LifeSong in Zambia Update

(Don't forget to mute the blog music on the bottom of this page before viewing the video, or, click here to view it on the LifeSong web site. 

 
Brush to Berries from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

"Simply giving this person money is treating the symptoms rather than the underlying disease and will enable him to continue with his lack of self-discipline... a better solution would be to develop a relationship that says, we are here to walk with you and to help you use your gifts and abilities to avoid being in this situation in the future'" (An excerpt from the book, When Helping Hurts)

Lifesong is serving the people of Zambia... the orphaned, the at-risk, and the poor... by utilizing the land that is, like the people, so full of potential. Lifesong farms-Zambia reaped its first strawberry harvest in June, and local grocers have been purchasing the berries. With additional acres to farm, we are hoping to process some of the berries and begin marketing Lifesong Farms Strawberry Jam.

By harvesting fruit, we are able to serve more orphans by providing the gift of a job at Lifesong's gardens and self worth to an orphan's caregiver. We are also able to provide future employment for our kids as they transition into adult living, develop a system to raise funds to help cover operational costs, and develop expertise that can be replicated in multiple countries where Lifesong serves. Most of all, we are seeking to glorify Jesus as we teach others how He walked. 

Interviews from Summit VII Air this Week on Family Life Today

September 27th, 2011

by Jedd Medefind, President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans

The unforgettable interviews done live on stage by Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine at Summit VII are being aired on Family Life this week! The interviewed with Carolyn Twietmeyer ran yesterday, and can be listened to or downloaded online, titled “Welcome Home"
(http://www.familylife.com/site/c.dnJHKLNnFoG/b.6240603/k.2C4F/Search_FamilyLife_Audio_Library.htm

The interview with Luther and Rebecca Ellis airs today and can also be heard in Family Life’s online archive, titled "The Adoption Journey"

(http://www.familylife.com/site/c.dnJHKLNnFoG/b.6240603/k.2C4F/Search_FamilyLife_Audio_Library.htm)

Admittedly, both of these adoptive families are larger than most. But each gives a compelling look at a specific aspect of adoption, while also offering moving stories and insights that apply to any family.

About Luther and Rebecca Elliss: Luther John Elliss is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played for the Detroit Lions for 8 seasons before he was released in 2003. He played for the Denver Broncos for one season, before retiring in 2004. In his time in the NFL, he was a two time Pro Bowler after the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Luther is married to Rebecca and their children include Kaden, Olivia, Christian, Noah, Isaiah, Isabelle, Sophia and Jonah. Rebecca and Luther are actively involved with the Act of Love adoption agency based in Salt Lake City. They’ve donated money, spread the word of adoption and they sit on the agency’s board of directors.

About Carolyn Twietmeyer: Carolyn Twietmeyer and her husband Kiel are parents to 13 wonderful children. The Twietmeyers have adopted from Ethiopia three times (two sibling groups of three children) because they recognized the vitality of keeping orphan siblings together and minimizing their losses. One of their children is HIV+ and another is diagnosed with stage 4 AIDS. Carolyn is Founder/ Executive Director of Project HOPEFUL, an organization dedicated to educating, encouraging, and enabling families and individuals to advocate for and adopt children with HIV/AIDS. Carolyn advocates for orphans by speaking at various conferences around the country, and has been featured in national and international publications, radio, and on television news shows.

Loving Shepherd Ministries New Web Site

At LSM, they believe that we have been called to care for the orphan. Orphans are not orphans because they lack food, clean water, or clothes. They are orphans because they lack a family. Their prayer and mission is to place these orphaned children in a loving family. They want to raise them to be godly leaders in their communities - and child by child, bring about effective change for the glory of God.

They are excited to let you know that they have launched our new website! When you visit, you'll discover the heart and soul of LSM and how you can play a part in God's work among orphans. You'll find pictures and stories of children who have been given hope in the name of Jesus, of women who have a second chance living a dignified life, and of adoptive families who have seen God expand their horizons. Through everything, they hope you see God breathing life into their ministry.


Please join us in praying that as they move forward, God would continue to be glorified in everything they do. Together, let's make a difference in the lives of the fatherless... one child at a time!

I encourage adoptive parents, pre-adoptive parents and orphan advocates to visit  http://loving-shepherd.org/.

Joint Council and the Mead Johnson Nutrition Foundation Work Together to Help Vulnerable Children Worldwide

Alexandria, Va, September 20, 2011 – Recognizing that proper nutrition is critical to every child’s growth and development, The Joint Council on International Children’s Services and the Mead Johnson Nutrition Foundation today announced the launch of a program dedicated to improving nutritional care for vulnerable children living without parental care around the world.


Globally, millions of children live without parental care, with most living in orphanages, group homes and institutions. While caregivers work diligently to attend to the needs of these children, science-based training and resources on nutrition and feeding practices to help identify nutrition deficiencies are often unavailable.

Through the new program, called A Child’s Best Start, Joint Council and Mead Johnson are leading an initiative to identify best practices for nutritional care among this vulnerable population of children. The program will provide critical nutrition information to individual caregivers through training on the ground in facilities located everywhere from major cities like Shanghaito small towns in rural Mexico.

A Child’s Best Start will support research, establish a free online library of information and resources, implement in-language training programs, and provide support to the individual organizations that care for vulnerable children. The program will launch the online library later this year and start the training pilot program in the first country, China, in the first half of 2012.

Mead Johnson’s nutrition scientists will lend their expertise to materials development, and its offices and employees in countries around the world will help individual orphanages and group homes through programs based on local needs.

“Children living in orphanages and group homes often do not receive the strong nutritional foundation they need in order to grow and flourish.” said Tom DiFilipo, president and chief executive officer of Joint Council. “Our goal through this partnership with the Mead Johnson Nutrition Foundation, is to change that. We believe A Child’s Best Start is uniquely positioned to serve these vulnerable children by identifying their specific nutritional needs, introducing science based interventions, marshaling the resources of our partner-members and mobilizing local volunteer care givers.”

Mead Johnson Nutrition, Joint Council, and Chinese  Government officials visit local orphanages.

To get the program underway, Joint Council and Mead Johnson have formed a cooperative agreement with the the SPOON Foundation, a member of the Joint Council network which focuses its efforts on orphan nutrition. Together, the groups established the Global Nutrition Working Group of leading authorities on nutrition and medical care for vulnerable children and children living without parental care, to provide guidance on the development of program materials.

“One way we fulfill our corporate mission to nourish the world’s children for the best start in life is by giving back to and helping to improve the communities where we live, work and operate as a business,” said Stephen W. Golsby, Mead Johnson Nutrition’s president and chief executive officer. “A Child’s Best Start leverages Mead Johnson’s deep scientific expertise and understanding of pediatric nutrition and builds on our century-long heritage of philanthropy and community involvement. This program will make a real impact on the lives of children, and we are proud to be a founding member of this ambitious effort.”

Joint Council helps vulnerable children living without parental care by advocating on their behalf, marshaling the resources they need, educating those who serve them and mobilizing those who care. Joint Council and its partner organizations provided services to over 2.1 million children and families each year. For more information, go to www.jointcouncil.org/.

Mead Johnson, a global leader in pediatric nutrition, develops, manufactures, markets and distributes more than 70 products in over 50 countries worldwide. The company’s mission is to nourish the world’s children for the best start in life. The Mead Johnson name has been associated with science-based pediatric nutrition products for over 100 years. The company’s “Enfa” family of brands, including Enfamil® infant formula, is the world’s leading brand franchise in pediatric nutrition. For more information, go to http://www.meadjohnson.com/.

Village to Village Intl.

Today I learned about a wonderful new organization whose purpose is to serve the fatherless by supporting orphans through special projects and assisting adopting families with financial resources.  Please check out their promotional video as well as their web site to get involved.

As a reminder, first mute the blog music on the bottom of this page, or go to http://www.villagetovillageintl.com/ to view the video there.


Village to Village Overview from Matt Borst on Vimeo.

Adoption 12 Children with Special Needs

Below is an inspiring video I'm sure you'll love.  As a reminder, mute the blog music on the bottom of this page before viewing, or, click the link below to view the video directly from CBS.




http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7381153n

Attention: Orphan Care & Adoption Ministry Leaders

There are two great opportunities for those who lead adoption, foster care or orphan care ministries at their church or with an organization. 

Locally, the Chicagoland Alliance for Orphans will be meeting on Tuesday, September 20th at 6:30 p.m.  The meeting will take place at The Chapel in Barrington. 

The purpose of the CAO is to SHARE resources, events, ideas and opportunities, SUPPORT each other as leaders, and create SYNERGY by networking, learning together, and encouraging one another. 

If you would like more information about the Chicagoland Alliance for Orphans, or would like to attend, please contact Dina Ackermann at vcministry127@gmail.com.


Also............

Join other national orphan care and adoption ministry leaders in a webinar sponsored by LifeSong for Orphans and Empowered to Connect. The webinar will focus on how God has been working in and through ministries throughout the US as well as providing you with tools to equip you to go deeper!  To register for the webinar, click here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/389146010

A Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go.
Flood our souls with you Spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly
  that our lives may only be a radiance of yours.
Shine through us and be so in us
  that every soul we come in contact with
  may feel your presence in our soul.
Let them look up and see no longer us, but only
   Jesus...
The light, O Jesus, will be all from you.
None of it will be ours.
It will be you shining on others through us.
Let us thus praise you in the way you love best
  by shining on those around us.
Let us preach you without preaching;
  not by words, but by our example.
By the catching force,
  the sympathetic influence of what we do,
  the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to you.

Author: Mother Teresa

The Children's Closet

The Children's Closet serves Adoptive, Foster and Safe Families in need of immediate or additional clothing and baby supplies.  It is hosted at Calvary Community Church in Schaumburg, IL and is run by a team of volunteers from various churches and organizations.  They provide clothing, supplies, and basic necessities free of charge to help families who are providing homes for children.

The Children's Closet is currently seeking donations of Ziplock bags, gallon size or larger.  The bags will be used to organize matched outfits and shoes.

To make a donation of Ziplock bags, or a monetary donation to buy them, please contact Teri Altpeter at vcministry127@gmail.com.   Thanks for your consideration.

Christian Alliance for Orphans Upcoming Webinar

Webinar Topic: How to Use Orphan Sunday to Engage Your Church

Whether your church is small or large, Orphan Sunday is your opportunity to stir the community to see God’s heart for the fatherless and how individuals can respond. This 30-minute webinar will provide a plethora of practical ideas to help you to inspire and engage others.

Learn how to create a simple activity, event or themed meal for your church, family and/or small group. Find partner organizations ready to assist you in turning passion into action. Join churches around the world that participating in Orphan Sunday. Discover countless ready-to-go resources designed to save you time while strengthening your services, meetings, and events. Use Orphan Sunday to spark that next step for your family or church that will grow for years to come. Join this webinar to learn how.

Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2011


Time: 1:00pm CST

Panelist: Vanessa Vasquez, National Orphan Sunday Coordinator; David Arruda, Fellowship United Methodist Church

To register for this webinar, click here:   https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/386598817

Blog Updates

I hope you like the new look of the blog.  Aside from a new look, there are two other additions. 

If you look at the top right hand side of the screen, you will find the "Follow by E-mail" space.  Just enter your e-mail address to have blog updates sent to you.

I have also added a widget called "2011 Kids Count Data Book".  It is a great resource to access statistical data, state by state.

Thanks for visiting our blog!

September Pot-Luck Gathering

Fall Family Fun Night!

Sunday, September 18th, 5:00 -7:00 p.m.

Willow Creek Community Church, So. Barrington

Room F150 (west wing, lower level in Promiseland room)

Pot-Luck Dinner begins at 5:00. Please bring a dish to share. Beverages will be provided.

We invite you to come and connect with other

adoptive, foster and Safe Families.

There will be door prizes, a craft, story time & face painting for all to enjoy.

Please R.S.V.P. to vcministry127@gmail.com with the number of adults, and children's ages.

Vulnerable Children Classes At Willow Creek

The Compassion & Justice (C&J) ministry at Willow Creek/South Barrington will be hosting a 3-week class entitled "Earth's Most Vulnerable Residents - And Why You Matter To Them".

Children, society’s most vulnerable, look to their parents for safety, shelter, and a loving environment, but all too often, instability from a variety of sources threatens the sanctity of this design. Consider how you can provide support, education and life-changing guidance to the most vulnerable.

Week 1 will focus on care for the unborn and coming alongside women who are navigating the complexities of unplanned pregnancy; Instructor: Staff from Caris Pregnancy Counseling & Resources.

Week 2 will challenge all of us to consider true biblical hospitality by opening our home to a child for either a temporary or long-term solution. Instructor: Staff from Lydia Home/Safe Families for Children.

Week 3 explores mentoring an at-risk child in a local neighborhood school. Instructor: Staff from Kids Hope.

I encourage you to attend all 3 weeks. If you are an adoptive, foster or Safe Family, I especially encourage you to come on week two, when a representative from Lydia/Safe Families will be talking about the importance of adoption, foster care and Safe Families in our churches and communities. Please come and support this class and be available to anyone who might want to talk to someone who is already traveling this road.

For more information or to register, click here: https://classes.willowcreek.org/default.aspx?page=3258&profile=5153&eventid=5153&pageid=3241&sort=Date&pprofile=2.

Safe Families Mom's Coffee

Safe Families Northwest Suburbs invites all current & prospective Safe Families moms

to enjoy connection time and coffee together.

Tuesday September 13th 9:30-11:30

1315 W. Kenilworth Palatine Il (Sheila Applegate's home, just east of Roselle Rd and south or Palatine Rd)

847-323-0150

This month Susan Vrenios, lead case coach with Safe Families, will discuss what has been happening at

Safe Families for Children and their goals for the future.

Children are always welcome!!

Please RSVP to Sheila at sheila@applegates.com

Positive Parenting Classes at Willow Creek this Fall

Willow Creek Community Church is offering parenting classes on Monday nights starting this fall. I invite you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to grow in your faith and in your parenting.

What's even better is that we will have tables for adoptive, foster and Safe Families to attend these classes together and discuss the topics through the lens of being an adoptive or foster parent.



The upcoming sessions are:

Navigating Your Parenting “Buttons” taught by Beth Racine a Relational Consultant

7–9 p.m., Mondays, September 12 and 26

Do your kids seem to know exactly how to push your buttons? Do you find yourself losing focus and patience more than you would like? Learn practical solutions for dealing with behavior challenges and reducing power struggles in your home, while maintaining focus and composure as you lead your children.



Becoming the Parent Your Child Needs!

7–9 p.m., Mondays, October 3 and 17

Do you wonder why your parenting style might not be as effective as you hope? Learn to see each child as God uniquely created them to be, and custom-design an effective parenting style that fits each child in a way that honors his or her unique design.



Building Family Identity through Traditions, Moments, and Laughter, taught by September Vaudrey, Willow Creek staff

7–9 p.m., Mondays, November 7 & 21

Children develop a strong sense of identity through the culture created within their family. Learn the benefits of having a solid family identity and gain fun, practical methods for building family traditions, creating memorable moments, and developing a family culture that strengthens your child’s sense of identity. Walk away with simple, powerful ideas you can implement this holiday season—and beyond.

Childcare is available when you register.

For more information and to register for any of the classes, vist http://classes.willowcreek.org/default.aspx?page=3242&profile=9&sort=Date

We hope to see you there!