Antioch Adoptions Fundraiser

Smiles for Antioch Fundraiser

Sunday, May 20, 2012, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Location: Finch Arboretum

Sign-up on-line at http://www.lifecenter.net/event/2012-05-20-smiles-for-antioch-fundraiser/

For a $25 donation you get:

• professional photo session
• one 8x10
• two 5x7

Great gift idea for Mother's Day or Father's Day. Proceeds help cover the cost for home studies. Together we can make a difference.

About Antioch

Antioch Adoptions is a nonprofit, no-fee adoption agency bringing adoption to more families. Community donations help families adopt orphans lingering in the foster Care system.

Help change the face of adoption.

Register now by clicking on the link above.

Adopted by Design

America World Adoption will be hosting a free adoption seminar entitled "Adopted by Design".  This multimedia program will address what God's Word says about adoption.  You will hear families share their personal adoption experience and see the love that defines what it means to be a mother and a father.  You will also see a moving Hallmark presentation of Steven and Mary Beth Chapman's story of adoption.  It will take place Monday June 11th  6:30-8:30 pm at Immanuel Baptist Church, Spokane, WA 99205.   
Please visit:  www.awaa.org/events or call 1-800-429-3369 to register.

ADOPTION: Authentic Christianity in a Culture of Disposable Children

Christ The Redeemer's, Pastor Carey Hughes, gives a thought provoking talk "Adoption: Authentic Christianity in a Culture of Disposable Children" at the first Spokane Orphan Summit two weeks ago. I encourage you to take the time to listen.

God Working Through the S.O.S.

One of the stories that came out of the Spokane Orphan Summit (held April 21st at Faith Bible Church) is written below.  This couple gave permission to share this story as an encouragement to others who might find themselves in a similar situation.


Written on April 25th:
I (Amber Copelin) wanted to email and share with you what happened this last weekend and how God used the S.O.S. to change a man and his true north with his family.

Since I was little I knew I had a passion for adoption. As I grew the dream faded and life stepped in. A few years ago I began working with state foster care children. That dream and passion that had once faded was alive and blazing in my soul, I became broken for their precious hearts. I wanted to change the world one child at a time for God’s kingdom. I was broken for these little lives and wanted so desperately to rescue them all. There was one boy in particular who grabbed my heart and I knew I couldn’t sit by no longer.

I would share my heart and my desire with my husband to no avail. He was absolutely positive, for various reason, our family was done growing and that we were still trying to get the last two kids at home raised and out so we could continue our dream of traveling the world. A few times I pleaded and said I would give all my earthly dreams up if it meant saving just one child. My husband was supportive of my heart but firm in his no and encouraged me to help any other way I could but to not keep asking to adopt. At first I was hurt and mad and I even remember telling him I was going to pray and have God change his heart, out of  my anger. Well needless to say God changed my heart towards my husband on this issue and I found peace in this. 
I would continue on, time would pass, and by this time I was volunteering for Antioch Adoptions. The dream and passion was still alive and my heart was to still see all of these children have forever homes with others who would love them as much as I did.
 My husband would get involved working behind the scenes with me, he even played Santa for some foster kids. I was so in love with his heart to be supportive of me and in his way for these sweet children. 

Then last weekend our family was changed forever. 

Here, in part, is the story of one man and his family finding there true north together.
(taken from a letter he (Kevin Copelin) wrote to our friends)

A little over 2 years ago, Amber started working in a position where she was daily exposed to kids in the foster system. A couple times, she tried to convince me that we should consider adopting one; real easy answer was, “that will NEVER happen”. I had various reasons, admittedly some were quite selfish, but there was no way we would ever be united on that decision. Amber accepted my answer and never nagged me about it, she just kept praying; she didn’t tell me she was praying, though I should have known because she normally does not fight fair. 
The more she has gotten involved, with various foster programs; I have encouraged her hoping it would satisfy her desire to bring them all home. I have gone to a few support planning meetings and, this past weekend, attended an Orphan Summit SOLELY for the purpose of being a good husband and supporting my wife. The Orphan Summit was really not any new information but, as I sat there listening about the fact Washington State has 1,500 children who are legally free and awaiting a home, my heart was breaking for them. I was trying to figure out what program, what way I could help them without giving in on my stance that bringing one home would “NEVER” happen. There were other factors, that will have to wait for the expanded version of the story, that were really making me struggle with the idea that we were to bring one of these children into our home. Saturday afternoon, evening, and night, I was really wrestling with this idea; spent a good bit of time talking to God about it and trying to convince myself that I must have really lost my mind. Of course I could not talk to Amber about it; the slightest inkling would have raised her hopes too high for me to ever back down. 
Sunday morning, I felt confirmed that we are meant to give one of these children a home, to love them, protect them and raise them as if we gave birth to them ourselves; whatever sacrifice that involves, insignificant! Sunday afternoon I spent more time praying, reading my Bible, and really making sure that was what we are supposed to do. I finally decided to let Amber into what I was dealing with. As expected, she was joyous beyond terms. We are starting the paperwork and beginning a new journey that I would have not expected even 4 days ago. 
That leaves 1,499. Would anyone else like to join us in bringing that number down?

This is truly the readers digest story of what happened in my husband and our family this last week, but the ending is the same. We are starting the paper work to become a forever home to a child that God had a plan to be a part of our family from the beginning, a Copelin.


Amber Copelin has also written a book called "Will You Love Me When."

Next OFF The WALL Meeting June 3rd

NEXT OFF the WALL Meeting

Sunday June 3^rd, 5:30 pm - Christ The Redeemer Church

Dessert provided.  Please RSVP : Jason@SpokaneOrphanSummit.com

http://CTROrphanCare.blogspot.com

The Body of Christ Mobilized for Orphans:  Speaker -Anna Rowe

One of the benefits of being a Christian is that we are “adopted” by God and placed in a big crazy family.  The body of Christ is most beautiful when it works together.  For reasons that are unique and specific, some families are not called to adopt, others are called, but wait.  No matter what your circumstance the “Church” is called to care for the orphan.  There is a need, and as Christians we can share God’s love and mercy by stepping up and saying we care.

 The burden is great.

·         There are roughly 900 foster children on any given day in Spokane County.

·         There are approximately 11,100 children in the Washington foster care system.

·         2,800 children wait for a family to adopt them in Washington.

·         Approximately 400 children turned 18 last year and never found a permanent adoptive      home in Washington.

·         143 million orphans world-wide wait.

So what can the “Church” do?  We can speak up for the orphan, collaborate with agencies, and participate in the judicial system.  Give of our time, money and resources.  Sacrifice as Christ has.  Come learn how you can be involved with orphan care beyond adoption and join with the body of Christ.

ADOPTION: Authentic Christianity in a Culture of Disposable Children

Carey Hughes is Senior Pastor of Christ The Redeemer Church in Spokane, Washington. His heartbeat in ministry has always been for kids, having served as a youth pastor and family pastor for over twelve years. Carey and his wife, Tricia, committed themselves to be involved in adoption during their engagement, and after having four biological children, welcomed their first adopted child Josiah. Soon came Abby, Chaya, and Maddie bringing the family total to eight – thus far! 


The Hughes’ have considerable experience in both fostering and adopting through the state and now have helped to found an orphan care ministry at their church called  “Off the Wall,” so named for the early church’s practice of receiving discarded children left at the city wall. Carey and Tricia minister with the passionate conviction that if Christians want to share the gospel with authenticity and power in a culture filled with “disposable children,” Christians must give their support to providing foster care and adoption both here and around the world. 
Register at SpokaneOrphanSummit.com

Orphan Care: What God Could Do in the Churches of Washington (and Idaho)

Rick Valore leads a ministry in Colorado called Project 1.27.  Project 1.27's founder, Pastor Robert Gelinas said, 


“The body of Christ needs to come together to make sure there are no children waiting for homes in Colorado. It is a travesty that we have kids waiting for homes in our own back yards. That should never be the case….”  


To that end, this ministry seeks to mobilize churches to take care of orphans in the state of Colorado.  Since its beginning in 2008 the number of children waiting to be adopted from the foster care system has been cut in half.  The vision is to have no waiting children in the next 3 years.  Rick is coming to spread this vision of no waiting children to the Inland Northwest.  Come and hear his talk, "Orphan Care: What God Could Do in the Churches of Washington (and Idaho)."


More details for the conference are available at http://SpokaneOrphanSummit.com
Please register today.