I'm Adopted

I'm adopted. My husband, Mike, is adopted too. See in God's word to us He tells us that we were orphans and if we believe and put our trust in Him through Jesus, we are no less of a son or daughter of God than Jesus himself. It's not just one verse either, it's all over the place in the Bible.

Ephesians 1 says "In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved."


It's crystal clear to me that all over the Bible, Old Testament and New, the Lord commands us to care for the fatherless. One way (not the only way) to do that is adoption, which then becomes a living, breathing picture of the gospel. I'm a big fan of that.

A family in court on National Adoption Day

So last night in my life group meeting we heard more incredible stories of the amazing way that God is moving through the church and through people who love Him to rescue some of the fatherless. I learned how one couple I know decided to take a deaf child from China and how they and their children are learning to sign. Their biological boys want to go with them to China to get their brother and have worked amazingly hard and brought friends and teachers together to raise $2500 so far. I heard about how non-believers have been moved to help.

I also heard stories about leaps of faith my friends are taking, first steps to answer God's call without being able to see much of the road ahead at all. Obeying despite major doubts and resistance. Of course there was also the "no news is bad news" part of the adoption process, because for most couples the wait is painfully long. Longer than a pregnancy. Patience and perseverance are essential and cultivated through the process. God may be using these people to rescue the orphaned children on His heart but He also uses the process to nurture and grow the would-be parents.

Apparently I wasn't the only one who was inspired by all these stories last night because today I found out another couple called today to get started on the process of becoming foster parents. My heart is just full of joy over this news.

So naturally I'm all about finding ways to support these people, my personal friends, as they tackle the hard road ahead God has called them too. But I'm also about supporting people I don't really know that well when it comes to adoption and orphan care. So here's something I've already done that you could do too.

Musician and advocate for Compassion International, Shaun Groves, decided recently to pursue adoption from Ethiopia. Through unusual circumstances his family welcomed a little boy last week, earlier than expected. He's having to cancel some appearances to ensure this boy gets a good start in their home, so he's asking people to pre-order his fantastic new CD, Third World Symphony, which releases at the end of August. Read his story, give the album a listen, and buy it...it's really great.

Pretty please go buy the album. And pray...for every would-be adoptive family and orphaned child in the world.