My fundamental identity is not found in the life I lived today, no matter how well I think I lived it. I have the privilege of working each day to bring justice to orphans, particularly the orphans of Ethiopia. There are approximately 10 million orphans in Ethiopia today, creating a huge need for physical support and for adoption. There are orphans as young as two years old who live on the street begging daily for food. James 1:27 says that one of the essential marks of true religion is caring for orphans in their affliction. I am committed both personally and vocationally to serving Ethiopia's orphans through our adoption program and orphan care ministry. It is certainly a great cause that is close to the heart of God. But my fundamental identity must not be found in my little work to bring a small measure of drop-in-a-bucket justice to Ethiopia's orphans.
My fundamental identity is found in the One who lived and died in my place, in the One whom God raised up from the place of the dead ones, in the One who is seated at the right hand of the Father. The One in whom the Father will unite all things, things in heaven and things on earth, is, amazingly, my fundamental identity. He is the One who savingly visited me in my affliction—affliction caused by my own sin and rebellion. Jesus frees me to do what little I can for the orphans of Ethiopia even when my efforts really amount to nothing when compared to the number of orphans who are in need. Fortunately, my identity is not found in what I do. It's found in who Jesus is and what he's done.
Here's the audio from my keynote address at the Adoption & Orphan Weekend sponsored by Colonial Baptist Church, Cary, NC. It's only 31 minutes.
God's Story of Adoption (right click / choose "save target as" to download)
You were born 11 years ago today. We can still remember the sense of awe we felt when we held you in our arms for the first time. We were parents! God had given us a beautiful little daughter! We could see in you the glory of a loving heavenly Father who gives unspeakably good gifts to His children. You were and continue to be glory in our lives, the glory of God.
Our prayer for you, Hannah, is that there would be an overabundance of glory in your life. Not the glory of fame or popularity or accomplishment or prestige, but the glory of God. May you daily know the glory of His goodness, the glory of His saving name, and the glory of His sovereign graciousness. May you be a woman who seeks for glory and honor—not the glory and honor of your name, but the glory and honor of God in Christ Jesus.
Our prayer is that you be satisfied with the glory of God, that it be your great delight, your single passion, your rock of contentment, and your joy in the face of an unknown future. May your life be filled with the glory of God.
Happy Birthday, Hannah! We love you!!
Scott Anderson recently produced a short film of some video footage that he's had for a couple years. It's his son Aiden pulling out his top-front tooth.
I love the music, the courage, and Aiden's blood dripping smile. This is where men are made. "Strength and honor." Awesome.
If you didn't get the chance to hear our interview today on Calling for Truth, you can stream the audio here or download it here. I first posted about this interview yesterday at my adoption blog.
Early today Kevin Boling and Paul Dean interviewed Laura Godwin (Director of Carolina Hope and adoptive mother), Dr. Voddie Baucham (conference speaker, adoptive parent and author of Family-Driven Faith), and me on the wonderful subject of adoption. If I may say so myself, it was an excellent interview. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing and learning from what Laura and Voddie had to say about this topic that is so close to the heart of God.
If you are interested in learning more about adoption and the relationship between spiritual and earthly adoption, let me encourage you to listen to this interview. Also, I am available to speak on theological adoption and its implications for the earthly practice of adoption in churches, Sunday school classes, and Bible studies, as well as conduct workshops. You can contact me through Carolina Hope’s office (go to our website’s contact page).
Program Update: With a population of approximately 80 million people, it is estimated that Ethiopia has between 4 and 5 million orphan. The situation is quickly becoming worse. It is believed that nearly half of Ethiopia's children will become orphans over the next four years. As a result of Ethiopia's orphan population, many, many children are available for adoption,
both boys and girls, infants and older children, siblings, and children with special needs. Compared to the process of adopting children from China or Guatemala the process in Ethiopia is much simpler.
Not only does Carolina Hope Christian Adoption Agency believe that adoption provides couples with the opportunity to build their families, we also believe that it is one beautiful way that Christians can care for Ethiopia's orphans in their affliction (James 1:27).
Our Ethiopia Adoption program will open officially in December. Families wishing to adopt from Ethiopia can submit an application now to begin the process. Call (864-268-0570) or email us (office@CarolinaHopeAdoption.org) for details about our Ethiopia adoption program .
(Carolina Hope is currently developing pages for our Ethiopia program at our main website.)
See Orphans, Adoption, and Fuling, China where I connect "caring for orphans in their affliction" with adoption.
My most recent blog interview about transracial adoption and the gospel is with J.B. Watkins, Senior Pastor of St. Roch Community Church, a multi-cultural congregation called to serve the St. Roch and St. Claude neighborhoods of New Orleans. Desire Street Ministries planted St. Roch Community Church in an effort "to replicate its model of incarnational ministry and indigenous leadership development." Danny Wuerffel, Executive Director of Desire Street Ministries, writes: "Desire Street Ministries exists—to revitalize impoverished urban neighborhoods through spiritual and community development. As a part of that mission, we consciously try to combat injustice and to share God’s heart for the poor." St. Roch Community Church was launched in January 2007 as a result of this mission. It is a community of believers that is committed to preaching the gospel in word and deed, discipling children, youth, and adults, and addressing the felt needs of these New Orleans' urban communities. Here's the link:
J.B. Watkins on Transracial Adoption and the Gospel
"The gospel word and the gospel community are essential. My heart needs to hear that word often if it is to be filled with 'inexpressible and glorious joy'. It is among the community of God's poeple that the word will be brought to bear on my life frequently and perceptively. It is through his word and among his people that the Holy Spirit works to break this sinner's heart and renews it so that I love God - truly, madly and deeply" (Total Church: A radical reshaping around gospel and community, p. 203).
I just posted this article at my adoption blog. It should generate some significant discussion about the use of adoption language.
Israel, God's son through adoption
Here are the opening two paragraphs:
An important biblical theme often overlooked by Christians is the sonship of Israel. When we hear the expression, son of God, we think of Jesus (as we should), but we forget that the first son of God mentioned in Scripture is the nation of Israel.Through the correspondence of two of Israel’s privileges listed in Romans 9:4 (”They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, and the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.”), we learn that God adopted Israel as His son at Mt. Sinai when He gave Israel the law. Israel officially became God’s son through adoption when He constituted Israel a nation at Mt. Sinai.
Here's the final paragraph:
Something to think about: Should this theological truth have any bearing on our adoption language? There are many who are opposed to calling a child who has been adopted an “adopted child.” They believe that the expression implies that the child is a second-class member of the family - whether or not the child is actually considered to be one. The line of reasoning goes like this: “adopted child” speaks of identity, whereas “child who was adopted” simply relates a historical fact about how the child entered the family. Opponents of the phrase “adopted child” say that a child’s entrance into a family through adoption is no more relevant to that child’s personal identity than the fact of a child’s coming into a family through C-section. Given this context, what bearing, if any, should the theology of this article, “Israel, God’s son through adoption,” have on our adoption language? We hope to address this issue in future posts.
Read the rest of the article here to find out what's in the middle.
If you are interested in learning about Desiring God's annual National Conference, Paul Edwards, of radio program God and Culture, recently interviewed Scott Anderson, Desiring God's Director of Events, about the conference. I wasn't able to attend this year's conference but have attended in the past and been richly blessed. You can download the interview here.
