I want to help orphans but I can’t adopt, what can I do?
Plenty!
When families go to adopt they meet many obstacles.
Finances:
Adoption is very expensive*, especially international adoption. An
international adoption can run upwards of $25,000. But if the Lord calls, you
go, whether you have that money or not.
Many qualifying families can set up “Adoption Funds” through organizations like Lifesong for Orphans or can apply for adoption grants from various orphan ministries. Still these places can only help as long as they have funds to give out.
If you would like to help adoptive families financially please visit one of the links below.
*Some domestic adoptions from the foster care system are not
very expensive.
Encouragement: Typically,
when someone announces that they are having a baby, everyone is very excited.
Typically, when someone announces they are adopting a child, everyone is very
concerned.
When a family enters into adoption, especially for the first
time, they are bombarded with new information and a flood of opinions,
suggestions, and their own fears. So the last thing they need is someone “loving”
them in worry. What these families really need is encouragement. Gentle
reminders of the truth of God’s word and the faith filled words of someone who
is completely convinced that no matter how hard this process is going for them,
they ARE in the Lord’s will.
Now this isn’t us running in to give them the
Perfect Christian Scripture Slap. (You know those people. You confess your
struggle and they condemn you with scripture because you don’t have it all
together.) No, that is certainly NOT what they need either. They need us; to
come alongside them, put our arm around their shoulders and say, “I’m with you.
I’m backing you up. And remember what the Word says, The Lord is my
strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my
heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.8 The Lord is their strength, And
He is the saving
refuge of His anointed. 9 Save Your people, And bless
Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, And bear them up forever. Psalm 28:7-9
Prayer: Every
adoptive family, whether they need financial help or not, need prayer.
When a family enters into adoption it seems that all hell breaks
loose on them and they need an army of prayer warriors to stand with them. A
child’s eternity hangs in the balance and there is a great battle for that
life. Some family's don’t have families, friends, or a church that will stand
in the gap on their behalf and they find themselves taking the brunt of the
battle alone. You don’t have to know a family or a child to pray for them.
Prayer is what we do here at Pages. We want to
give our families a voice and a platform so that they can share their prayer
needs.
Now don’t feel guilty if you don’t pray for all of the
families. There may just be one family the Lord has laid upon your heart and
that’s okay.
They don’t need our guilty or obligated prayers, wait on the
Lord for His words. When He gives you a burden to pray for a family or child
you aren’t going to be able to keep yourself from praying.
All of these things are needs, but the Lord has a specific
place for you, seek Him, and find out what that place is. We all have different
gifts and passions from Him that He wants to use.
Other ways you can help:
CASA Volunteers (Local 21+)
Casa Volunteers are regular people trained to advocate for abused and neglected children in court.
National Foster Parent Association (Local 21+)
Foster parents are people who have opened their homes to displaced children in their community.
CASA Volunteers (Local 21+)
Casa Volunteers are regular people trained to advocate for abused and neglected children in court.
National Foster Parent Association (Local 21+)
Foster parents are people who have opened their homes to displaced children in their community.
America's Kids Belong (Local all ages)
There are no unwanted children, just unfound families. This problem is solvable. And the answer is YOU. How will you join the story?
Dream Makers Project (Local, Financial Support)
You can make dreams come true for youth who have aged out of foster care.
Project 143 (Local Adults)
Project 143 is an international orphan hosting program. You do not have to be interested in adoption to participate in hosting a child/children.
His Little Feet (Local All Ages)
His Little Feet is an international orphan choir. You can support them through donations and shopping at their online store. You can also book them to sing at your church!
New Hope Foundation (Orphan Care, Financial support)
The New Hope Foundation works with special needs children in China, helping to provide surgeries and medical care, as well as comfort and love.
Urgent Financial Needs!
Hope for the Fatherless (Orphan Care, Financial support)
Transforming the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children in Ethiopia in and through the local community.
Love Without Boundaries (Orphan Care, Financial support)
Providing Healing, Education, and Refuge to Vulnerable Children Worldwide.
Ukraine Orphan Outreach (Orphan Care, Financial support)
Ukraine Orphan Outreach (U.O.O.) is a non-profit organization in Northern Colorado formed by adoptive parents and others with concern for the future of orphaned Ukrainian children.
Birthline (Northern Colorado)
Birthline of Loveland was founded as Birthright of Loveland in 1981 to serve the mothers, families and babies of those facing difficult decisions in their pregnancies. Even though their name has changed, their mission remains the same: "It is the right of every pregnant woman to give birth, and the right of every child to be born."
Birthline is a non-profit interdenominational organization, supported fully by generous donations and staffed almost entirely by caring volunteers.
There are many ways you can volunteer with Birthline or if you would like to donate baby supplies please visit: Birthline Loveland: Volunteering/donations
Maybe you're doing just exactly what you're supposed to be doing for these families. Prayer could be the answer and if you're getting many to pray - who needs monetary donations. They'll happen - be patient.
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