Hutch Speaks in Less Than 3 Weeks

In less than 3 weeks Dr. Ken Hutcherson will be coming to Spokane to speak.  On Friday, January 27th, "Hutch" will speak on, "What can we do TOGETHER that we could never do SEPARATELY."  You might not know anything about Ken Hutcherson.
Here is a piece of Hutch's "testimony":
He says, "Enduring segregation and discrimination, being told he wasn’t good enough, having to sit at the back of the bus and being physically violated reinforced Ken’s point of view. It forced retaliation. It forced hatred. “I was driven by hatred. Driven.”  How is it then that "Hutch" is now married to a white German lady and has "German Chocolate" children?  How is it that "Hutch" pastor's a church where 65% of the congregation is white?  He says, “Love changed me.”
Watch more of his story here:

January 27th OFF The WALL Meeting

I'm already very excited about our upcoming OFF The WALL Meeting in January.  Ken Hutcherson or "Hutch" is coming to Spokane to speak on the topic of "What can we do Together that we could never do Separately."  A very appropriate message to all of us in the church.  Here is some more information.  I've got posters and brochures.  If you would be interested in circulating the word let me know and I will get you some promotional material.

Talking to your child about their adoption

On Sunday we celebrated one year since the launch of OFF The WALL Ministry.  We had our fourth OFF The WALL Meeting.  Our first meeting was in December of 2010 where we spent time praying about what God would have the people of CTR do in the area of orphan care ministry; a ministry we felt was precious to the Lord.   The result of that time of prayer was the decision to start a bi-monthly (once every other month) meeting to support and encourage families in their adoption or foster care journey.  We realized that there is often much emphasis put on the PRE-adoption journey but that families often need even more help and encouragement in the POST-adoption journey.  There should be attention paid to both aspects of the journey.  We want to be a resource and an encouragement to families in all aspects of orphan care.

In June, Carey Hughes (pastor at CTR) gave a talk on "Why Christian's Should Adopt."

In September, Gary and Carli Robinson gave a talk on "Journeying Through Adoption: The Privilege and The Cost."

On Sunday evening, Greg and Terri Bade spoke on "Talking to Your Kids About Their Adoption."  One of the highlights of the talk was hearing three of the Bade's children share some of their adoption story.  Greg and Terri shared with us "9 BEs".

Here they are:

1. Be Open - Keep communication lines open, let your child know it is safe to discuss their adoption with you.

2. Be Honest - Don't embellish the story to make all the hard spots rosy.  Find a way to put the hard spots in as graciously as you can.

3. Be Brief - They do not need all the details at one time.

4. Be Discerning - Answer only what they are asking.

5. Be Age Appropriate - Keep your story to their age level.  You can add details as they get older.

6. Be Positive - Always honor birthparents.  Show God's plan.

7. Be Flexible - They want to talk when you least expect it.

8. Be Protective - Their story is precious to them.  Keep it special.

9. Be Gospel-Centered - This is the story of what God did in their lives.  Point them always to HIM.

The Bades did a fantastic job of sharing their wisdom with us in a transparent way.  They have much experience to bring to the table having brought 10 children into their family through many different adoption avenues.  One of the endearing qualities about the Bades is that they don't try to present an image of "having it all together."  How could you with 10 kids running around, right?

What a joy it was to see families coming from many different churches.

Looking forward to our next meeting as well on Friday, January 27th.  That will have to be for the next post.  Wait for it.  It's going to be exciting.

Next PROTECT Meeting Coming Soon....

OFF The WALL
P.R.O.T.E.C.T.

(People Responding to Orphans Through Encouragement, Care and Training)

SAVE THE DATE:

November 13, 5:30 pm at Christ The Redeemer Church

"Talking to Your Child about Their Adoption."

 So you've paid the money, finished the piles of paperwork, prepared the adorable bedroom and brought you new child home.  Now what?  Everyone is asking questions.  As soon as he can talk, your child begins to ask questions.  How do I help my child deal with the issues that brought him or her to us?  And how do I help them to listen to and process everything they hear about adoption?  Greg and Terri Bade, who have (only by God's grace) adopted 10 children, will share with us together about how they have gently, but openly talked over the years to their children about adoption and most specifically about their adoptions.  Greg and Terri will try desperately before November 13th to talk one or two of their older adopted kids into speaking to you as well, but this we all can only hope will happen!!  (Greg and Terri have adopted from Romania, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, U. S. private attorneys and the foster care system.)

Childcare and Dessert will be provided.  Please RSVP if you need childcare.

For future PROTECT meeting events and other orphan care resources check out: http://CTRorphancare.blogspot.com/

Contact: Jason Wiens  -  jandm@webband.com

Adoption: The Privilege and The Cost

Our last meeting was on September 18.  The Robinsons did an excellent job of sharing how their adoption journey over the past 25 years has been a privilege mixed with pain.  They showed us clearly that God has worked in their life to bring beauty out of brokenness.  I had hoped to video tape their talk but I had technical difficulties.  Recently I ran across a couple of resources that I would like to share in the vein of, "The Privilege and The Cost."

First, is a video put out by Empowered to Connect.  Dr. Karyn Purvis shares about "Counting The Cost of the Journey."  Here is their synopsis:

The adoption and foster care journey is filled with joy, blessings and beauty. But it is a journey also marked by loss, pain and challenges of various kinds. As a result we must be mindful to 'count the cost' of traveling this journey. Watch as Dr. Karyn Purvis encourages parents to 'count the cost" as they engage the adoption and foster care journey in a way that leads to hope and healing.

Counting the Cost of the Journey from Tapestry on Vimeo.

The second resource is a blog post by Russell Moore.  The title of the post is "Don't Adopt."  That sounds a bit harsh but I encourage you to read the post and catch his heart.  Here is a short snippet from his post:

If you want your “dream baby,” do not adopt or foster a child: buy a cat and make-believe. Adopting an orphan isn’t ordering a consumer item or buying a pet. Such a mindset hurts the child, and countless other children and families. Adoption is about taking on risk as cross-bearing love. 

For years, I’ve called Christian churches and families to our James 1:27 mandate to care for widows and orphans in their distress, to live out the adoption we’ve received in the gospel by adopting and fostering children. At the same time, I’ve maintained that, while every Christian is called to care for orphans and widows, not every Christian is called to adopt or foster. As a matter of fact, there are many who, and I say this emphatically, should not....

Foster Care Crisis in Spokane

With permission from the Foster Parents Association of Spokane, I am reposting an email they sent to me today.  Please spread the word to any friends you know of who might be considering foster care or adoption.

"CALL TO ACTION TODAY

Attention Spokane Community:  We are in a crisis.  We need more foster homes willing to take children now.
Here are the facts:
Placement Staff in Spokane County (Homes Finders) have placed 253 children in the last 3 months alone!  This is a dramatic increase over previous years.
Home Finders had to call 9 homes before they could find a home for a newborn baby.
Home Finders have had to separate sibling groups including a set of twins because we do not have enough homes.

We need your help today!

Here is your call to action.  Every foster parent recruit one new home by October 15th .  Please take this call to action and email me back that you will commit to recruit one new home by October 15th.  Orientation is scheduled for October 18th.
Together we CAN make a difference for the children of our community!

Linda Rogers, Regional Foster Parent Recruitment Coordinator 

509-389-7192

Please forward this Call To Action to your email list.

Visit www.fpas.org for contact information, training, etc."

You can read this news article if you want to read this information in a slightly different format.

P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Meeting Tonight

P.R.O.T.E.C.T.

(People Responding to Orphans Through Encouragement, Care and Training)

eeeeeeeeee

September 18, 5:30 pm at Christ The Redeemer Church

1523 W. Mallon Ave.

"Journeying through Adoption: The Privilege, The Cost"

 Few parents anticipate the journey ahead after adopting a child. Like Abraham, parents obey God's calling and go into this unchartered territory with faith and excitement.  Gary and Carli Robinson have traveled life with six adopted children the past 25 years and continue to learn about God's grace, sovereignty, promises, and forgiveness.  They would like to share their story of privilege and cost with you.

Childcare and Dessert will be provided.

For future PROTECT meeting events and other orphan care resources check back.

Contact: Jason Wiens  -  jandm@webband.com for any questions.