November 23, 2011 by jenni
For where two 
or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20
You know all last year, while we were fervently fundraising to complete our Journey for Joelle, I felt like the Lord continued to press on my heart that this adoption was going to be bigger than I could every imagine. Several, including a friend and brother-in-law, told me that this was NOT our journey but one necessary for others to both observe and partake in.
My life changed for the better in July of 2008 when we adopted our oldest daughter Juliese (China). Little did I know that a chain of events would begin to unravel; my passion for adoption was out of control. I just could not stop talking about adoption! Of course, along the way, I had to be reminded that diplomacy and tactfulness were attributes that I was lacking in. Though I unintentionally made some very uncomfortable, I still felt an eternal urge that churches, including ours, must do more. Sadly, I could see the “American Dream” preying on Christians as well. I had even had people in the ministry tell me that taking care of the orphans was not “their thing”. However, I knew what the Bible had to say about this issue; there were no gray areas when discussing the widow and the orphan. The following Bible verses are imperative commands not questions requiring a yes or no response:
You are the helper of the fatherless. LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more. Psalms 10:14,17-18
When you are harvesting your crops and forget to bring in a bundle of grain from your field, don’t go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all you do. Deuteronomy 24:19
Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. Isaiah 1:17
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. Proverbs 31:8-9
At times, I was so frustrated with God’s people that I wanted to thrust my daughter into their arms, so that they could experience first hand what the Lord had done for each one of us. Those who ask Jesus into their hearts do become adopted into the kingdom of God. Some of us, like both myself and my two daughters, have been adopted twice: once by our heavenly father and once by our forever parents.
Through these growing pains that both our church family and myself were experiencing, one does need to wait on the Lord. God’s timing is everything!
Three years later, four families in our church have adopted (domestic, foster care, and international) 
and several are in process of receiving their licensing to foster through our state or are waiting on adoption court proceedings. Above you will see a picture of a very large crowd . . . this was our Adoption Celebration, and five families, from our church, finalized their adoptions or were recognized for their recent adoptions. Prior to this grand celebration, an announcement was made on Orphan Sunday about an older gentleman who is using his retirement fund to build a house; once the house is sold and materials are paid for, the remaining funds will go to start an adoption fund. Our dream to see an adoption fund in our church is finally going to be a reality: more children, more forever families, and more souls for Christ!
The Journey for Joelle has ended, but there are many more adoption journeys to take? Every step of the journey is the journey. Where do you fit in? Is it fixing up a car to sell to help support someone who is able to adopt? Or maybe it is hosting a benefit dinner or just simply supporting those who are in the fundraising leg of the adoption journey. Maybe it is giving an adoptive family a call and asking how you can help support them? The Bible doesn’t specifically say that everyone has to adopt, but He does command us to make a difference in the orphans and widows’ lives.
And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. Matthew 18:5
DITTO to everything you just said !!
We are in Wells, Maine and trying to get people curious about more info about adoption. First attempt failed but we will continue to advocate for orphans.
WE are currently fund raising to bring our 2nd daughter home from India.
and can not wait to introduce her to her forever family.
Comment by cheryl m — November 25, 2011 @ 10:46 am