help raise those funds makes a huge difference for both the child and the family.

5. Give your time to help an adoptive family

At OJC we have people who are committed to giving their time and energy to help adoptive families. We call them FIA’s (Family Integration Advocates). They also give time and energy to training and becoming skilled in child development and caring for orphans who have come from less than optimal circumstances. You may have an organization that does this in a different way through mentoring or big brother / big sister. Either way, giving your time to care for a child can change their life forever. Click here for more information on becoming an OJC FIA >.

6. Volunteer 2-4 hours a week/month with a Organization that Helps Orphans

Many organizations that help orphans have ways that you can volunteer hours a week or hours a month. This can be anything from mowing a lawn, delivering food, helping with paperwork or providing respite care.

7. Volunteer to mow an adoptive families’ lawn

Don’t want to bother with an organization? Get involved yourself. Ask if you can mow a lawn, wash a car or help with a household project they are working on. Any amount of help you can give will go a long way for families who have adopted.

8. Sell unwanted household items on ebay and donate the proceeds

Again finances is an easy way to help, so find some unwanted household items… or even some valuable stuff and downsize! Donate that $50 you got from selling an end table or the $500 you got from selling that toolbox. Even a small gift goes a long way.

9. Ask your church to sponsor an orphan monthly or give towards an adoption.

Your church may already have adoption support on their radar, but if they don’t you can suggest it as a mission project! Saving the life of an orphan from an abusive, neglectful or abandoned situation will change their life forever. What better ongoing mission project than to get to the end of the year knowing your church has rescued x number of orphans!

10. Become an Adoptive or Foster Family

Consider becoming an adoptive or foster family. Visit an adoption agency or attend an adoption or foster care info meeting and find out more about adopting a child. You’ll find that adoption is easy. It’s not something that comes naturally, it may take some training and preparation and will stretch you like nothing else. But it’s putting one foot in front of the other and taking one step at a time. Adoption must be done and children need families, why not yours? Click here to find out more about becoming an OJC Family >.

Tags: adoption, Caring for Orphans, foster care, giving, Volunteer

Life with 5 Kids

Filed under: Adoption, Justice

You may or may not know this, but Stephanie and I recently brought 3 kids into our home. This has been such a roller coaster journey through the grand canyon and back, but well worth it. My wife is a champion Mom. She amazes me at how she is able to manage, encourage, and raise up 5 kids as well as teaching at the Daniel Academy AND homeschooling David and Manuel. She wrote a little about the last 6 weeks and I wanted to share that with you here.

Manuel, 6, Gerardo, 4 and Dana 2 came into our home 6 weeks ago. The beginning of their time here was very challenging. They weren’t used  to structure or discipline or bedtime and those three things are huge  parts of our family life. So, needless to say, the first couple of weeks held a lot of battle of wills. Overtime though the kids grew to not only obey our house rules, most of the time, but to actually enjoy the rules and the structure we have in place. They thrive on living within a schedule and we have seen much progress.

Manuel came to us very behind in school, but I have been homeschooling and he is making steady strides to catch up. He is also opening up and receiving our love more readily. Gerardo came to us hungry for attention and when we showered it upon he turned into this amazing  outgoing little boy who is the life of the party, A.K.A our house.  Dana was prone to many tempers in a day, but now her attitude is much more obedient and she is starting to really let her personality shine.  She loves to be girly and often has a half dozen hair clips in her hair and gets very upset if she isn’t wearing her favorite shoes and dress. Unfortunately, the 4 boys have their G.I.Joe’s attack her doll house, so her girliness is often thwarted by the boys. David is loving being the oldest. He is trying hard to be an example and all the kids are lucky to have him for a big brother. Noah, who has always been super social, has taken it to another level with these kids. He is loving the interaction with all his brothers and sister. Life to him is one big play date. Not everything is perfect and easy taking in 3 kids and going to a family of 5 overnight, but the positive far outweigh the negative and we love having these children in our home!

- Stephanie

Tags: adoption, Family, foster care, Justice

Race and Adoption

Filed under: Justice

It is 2009 and this is the year we have decided to walk out James 1:27 “Pure and undefiled religion is caring for widows and orphans in their distress.” We have recently completed our training in the Missouri Foster Care system and are preparing our family to bring in kids who have no home or family.

Most kids looking to be adopted or are in some type foster care system are non-caucasian. I came across a post today Randy Bohlender wrote about Why Race Doesn’t Matter that I found to be very insightful and wanted to share it with the rest of you. Enjoy.

Tags: adoption, foster care, Justice, orphans, race