Recently in adoption Category

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)

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

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.

There are currently three adoption interviews over at Carolina Hope's adoption blog. Give them a read. They're all very good (in my humble opinion).

Thabiti on Transracial Adoption and the Gospel Interview with Dorothy Bode (adoptive parent and member of Bethlehem Baptist Church) Interview with Sherrie Eldridge, author and adult adoptee

On November 2 & 3, I will be speaking at the Adoption and Orphan Weekend sponsored by Colonial Baptist Church in Cary, NC. The weekend conference will cover a variety of topics, including:

domestic adoption international adoption adoption agencies orphan ministries foster care adoption support financial strategies

Many of these topics will be explored in workshops during break-out sessions.

I was given the honor of being the keynote speaker for the main general session on Friday night (and a workshop presenter for a Saturday session). The title of my message is "God's Story of Adoption." In it I will look at the story of redemption through the lens of adoption and draw out some implications for earthly adoption. It has been a very fruitful study.

Colonial Baptist Church has 4,000 weekend attenders and has sent conference invitations to 300 churches. So the conference should be well attended. Several other adoption agencies will be there as well. It promises to be a great event. I've been very impressed with Colonial's passion for adoption to the glory of God. I'd love to see you there.

Registration for the event is $5/person. You can register at Colonial's Adoption and Orphan Weekend page. Read more in the attached flyer.

(Other adoption events, included Carolina Hope's workshops in Greenville, SC, are regularly posted at our Adoption Education Workshops page.)

Carolina Hope Christian Adoption Agency currently has programs in Azerbaijan, China, Guatemala, and Cambodia (Cambodian adoptions are only available to non-U.S. residents). In December our Ethiopia Adoption program will open. Families wishing to adopt from Ethiopia can submit an application now to begin the process. Because laws in Ethiopia do not place unnecessary restrictions on intercountry adoption, young babies in need of homes are available (older children are available as well), and the process from matching to adoption of a child takes only a few months. Call us for details (864) 268-0570 or email office@CarolinaHopeAdoption.org.

(Carolina Hope is currently developing pages for our Azerbaijan and Ethiopia programs at our main website.)

Many thanks to the following blogs for linking to my interview with Thabiti Anyabwile over at from hope to reality:

Desiring God Gospel-Centered Pious Musings Hantla.com Spirit of Adoption Like a Tree Planted Place of Grace Practicing Theology A Full House Between Two Worlds The Littleton Family Tim Challies Adoptive Dads Expanding the Albertsons Serve Holly Springs Provocations & Pantings In Light of the Gospel Spirit of Adoption The Wrestling Mat Thoughts from the Teahouse Pensees In All Things...God's Glory Adoption Resource Vapor in the Wind

If I missed anyone, please e-mail me about it and I'll gladly add them to the list (danc[at]CarolinaHopeAdoption[dot]org).