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WATER OF LIFE. ADOPTION & FOSTER CARE PROPOSAL …. PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION …. Since 1990, NOVEMBER has been declared … NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH ORPHAN SUNDAY IS THE 1 st SUNDAY OF NOVEMBER
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WATER OF LIFE ADOPTION & FOSTER CARE PROPOSAL …
PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION … Since 1990, NOVEMBER has been declared … NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH • ORPHAN SUNDAY IS THE 1st SUNDAY OF NOVEMBER • MAJIC MIRACLES IS MOBILIZING CHURCHES, FAMILIES & YOUTH TO BECOME INVOLVED IN SOME WAY, BIG OR SMALL, REGARDLESS OF AGE, MARITAL STATUS OR FINANCIAL SITUATION!!!!
Statistical Facts Every 36 seconds OR 120 beats of your heart … …a child is placed in foster care… 1/3 of adoptions through foster care are by SINGLES! 23 % of foster/adoptive parents are 55 years plus. 65,000 kids were adopted by gays/lesbians last year. • In the USA . . . 450,000 kids in foster care 118,000 waiting to be adopted… 30,000 turn 18 without a home or family. In California ….. There are 22,000 churches 15,000 kids waiting to be adopted • Fos/Adopt children receive Financial/Medical assistance until age 18. • The Adoption Tax Credit has been increased to $13,000. • Funds are available through Foundations, Scholarships and Grants CHILDREN ARE WAITING … FOR A FAMILY TO LOVE THEM! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
Partnering with Organizations • “Wait No More” – Focus on the Family • “The Cry of the Orphan” – Hope for Orphans • “Do Something”– Youth with a Cause • “Finding Families For Children” - Holt International • “If You Were Mine” – Family Life Today • “Answering the Call” – Adopt Us Kids • It’s not WHETHER you are called to Do Something, • The question is WHAT are you called to DO?
WHAT YOU CAN DO PROVIDE CARE for a foster child!!!!!!!!!! Provide Respite care for a Foster Family !!! • Adopt! Be a CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocate Be a Torchbearer … (Come to a workshop and learn about being a …) PRAYER PARTNER – (Small Groups) SERVICE PARTNER – (Youth Groups) FINANCIAL PARTNER – Groups/Individuals GUIDANCE PARTNER - For aged-out youth
WHAT OTHER CHURCHES ARE DOING… • Texas – First Baptist Church, Brenham - church of 800 adopted 41 children www.orphanministries.com • Washington State – Antioch Bible Church – www.antiochadoptions.org Offer Free Adoptions/Loans/Grants through their Church Fund • Florida – Fort Lauderdale – www.4kidsofsfl.org • Arkansas – “Children of Arkansas Loved for a Lifetime” www.thecallinarkansas.org. (MUST SEE VIDEO CLIP!) California – Grace Brethren Church – Long Beach, CA (John Moore) Adopted 50 children from Uganda that were orphaned by AIDS Saddleback Church – Lake Forest, CA (Pastor Rick Warren) Foster Care & Adoption Ministry
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS... • Matthew 25:35 “I was hungry and you fed me I was thirsty and you gave me drink I was a stranger and you took me in (Foster care/adoption) I was shivering and you gave me clothes. (Doer vs. hearer) What you do to the least of these, you do unto me.” • James 2:15 “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says, ‘Keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” • John 13:14-17 Jesus last act before the crucifixion was washing feet and He said He did it as our example and then He says, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” Now that you know the need to not only feed and cloth children, but embrace them into your own home and family, you will be blessed if you do it! One in 4 homeless people are children!!!
What others say… • Russell Moore in his book, “Adopted For Life” “Adoption is NOT Plan B for infertile couples, It is Plan A of the Great Commission Mandate.” Serenity Infant Care Homes in Covina says, “Be a Be a Be a Missionary in Your Own Home” • Bishop W.C. Martin in “Small Town, Big Miracle” 200 member church in Texas adopt 72 kids Reclaiming Adoption – God does not command us to adopt, but He does command us to care for the orphan (fostercare?)
YOUTH …Doing Something • Little Girl/Big Heart - 7-yr old Isabelle from Kansas raised thousands of dollars to build orphanages by selling greeting cards.. • ABC News – 9 yr old Brittany saves her two sisters, ages 1 and 3, by calling 911 because there was no food in the house and their parents were on drugs- they were later adopted by their Foster Parents. • “Show Hope - The Movement” is spreading throughout high schools sponsored by Steven Curtis Chapman to help orphans & foster children • “Feel Good” started by two college gals selling grilled cheese sandwiches on college campuses and have raised thousands of dollars to feed the hungry • “MAJIC Miracles” …Michael & Joseph Salomon, teenage brothers, foster care and adoption advocates. Email them at majicmiracles@live.com Eccl. 12:1 – “Remember your Creator in the days of your YOUTH.” I Tim. 4:12 – “Don’t let anyone look down on you because U R YOUNG.”
November is National Adoption Month ADOPTION ROCKS!!! Mission Statement – Unite children with families who can provide a safe, loving home. Assist families in overcoming the fear factor of fostering/adopting by equipping them with knowledge and support. Vision Statement – Every church in America will “Do Something” to reduce the number of foster care children waiting to be adopted by providing care, provision, placement and prevention. WWW. MAJICMIRACLES.COM “BRINGING MIRACLES TO CHILDREN BY THE MAGIC OF LOVE”