Mark your calendars and plan to join us in Minneapolis, MN on April 29-30. This annual national event has become an in-person hub for the Christian orphan movement. Summit VI will bring together high-level speakers and in-depth training on all aspects of "defending the orphan," including local church ministry, adoption, foster care, and global orphan care. This event is a must for any who desire to create or expand effective orphan ministry. Registration will open soon! If you would like to travel and attend the conference with others from A Voice 4 His Children, please contact Dina at avoiceforhischildren@gmail.com.

HOPE FOR ORPHANS NEW CHILDREN'S CURRICULUM

God's Heart for the Orphan...and Me! is an exciting, interactive children's Bible study designed to expose the children at church and home to God's passion for orphans and waiting children.

The material engages children to discuss what God calls His followers to do for orphans. It also offers tools to enable kids to take action and start making a difference in other children's lives right away through a brand new website, HopeforOrphansKids.org.

This flexible study can be done in one day or several shorter sessions. The complete classroom kit includes a booklet for each child, discussion questions, fun activities, and more! God's Heart for the Orphans...and Me! will expose the children in your church to God's heart and empower them to live it out.

For more information, visit http://www.hopefororphans.org/.

Foster Care Mom's Coffee Gathering

An Invitation.....

Who: Current or prospective Safe Families Foster Moms, DCFS Foster Moms, and Moms who are interested in playing a supporting role even if they are not
fostering children themselves.

What: Come and enjoy a time of sharing foster care experiences and ideas.

When: Wednesday, December 2nd, 9:30 a.m.

Where: The home of Terri Hooker: 2000 S. Ela Road, Schaumburg IL 60195 (847-366-7502)

R.S.V.P. Terri at Thooker@americandooranddock.com.

Children are welcome. Please mention how many children you are bringing,
and their ages when you r.s.v.p.

Coffee, Tea and Pastries will be served.

Considering Adoption: Know the facts.

The following article, written by Katie Porter, is taken from the Focus On The Family Magazine 9/2008.

While more than one-third of Americans have considered adopting, no more than 2 percent have, often because of misconceptions and fears. Take a look at common fears surrounding adoption.

Adoption costs too much. A private infant adoption or an international adoption can range between $5,000 and $40,000. However, adoption from the U.S. foster care system has little to no costs. Families can also seek financial aid from adoption assistance organizations. Plus, the federal government offers up to a $10,000 tax credit per adopted child for qualifying families.

The birth parents might come back and take my child away. We've all heard the heart-wrenching stories of birth families who surface after a child has lived with an adoptive family for years. Those stories are the exceptions. In most cases, as long as an adoption agency or lawyer follows the correct procedures, the birth parents have no legal right to come back after the adoption has been finalized (their parental rights have been terminated by the court).

Foster care is different. Foster parents are trained to understand that the initial goal for most children is to reunite them with either birth parents or another relative. In a foster-to-adopt situation, the prospective adoptive family is made aware of the risk that the child may be removed from their home before an adoption is finalized. After adoption is finalized, the child is a legal member of the family.

I don't think I could love an adopted child like a birth child. Many adoptive families had the same fear; most of them will tell you that once they met their child, no one could deny he or she was meant to be part of their family.

The government will be in my home for life. In order to adopt, families must successfully complete a background check and a home study. The government's role is to ensure that children are placed in families who are a good, safe match for the child. Once the adoption is finalized, the government has no role whatsoever.

While adoption is a big decision, knowing the right information is the first step. Who knows - maybe the Lord will ask YOU to open your home to a child.

Katie Porter is an orphan care program manager at Focus on the Family.

For more information on Focus on the Family's Orphan ministry, visit http://www.icareaboutorphans.org/

Project Hopeful

The Twietmeyer Family

The following is a message from the Twietmeyer's who founded an adoption ministry called Project Hopeful that serves orphans that are HIV positive. Invite God speak to your heart as you check out their web site at www.projecthopeful.org.

Project HOPEFUL was born out of blessed ignorance. Realizing that the waiver process made no sense for our HIV+ children, but (some of us) not even knowing who our legislative representatives were, gathered some mothers on a mission and God took it from there. It took several mothers with the same vision to combine forces to help initiate change on behalf of our HIV+ children abroad. Nothing less than divine intervention lead us to McLane Layton of Equality for Adopted Children (EACH: www.equalityforadoptedchildren.org) to bring the specific needs of our children to the forefront and to bring attention to the necessary changes needed with regards to immigration. We are still the willing and blessed conduit between EACH and families dealing with the I601 waiver requirements and other immigration challenges for their HIV+ children. Project HOPEFUL continues to expect and accept nothing less than what is favorable and excellent for these precious children with HIV and their families, and we will strive to make things better for these precious little ones, those with families and those waiting for families. We continue to come alongside families called to adopt children with HIV. We are committed to EDUCATE, ENCOURAGE, and ENABLE families in ALL ways for the sake of the children and their blessed families.

It is our dream and vision that NO child affected by HIV is waiting for their forever home because of ignorance or lack of funding and to help to attend to the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs specific to these types of adoptions and children. We believe that the CHURCH has a special responsibility to God to care for orphans, to support families called to adoption, and to refuse to forget the children left behind. We continue to expect God's Divine touch on everything we set out to do for the sake of His kids and the families He appoints for them. We are committed to ALL adoptive families regardless of race, religion, or family composition, and humbly thank God for the opportunity to serve Him and HIS in this worthy quest.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted from the world. " James 1:27

Bartlett Press: Parents Spread Word About Adoption Options

Dina and husband Tom Ackermann pose with children Anna Lee and Mia at the Bartlett Public Library for its adoption informational meeting Monday night. On the table are scrapbooks of the family's adoption journey.

By Kristen Lepore, klepore@mysuburbanlife.com
Bartlett Press
Thu Nov 19, 2009, 02:32 PM CST


Bartlett, IL -

As a young woman, Bartlett resident Dina Ackermann remembers seeing a program on television about little orphan girls in China. She told herself that one day she would help the cause.

Years later, she and her husband tried having children of their own for about a year, but with no results, Ackermann said adopting a child from China was an easy decision.

“I’ve always wanted to adopt,” she said. “We needed kids, and there were kids who needed parents.”

The process of adopting her first child, Anna Lee, took about a year and a half. Through the agency Sunny Ridge Family Center, she and her husband went with a group of 10 other families to China to pick up Anna Lee when she was just 9 months old.

On Monday night, Ackermann organized an adoption informational meeting in honor of National Adoption Awareness Month (recognized in November) at the Bartlett Public Library. The Evangelical Child & Family Agency was on hand to present information about different types of adoption, and residents told stories of their personal experiences.

The goal of the meeting was to remove roadblocks and educate people who are thinking of adopting, Ackermann said. About a year ago, she began A Voice for His Children, a program based out of Willow Creek Community Church meant to spread information and support about adoption, foster and orphan care.

At Bartlett’s board meeting Nov. 3, Village President Mike Kelly read a proclamation declaring November as National Adoption Month.

“I really believe Bartlett is a very family-oriented community,” Ackermann said. “If they knew more about adoption, more people would adopt, foster or take care of an orphan.”

Representatives from the Evangelical Child & Family Agency said out of the 500,000 children in foster care, only 130,000 are able to be adopted, because of the long process it takes for children to become legally free from their biological parents. According to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, there were 16,160 children in foster care in June 2007.

Shortly after the Ackermanns brought Anna Lee into their family, they decided to adopt again.

“I knew I wanted another, but I didn’t know how I could afford it,” Ackermann said.

Fortunately, her neighbors held a silent auction and were able to raise $7,000. She and her husband were also able to use money from their 401K, because there is no penalty for withdrawing when the money is to be used for adoption — something most people are unaware of, Ackermann said.

Nine months later, she brought home 4-year-old Mia. After living in an orphanage for a year, Mia had spent three years with foster parents.

Ackermann and Amy Braido, co-founder of adoption advocacy group The Echo Foundation, both shared their stories of adopting older children internationally at Monday night’s meeting. Although there can be challenges, Braido encourages people to investigate the option.

“The fact that older children are less desirable did not sit well with me,” Braido said.

With three biological children of her own, Braido adopted her son from Ethiopia when he was 12 years old. The process took about eight months and despite negative stories she had heard, Braido considers her experience a success story.

Ackermann hopes A Voice for His Children will continue to dispel myths and share the truth about adoption.

“My calling right now is to lead A Voice for His Children and help others through their journey of adoption,” Ackermann said. “I want to break down barriers and hold people’s hands, because that’s what I needed.”

Support groups
http://avoiceforhischildren.blogspot.com/
http://www.echoministry.org/

Adoption agencies
http://www.adoptasoc.com/
http://www.worldadoptions.org/
http://www.lifetimeadoption.com/
http://www.awaa.org/

Special needs resources and photo listings
http://www.comeunity.com/
http://www.adoptuskids.org/
http://www.adoptamericannetwork.org/

Financial resources
http://www.showhope.org/
http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/
http://www.abbafund.org/
http://www.intlcare.org/

Short-Term Mission Trip

In 1996, my husband Tom & I had the opportunity to serve at Foundation For His Ministry (FFHM), an outreach to orphaned & abandoned children in Baja, Mexico. We traveled and served with a group of people from Willow Creek and the experience changed us forever.

Willow Creek is currently forming a serving trip to FFHM from April 24th-May 1, 2010. Volunteer work teams will have the opportunity to assist the mission in various work projects which could include light building construction, painting, cooking, cleaning, and babysitting. There are opportunities for evangelism outreach in the community as well. The cost per trip will be approximately $900. For trip details or questions, please contact the team leader at dvogieii@aol.com

I encourage you to prayerfully consider if God is calling you to this opportunity to make a tangible difference in the life of an orphan. For more information about FFHM visit their web site at http://www.ffhm.org/.

Drink Coffee. Help Orphans.

Gobena Coffee offers fresh-roasted gourmet fair trade, organic, shade-grown coffee delivered right to your door. We are committed to offering the finest quality coffees from regions around the world. Each coffee is skillfully roasted in small batches for peak quality and freshness.

In addition to experiencing the finest and freshest coffee, with each order placed, you are helping children throughout the world. 100% of the profits are being reinvested in the lives of orphan children through charity programs.

In the summer of 2007, we traveled to Ethiopia to adopt our little girl, Eva. When we were there, the contrast in cultures was amazing. Most Ethiopians were not wealthy, but were rich in their sense of community and closeness of their relationships.

Gobena, was 71 years old, when he found a baby girl placed in the yard near his home. "Because she is God's soul," Gobena and his wife, Mulunesh, took care of the baby girl for 20 days. Then they placed her for adoption to be in a family who can take care of her long-term. This little girl is now a permanent part of our family. She is truly a blessing from God, and always will be a reminder that there is always hope, as long as there are people who care enough.

Their sense of community and caring for others has inspired us to start this ministry where 100% of the net profits are reinvested in the lives of orphan children throughout the world. Each time you purchase a bag of coffee, you are providing hope and life to children who do not have parents caring for them.

So, invite some friends over for some coffee and feel good about the fact you're making a difference by choosing Gobena Coffee. For more information or to order coffee, visit www.gobena.org.


Gobena Coffee
Steve & Danae Lehman
28 Shiloh Street
Morton, Illinois 61550
(309) 846-5413

danae@gobena.org

A small Russian boy living in an orphanage, a widow living in Middle Tennessee, and a group of young people desperate for pure religion.

What could these three things possibly have in common? All three come together to play key roles in an exciting fundraising opportunity! Both Hands, through its partnership with Lifesong for Orphans is an organization dedicated to comforting widows and helping orphans. A group of friends, along with the adoptive family, fix up a widow's house and ask people to sponsor them. The money raised will be used to bring an orphan into his/her forever family. This is a win/win for everyone!

We believe adoption at its core is evangelism-a vital part of the Great Commission is bringing the mission field home. God desires orphans from all nations to be adopted into Christ-honoring families so they may ultimately be adopted into His eternal family through Jesus Christ. God calls us to fulfill James 1:27, "to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." Some are called to pray, some to give financially, some to go on mission trips, and some to adopt.


When families sense God's call and joyfully step out in faith and obedience , the financial barrier prevents many godly families from adopting. Lifesong believes God rises up these families "for such a time as this..." We have partnered with Both Hands to provide an innovative method to help remove the financial barrier to adoption.

All funds raised through the Lifesong/Both Hands partnership will be given to the adoptive family as a grant to cover their adoption expenses.

Your gift is tax-deductible and you will receive a tax-deductible receipt.

Thank you for investing in the Kingdom through prayer and finances - it will be an investment with an eternal return! (Matt 6:20)

Monthly Meeting Reminder

A reminder that our next gathering is Sunday, November 15, from 5:00 to 7 pm at Willow Creek Community Church. Room B105/107/109. *Please check the monitors at the entrance to verify the room number - for last minute changes*

We gather at our Safe Family/Foster Care Support Dinners to encourage and inspire each other. Whether you are a Foster Family providing front-line care or in a supporting role to those families with placements, we welcome your involvement and input as we fellowship, and share resources.

This month we are also welcoming Adoptive Families! We will have a time of fellowship at the beginning of our meeting to greet other families and get to know each other. We will split in two groups (SF/Foster and Adoptive) for the main session of our time together.

Safe Families and Foster Families will be welcoming Susan Vrenios. Susan is a Case Coach for the Safe Families at Lydia Homes and she will be sharing from her experience at Lydia Home!

Adoptive Families will be sharing a time with Dina Ackermann from A Voice 4 His Children.

Please bring a dish to share with fellow families. We will be providing sodas, water, coffee and tea.

Child care will be provided, please email (avoiceforhischildren@gmail.com)us with the number and ages of children attending the meeting to be better prepared for them!

We will be very happy to see you there!
Blessings,
Cecilia Puczek

AV4HC at Family Christian Bookstore

Yesterday, Dina Ackermann and I had an amazing opportunity. Family Christian Bookstore allowed us to create awareness for orphans.

In honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, we had a table set up in the front of the store. We had several resources available for people to browse, as well as an opportunity to greet the customers and share with them ways they can participate.

We are so thankful to Family Christian Bookstores for partnering with us, and making this possible. We were also able to help them sell their "Barnabas Bears". If you purchase a bear for $10.00, you get one, and one goes to an orphan or vulnerable child somewhere in the world. To learn more about their ministry go to www.jamesfund.org.

God has really opened doors, that just one year ago we did not know were possible, we only had, passion, dreams, and a desire to follow God’s will. Please continue to pray for us as we seek the direction God wants us to take next. We are excited about the journey, and this past year has given us invaluable experience that will only make us stronger going forward.

Brooke Loske

National Adoption Awareness Month Opportunities

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. Below are some ideas on how you and your family can participate:

 Donate a book about adoption to your local library.

 Read your child a book about adoption and talk about it.

 Attend our Adoption Informational Meeting on Nov. 16th at the Bartlett Public Library, 7pm. For more information contact Dina at avoiceforhischildren@gmail.com.

 Commit to being part of a 5-week “Family Life” small group study called “Considering Adoption”. Groups are being formed. For more info contact Dina at voiceforhischildren@gmail.com.

 Donate money to a reputable adoption agency, adoption fund or orphan-care organization.

 Contact a foster care agency to find out how you can be a foster parent.

 Start an orphan, adoption, and/or foster care ministry at your church.

 Rent & view the movie “The Lost and Found Family” with your kids. It is a heartwarming story of a foster family facing real-life issues.

 Watch the “Orphan Sunday” Concert on-line LIVE from Nashville with Steven Curtis
Chapman & more. For more information visit www.orphansunday.org.

 Buy a “Barnabas Bear” at any Family Christian Bookstore and one will be donated to an orphan, foster child or a child in need all across the U.S. or around the world.

Local Mom Advocates for Adoption

The following article was printed in the "Bartlett Examiner" on 10/4/2009





Local mom advocates for adoption

By Anthony Louis Troyke

“Something was born in my heart, coming face to face with the plight of an orphan,” said Dina Ackerman, adoptive Bartlett mom and emerging adoption advocate.

Nine year ago, Ackerman and her husband began their journey into the world of adoption when they traveled to China to adopt 10-month-old Ana Lee. Without access to the roughly $20,000 necessary for the undertaking, the Ackermans set about fundraising, when a surprise inheritance made possible their dream.


Six years later, having since ceased working fulltime to care for Ana Lee, Ackerman felt called again. “My husband said: ‘Great. Where are we going to get the money this time?’” But in stepped a neighbor, who held a fundraiser for the adoption at Bartlett Hills, raising $7000. The Ackermans borrowed the rest from their 401k, and off they were to China to bring home 4-year-old Mia.


Ackerman, who advocates for both domestic and international adoption, acknowledges that she has often been asked why she felt compelled to opt for the latter. “Every adoptive parent needs to follow their own heart. Ever since I was a young woman, I’ve known about the ‘girl situation’ in China.” Also, two of Ackerman’s five siblings were adopted: the first happened to be half Korean, and the second was a Vietnamese baby saved from the aftermath of the Vietnam Conflict. “Perhaps my brothers influenced my decision subconsciously,” said Ackerman.
Ackerman also notes that Chinese adoption also has the advantages of being relatively straightforward, the children are mostly healthy, and it is easier to find an infant.


That said, Ackerman points out that right here in the United States more than half-a-million children languish in foster care, hoping to be adopted. That is why she is leading her adoption advocacy group, A Voice 4 His Children, in an new push to educate prospective adopters and to support current adopters.


Ackerman explains that several myths surround the adoption process, such as insuperable costs and reams of paperwork. But, one size does not fit all. In fact, adoptions from foster care are free, with stipends available to support the adoptive parents. “Our goal is to break down barriers and dispel the myths.”


Though she admits that international adoptions can cost as much as $20,000-30,000, Ackerman adds: “I didn’t have $20,000 either time I adopted. But letting that stand between me and a child’s life? That’s crazy! That’s a car or a couple of vacations.” A Voice 4 His Children is taking a multifaceted approach, one which includes a educational program at Bartlett Pubic Library next Monday, November 16, 2009, from 7-9 pm.


A Voice 4 His Children has also built a team of 50 adoptive households which meets monthly as a support group. Another group is just getting underway to support the first with financial aid and a revolving list of households offering respite care for the adoptive families.


Ackerman is also excited that the Village of Bartlett is recognizing the crucial nature of adoption awareness by passing a resolution this week, recognizing November as National Adoption Month.


“What’s important for people to understand is that anyone can support adoption and make a difference and raise awareness in ways great and small. Sure, you can adopt, but you can also donate a book about adoption to your school or library, or you can simply read an adoption book to a child.”


For more information, visit A Voice 4 His Children at its blog: avoiceforhischildren.blogspot.com or contact Ackerman directly at avoiceforhischildren@gmail.com.

Proclamation

This evening, I had the pleasure of being present at the Bartlett Village Board meeting where our Village President, Mike Kelly, proclaimed it National Adoption Awareness Month in Bartlett. He also gave me a chance to say a few words to the Board members, business owners and residents in attendence. Below is the proclamation that was read.

Proclamation:
National Adoption Month, 2009
Village of Bartlett
Mike Kelly, Village President

Whereas, children are our greatest resource and the brightest hope for the future of our nation; and

Whereas, the family is the cornerstone of our society, the unit by which we transmit the values and traditions of the past, and is the primary agent which prepares our children to become productive citizens; and

Whereas, every child – regardless of physical, medical or emotional disabilities, age or race – deserves a permanent, caring family and the opportunity to grow in a secure environment; and

Whereas, adoption is a loving and viable way of building a family and providing stability for children who need families; and

Whereas, birth parents – who make the difficult decision to place their children with adoptive families – and adoptive parents – who open their hearts and homes to children – all deserve community support and respect; and

Whereas, National Adoption Month is a time for all Americans to reflect on the dreams of those children who wait for a permanent family, and those families who desire the joys and responsibilities of parenthood; and

Whereas, Bartlett is committed to working as a partner with social service agencies, organizations in communities and child advocates to help recruit and support adoptive families who make a difference in developing positive outcomes for our children;

Now, Therefore, I, Mike Kelly, do hereby recognize November 2009, as NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH in the Village of Bartlett, and I urge all of our citizens to recognize this event and participate in its observance.

Elmbrook Church Harvestfest

This past weekend, I just so happened to be visiting my family's church in Wisconsin, Elmbrook Church, and found that they were kicking off their week-long Harvestfest. Harvestfest is an annual local & global mission festival. This year's focus is on orphaned and vulnerable children. I experienced a wonderful Sunday service with guest speaker Patrick McDonald from Viva Network. They had a lobby filled with booths from mission organizations from around the world.

Each evening this week there are free workshops for parents and activities for kids. While many of you will not be able to attend at such late notice, I wanted to let you know about this event so we could catch a vision of what we might someday do in our local churches. I encourage you to go to their web site and check out the workshops, the guests/organizations, the blog and their vision for getting the Church to "Rise Up". You can even listen to some of the workshops on-line. It was so inspiring to me and I think it will be for you as well. You can visit them at www.elmbrook.org/harvestfest.

Please pray for Elmbrook's Harvestfest and that many more people would answer God's call to care for orphans and vulnerable children.

Orphan Sunday Event

Please Join Us

for a potluck dinner

to celebrate

National Adoption Awareness Month

and recognize

November 8th

as

National Orphan Sunday

at

Willow Creek McHenry County

220 Exchange Drive

Crystal Lake, IL 60014

4:30 - 7:00pm

RSVP is a must to Amy Braido

no later than Sunday Nov. 3rd

RSVP via e-mail echo@echoministry.org

or 847-846-3572 with any questions.

PLEASE BRING A DISH TO PASS THAT SERVES 8 AND A DESSERT.

(Don't forget your serving utensils!)

Serving Opportunity

* Donations of soft drinks & bottled water

* Volunteers for set-up and/or clean-up

* Plates, napkins and silverware will be provided by

The Echo Foundation, Inc.

The Echo Foundation, Inc. is a 501c3 organization

Let's gather to celebrate adoptive families within our community

as well as enjoy fellowship

as we remember those children that are still waiting for forever families!

Please contact

Amy Braido at echo@echoministry.org

or 847-846-3572