Last Saturday I witnessed an inspiring event at Scottsdale Bible Church. Hundreds of families came together to learn about adopting waiting kids from foster care.
Right now, there are more than 350 kids in the Arizona foster care system waiting for adoptive families and thousands more in need of safe and loving temporary foster homes. The stories shared about these orphans waiting for “forever families” were heart-wrenching, yet filled with hope and promise.
Several times we heard the phrase, “No child is ‘unadoptable.’ We just haven’t found the right family yet.”
One speaker asked the crowd, “How many of you are adopted?” A smattering of hands went up. Then, he read Paul’s words in Ephesians 1:3-10 emphasizing verse 5, “In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, …”
Again, he asked, “How many of you are adopted?” We all raised our hands.
Another speaker shared passionately about the need, boldly asking the crowd, “Do you have what it takes? Is God calling you?” After a brief moment of silence, a voice from the crowd spontaneously shouted the words, “I am!” and the whole place exploded in applause.
Last Saturday, 144 families started the process by getting their fingerprints done (see picture).
As we saw the line for fingerprints grow and stretch out the door, a mom of 9 (as she puts it “4 bio and 5 adopted”) leaned toward me with tears in her eyes and whispered, “Wow, what a blessing … this is so huge.”
If you want to know more about what you can do to support adoptive families or about becoming an adoptive family, check out Christian Family Care at www.connectonenow.org/adoption.