Christian Adoption: Opening hearts and homes to orphaned children

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 1:27, ESV

Due to be released in February of 2012 is the documentary “Rescued: The Heart of Adoption and Caring for Orphans” created by Wintons Motion Pictures and Hedrick Brothers Productions. The film challenges the Church and Christians to take a greater role in caring for orphans through adoption while exploring its common “thread” with missions:

"Today, over 130 million children have lost one or both parents, and every 18 seconds, another child in the world becomes an orphan. In America, 114,000 children in the foster care system are currently waiting to be adopted, and an estimated 65,500 of those children have been adopted by homosexual parents. These staggering statistics should cause Christians to ask some probing questions. What would Christ’s church look like if we acted upon James 1:27 which states that “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world”. Why is it that the church at large doesn’t talk much about adoption? How can the church come alongside families who have chosen to adopt? Do adoption and missions have a common thread? This film will attempt to answer those questions. In it you will meet some extraordinary families who will take you on their adoption journeys. You will see how God has worked through adoption to challenge and deepen their faith and dependence on God alone, strengthen their family bonds, defy cultural norms, and give them a firsthand account of God’s incredible love toward us in adopting us into His family and calling us His children. This is a battle against the forces of darkness. Adoption isn’t charity, it’s war." (Excerpt from: Rescued: The Movie, Synopsis)

The official trailer for the documentary can be seen on Vimeo and the full length DVD is available for pre-order at the website of Rescued: The Movie.

AdoptionJourney.com is a newly launched website created to help families through the process of adoption and is a collaborative effort between Bethany Christian Services, Lifesong for Orphans and Lifeline Children's Services.  This service helps families considering adoption by providing information on topics such as:

• Finding Answers
• Adoption Stories
• Domestic vs. International
• Make It Work Financially
• Talk With A Family
• Hearing the Call to Adopt
• Keys to a Smooth Process
• Move Towards Adoption

Helpful resources for those in Illinois who are exploring adoption is the Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois whose history dates back to 1873 and Angel's Cove, a ministry of the Baptist Children's Home and Family Services (BCHFS) located in Mount Vernon. Both organizations offer help with domestic and international adoptions.

In conclusion, Psalm 68, verse 5 tells us that our Heavenly Father is a “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows...” May our prayer be to become more like Him, Amen.