Show the love of Christ to a child in need this Christmas!

What are you doing this year for Christmas?

Decorating the house?  Making Christmas cookies?  Celebrating with family and loved ones?  Exchanging gifts?

What if this year you gave gifts that not only celebrated your loved ones but brought the love of Christ to a child in need?  An orphan in Africa, India, Ukraine, or Honduras?

This year Lifesong for Orphans has gifts that will do just that.  Give the new Lifesong cookbook...

  

 

or give a child in Africa food, a child in Honduras job skills training, a child in India a home... in honor of those you love... and really, what could be better at Christmas than to know your gift was given to a child who needed it more.

Check it out here.

May God bless your holiday season!  


10-11 Gifts of Purpose from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

Empty Nesters Refill Home with Love by Adopting Kids

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
11/28/2010
Written by Jim Stingl



With their three children raised and out of the house, Jesse Lewis and Nancy Brooks-Lewis were enjoying a quiet and empty nest.

Well, maybe a little too quiet.

Until some friends mentioned foster parenting to them, they hadn't given it any thought. They had no idea so many children out there needed a home and loving parents.

The idea began to burrow its way into their hearts. "I don't know if I've ever told my wife this," Jesse said when I sat down with the couple recently at their Brown Deer apartment, "but I always wanted a second chance at raising children again to see if I could do a better job. When I heard about foster care, that door opened."

"We just decided to try it and see what happens," Nancy said.

I'll tell you what happened. Jess, Justin, Sarah and Jessica happened. A houseful of adopted kids is what happened. A big, noisy, challenging, rewarding family is what happened.

To read the rest of the article, click below.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/110920389.html

Donated Adoption Songs CD to Help Orphaned Children Worldwide Through World Vision

CHICAGO, Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago-area singer/songwriter Chuck Kent announced today he will be partnering with World Vision in the months of November and December through the sales of his CD of adoption songs titled "Same/Same: Songs for Adoptive Families," to help renew awareness that support of orphans continues to be a critical need, not only through adoption, but also via in-country programs such as those from World Vision.

November is National Adoption Month in the U.S. and November 20 is National Adoption Day. Kent said that during November and December he will be donating to World Vision for their global humanitarian work with all kinds of children and families.

Angela Appleton, Corporate Relations Director, World Vision, calls the CD of adoption songs "another creative way to give. We're always touched when our supporters reach out in new ways to help us help children." Kent said, "My hope is that, particularly, adoptive families will see this as a fun, easy way to help children everywhere."

"This seems the right time to do this not only because of National Adoption Month but also as a chance for meaningful holiday gifts to adoptive families," Kent said.

###

ABOUT THE "SAME/SAME" ALBUM

According to Adoptive Families magazine "... the catchy tunes and clever lyrics put to music how children think and feel about adoption ... songs perceptively tap into common issues, such as invasive questions, worrying about permanence, and testing parental limits." The CD of 11 adoption songs can be purchased through links on the website http://www.samesamecd.com.

Volunteer Appreciation Christmas Dinner

The Willow Creek North Shore Safe Families community invites all Safe Families volunteers in the Chicagoland area to a Volunteer Appreciation Christmas Dinner. If you have hosted children in your home, if you have supported those who do, or if you are eager for your first placement, we invite you to join us for an evening of celebration and appreciation.

In addition to dinner, part of the festivities will be a keynote address from Arloa Sutter, the Executive Director of Breakthrough Urban Ministries in Chicago. Arloa is an amazing woman who founded a homeless shelter almost 20 years ago that has blossomed into a center that serves all members of its neighborhood. To give you a taste of what you she will share, here is something Arloa recently posted to her blog:

"I had entered ministry recognizing my need for a Savior, but then had begun to attempt to rescue and save others in my own strength on behalf of the Savior. The burnout I experienced as a result would forever change me as I learned the importance of waiting on God in contemplation before rushing in with my own agenda. I learned to be led by the Spirit instead of being driven by need.

Today I start each day in prayer. I ask God to orchestrate my day, to guide and direct me. . . .
I also listen to my body. I have learned to recognize the difference between good stress that pushes me to my best, and bad stress that means I'm attempting to do something that is not mine to do. When my shoulders tense and my stomach knots, I do a 'gut check' and ask myself if this really is my responsibility.

To be led by the Spirit rather than driven by need. That's my goal. When the chaos mounts, I take a break."

Her personal experience in doing a ministry that is very similar to Safe Families will offer useful spiritual and practical guidance for us as we look forward to another year of doing the hard work of caring for families in crisis.

The dinner will take place on Sunday, December 12 at 6:00. The location is 315 Waukegan Rd. in Northfield, IL.

R.S.V.P. are a must. R.S.V.P. to Rebecca Cynamon-Murphy at rcynamon-murphy@lydiahome.org. Please tell her the number of people who will be attending, as well as if you need child care. If child care is requested, provide the number of children and their ages.

There is no charge for the event (we want to thank you properly) but space is somewhat limited.

We really hope you can join us for this fun evening of celebration and appreciation!

National Adoption Day

National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to raise awareness of the 114,000 children in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families. This one day has made the dreams of thousands of children come true by working with policymakers, practitioners and advocates to finalize adoptions and find permanent, loving homes for children in foster care. In total, more than 30,000 children have been adopted from foster care on National Adoption Day.

A coalition of national partners - The Alliance for Children's Rights, Annie E. Casey Foundation/Casey Family Services, Children's Action Network, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and Freddie Mac Foundation - sponsor National Adoption Day to draw special attention to foster children waiting for permanent families and to celebrate all loving families that adopt. This year the National Adoption Day Coalition expects 4,500 foster care children to be adopted on National Adoption Day on November 20, 2010.

Goals:
Finalize adoptions from foster care in all 50 states.
Celebrate and honor families who adopt.
Raise awareness about the 114,000 children in foster care waiting for adoption.
Encourage others to adopt children from foster care.
Build collaboration among local adoption agencies, courts and advocacy organizations.

To learn more about National Adoption day, visit their web site at www.nationaladoptionday.org.

Orphan Sunday Video

The following incredible video was created by Matthew Wilson for his church in Huntsville, AL to play for Orphan Sunday. Remember to mute the blog music at the bottom of the page before starting the video.

Orphan Sunday 2010 from Matthew Wilson on Vimeo.

Alliance Webinar Series

The Christian Alliance for Orphans Webinar Series is designed to help individuals like you create and grow effective adoption, foster care and global orphan ministry in local churches.

You're Invited...


Starting and Growing a Church-Based Orphan Ministry


Explore the significant decisions, challenges, and solutions involved in starting an adoption, foster and/or global orphan care ministry as part of your church.


Host Church: Oakwood Church

Presenters: Marci Burkhart, Oakwood Church

Jason Weber, Hope for Orphans


Date: Thursday, November 18, 2010 Time: 1:00 PM (Central Time)



Each 60-minute webinar in this series will give local advocates access to the knowledge and experience of top Alliance member churches and organizations nationwide, covering key topics on adoption, foster care and/or global orphan care. Every webinar will be hosted by a local church orphan ministry and co-presented by one or more national experts on the subject matter. This pairing will deliver a combination of specialist information and resources alongside a “here’s how it works in a real church” perspective.

National Adoption Awareness Month: New Berlin Library

My mom designed an Adoption Awareness Month display at the New Berlin Library in Wisconsin. Over 30 years ago my mom and dad adopted two of my siblings, one domestically, and one from Vietnam. Their pictures, along with pictures of my girls are in the display. One of the library staff members saw my mom creating the display and asked if her son, who was adopted from Korea, could be included. Great job Mom!

Rescuing Trafficked Girls in India

Trafficking into forced prostitution victimizes more children in India than anywhere else in the world. Learn from the Mumbai director of International Justice Mission (IJM) how girls are being rescued.


Date: Sunday, November 21
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Location: Baumgartner home, 1703 E. Prairie Ave., Wheaton (located on a street that backs to World Relief/Church of the Resurrection Ministry Center).

Please RSVP to Dawn Jewell at dawn_herzog@yahoo.com.

Hosted by Church of the Resurrection

For day-of directions, call Marcia Baumgartner at (630) 653-4777

For more information about the work of IJM, visit www.ijm.org.

You Are Invited

to a
Safe Families, Foster Families & Adoptive Families

Thanksgiving Gathering

Please join us as we spend an evening enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and spend time in worship and reflection on God’s goodness and provision.

Children and adults are welcome around the table as we share
scriptures, songs and stories.

Dinner will be provided. Please bring a dessert to share.

R.S.V.P.’s are required by Nov. 19th so that we can provide adequate food. Please R.S.V.P. to Dina at avoiceforhischildren@gmail.com

Sunday, November 21, 2010
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Willow Creek Community Church
Rooms b105-109 (near the Chapel)

Hosted by A Voice 4 His Children; the adoption, foster care & Safe Families Community at Willow Creek Community Church, So. Barrington

National Adoption Month: Presidential Proclamation

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release November 01, 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Adoption Month

Giving a child a strong foundation -- a home, a family to love, and a safe place to grow -- is one of life's greatest and most generous gifts. Through adoption, both domestic and international, Americans from across our country have provided secure environments for children who need them, and these families have benefited from the joy an adopted child can bring. Thanks to their nurturing and care, more young people have been able to realize their potential and lead full, happy lives. This year, we celebrate National Adoption Month to recognize adoption as a positive and powerful force in countless American lives, and to encourage the adoption of children from foster care.

Currently, thousands of children await adoption or are in foster care, looking forward to permanent homes. These children can thrive, reach their full potential, and spread their wings when given the loving and firm foundation of family. Adoptive families come in many forms, and choose to adopt for different reasons: a desire to grow their family when conceiving a child is not possible, an expression of compassion for a child who would otherwise not have a permanent family, or simply because adoption has personally touched their lives. For many Americans, adoption has brought boundless purpose and joy to their lives. We must do all we can to break down barriers to ensure that all qualified caregivers have the ability to serve as adoptive families.

This year, on November 20, families, adoption advocates, policymakers, judges, and volunteers will celebrate the 11th annual National Adoption Day in communities large and small. National Adoption Day is a day of hope and happiness when courthouses finalize the adoptions of children out of foster care. Last year, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was honored to preside over a ceremony celebrating two foster care adoptions as part of my Administration's support for this important day.

Adoptive families are shining examples of the care and concern that define our great Nation. To support adoption in our communities, my Administration is working with States to support families eager to provide for children in need of a place to call home. The landmark Affordable Care Act increases and improves the Adoption Tax Credit, enabling adoption to be more affordable and accessible. As part of the Adoption

Incentives program, States can also receive awards for increasing adoptions and the number of children adopted from foster care. AdoptUsKids, a project of the Department of Health and Human Services, offers technical support to States, territories, and tribes to recruit and retain foster and adoptive families; provides information and assistance to families considering adoption; and supports parents already on that journey. I encourage all Americans to visit AdoptUsKids.org or ChildWelfare.gov/Adoption for information and resources on adoption, including adoption from foster care.

As we observe National Adoption Month, we honor the loving embrace of adoptive families and the affirming role of adoption in the lives of American families and our country. Let us all commit to supporting our children in any way that we are able -- whether opening our hearts and homes through adoption, becoming foster parents to provide quality temporary care to children in crisis, supporting foster and adoptive families in our communities and places of worship, mentoring young people in need of guidance, or donating time to helping children in need. Working together, we can shape a future of hope and promise for all of our Nation's children.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2010 as National Adoption Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by answering the call to find homes for every child in America in need of a permanent and caring family, as well as to support the families who care for them.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

Library Display

Today, the Bartlett Public Library allowed me to set up a display for National Adoption Awareness Month. Stop by and visit the display if you're in the area.

I got the Heart Gallery kids in there! I used the little cards with their pictures on, and gave a phone number if someone wanted to follow up.

Have you ever considered asking your local library to do a display? They are very open to outside groups using their display cases. Be aware that in many cases, you have to ask several months in advance. National Foster Care Awareness Month is in May. Let's see how many displays we can get!

Please share your ideas, plans, or events for National Adoption Awareness Month!

It's Orphan Sunday!

Today is Orphans Sunday, the day that thousands of people around our country have been preparing for. Nearly 400 events are taking place this weekend around the U.S. and several other countries. Why? Because God has been stirring in people's hearts to respond to His mandate in James 1:27, to care for the orphan and the widow.

"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 by the world. " That's all God really asks of us.

Earlier in the chapter, James says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

I implore you, on behalf of the 143 million orphans of this world, to find an Orphan Sunday event in your community where you can:

1. join with other believers to pray for orphans and the thousands of churches & organizations that serve them.

2. get educated about the plight of the orphan.

3. be affirmed and re-ignited about your own ministry to orphans.

4. find out how God is calling YOU to be a part of serving orphans.

You can find an event in your community by going to http://www.orphansunday.org/. If you live in the Chicagoland area, we invite you to attend the Willow Creek Orphan Sunday Event, taking place this evening.

Sunday, November 7, 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
Willow Creek Community Church
67 E. Algonquin Road, So. Barrington, IL
Room 100b (under the chapel)

The evening event will include the premier of “Answer the Cry”, created by Focus on the Family for Orphan Sunday 2010. This hour-long video features Steven Curtis Chapman, Mark Schultz, Francis Chan and more.

You will be moved and inspired by representatives from Safe Families, Royal Family Kids Camp, The Heart Gallery, and Willow Creek Global Connections, that will speak about their roles in serving orphans & vulnerable children.

Attendees will view and pray for children in the Heart Gallery of Illinois, which showcases children in foster care who are waiting for adoption.

This free event also includes light refreshments.

Childcare if available if you r.s.v.p. with the number of children and their ages to avoiceforhischildren@gmail.com. For more information contact Dina at 630-213-3558.

Creating an Adoption Culture in Your Church

(Before playing the video, please mute the blog music at the bottom of the page.)

Creating an Adoption Culture in Your Church - OS from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Serving Opportunity

The Children's Closet, which supplies clothing and baby items to Foster and Safe Families, is in need of volunteers to help sort clothing. If you are interested in helping or for more information, please contact Teri at terialtpeter@att.net or Lisa at phalen245@comcast.net.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 20th
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Calvary Community Church, 1000 S. Springingsguth Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173

Thank you for your consideration in serving this vital support ministry to foster parents!

We Love Because

We Love Because from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

(Be sure to mute the blog music at the bottom of this page before starting the video.)

Orphan Sunday at Willow Creek

Please Join Us!
For Orphan Sunday at Willow Creek

Sunday, November 7, 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
Willow Creek Community Church
67 E. Algonquin Road, So. Barrington, IL
Room 100b (under the chapel)

The evening event will include the premier of “Answer the Cry”, created by Focus on the Family for Orphan Sunday 2010. This hour-long video features Steven Curtis Chapman, Mark Schultz, Francis Chan and more.

You will be moved and inspired by representatives from Safe Families, The Heart Gallery of Illinois, The Compassion & Justice Ministry at Willow Creek, and Royal Family Kids Camp.

This free event also includes light refreshments.

Childcare if available if you r.s.v.p. with the number of children and their ages to avoiceforhischildren@gmail.com.

For more information contact Dina at 630-213-3558.

http://avoiceforhischildren.blogspot.com
www.orphansunday.org

Safe Families/Foster Mom's Coffee Gathering

Please join Safe Families & DCFS Foster Care Moms

for a Coffee Gathering

Tuesday, November 9th, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Susan Vrenios’ home
11 Kathy Lane, Hawthorn Woods Il 60047
773-329-5294

We will be discussing Safe Families’ vision for the organization

and the new form of communication—youshare.org

Hope you can join us! Children are always welcome.

Please RSVP to Sheila at Sheila@applegates.com or 847-323-0150