Benefit Concert for LYDIA

projectMUSIC Featuring Spirit Family Reunion on Aug. 24

You are invited to spend an eclectic and energizing evening with Spirit Family Reunion at a benefit concert for LYDIA. Funds raised through this special event on Aug. 24 will be used to send the 40 kids who live at LYDIA to camp. It's all part of projectMUSIC, which has raised more than $150,000 for the cause since 2007. The concert will take place at Catalyst Ranch in Chicago. Only 150 tickets are available, at a cost of $200 each (every $400 enables us to send one child to overnight camp). CLICK TO LEARN MORE PURCHASE A TICKET or, if you can't attend, please MAKE A DONATION. When purchasing a ticket or making a donation, please be sure to select projectMUSIC - Donation Only or projectMUSIC - Ticket.

Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit 10 Coming to Willow Creek!

 

 

As many of you know, I, along with other Leadership Team members, have been privileged to attend the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO)Summit for the past 5 years.  The very first one we attended was in the Dallas, TX area and it blew us away.  Each year the Summit grew in numbers as well as content, relevance, diversity and sophistication.  The last one we attended in Nashville earlier this year was no exception. This is a world-class summit with 49 states and over 20 countries in attendance this year.  In fact, the summit was sold out in advance for the first time. 

Since that first Summit we've dreamed of the day when they would possibly consider Willow Creek as an option to host the summit, and today our dreams (prayers really) came true!

The CAFO 2014 Summit 10 is coming to Chicago and will be hosted by Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington.  Below is the link to tell them that you plan to attend.  You don't need to pay now, but if you pre-register by giving your name and e-mail address, you will get $10 off the registration fee when registration opens.  Please prayerfully consider taking advantage of this awesome opportunity to attend the CAFO Summit, especially if you live in the Chicagoland area.  http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org/summit10/. 

 

You'll be hearing more about it in the next few months, but in the meantime you can check out the 2012 Summit 9 web site to get an idea of the many things offered.  http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org/summit9.  

 

This conference is for adoptive, foster and Safe Families parents, adoption & foster care workers, pastors, orphan advocates, orphan care workers, ministry leaders & their team members, or anyone who is interested in serving vulnerable children.

Join me in thanking God for this wonderful opportunity!

Retired Couple Adopts Teenager Aging Out of Foster Care

Check out this recent piece from the Nightly News with Brian Williams. It's a story of a husband and wife who, at retirement age, decided to add to their family by adopting a teenager who had aged out of the foster care system.

This scenario is playing out more and more across our nation. In fact, Safe Families for Children is introducing a new program whereby people can host or mentor teenagers that are aging out of the system. The program is not about adoption, but about being there for a young adult who needs the love, wisdom and guidance of a person or couple that can be committed to sharing their lives with them for an extended period of time, if not a lifetime.

You can learn more about the Safe Families Plus program this Wednesday, June 19th at Willow Creek Community Church/So. Barrington. We will have a community time starting at 7pm and a programed time from 7:30 - 8:30 pm. Room B200 near the chapel.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare

 

The following is an excerpt from the Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare, who works with children and families in our country's Indian reservations.  I personally have not been aware of the issues surrounding this population, but this organization looks like a good place to start getting educated about our Native American vulnerable children.  To find out more, visit http://caicw.org/.

 

 

IT’S ABOUT THE BEST INTEREST OF CHILDREN.
IT’S ABOUT EMPOWERMENT FOR ADULTS.

AN UNSHACKLING FROM VICTIM-HOOD.

Things are not okay – not when there is widespread, yet horribly ignored physical and sexual child abuse occurring every day on reservations across America.  Does it happen off the reservation as well?  Of course!  But that’s another mission and not an excuse to look the other way while documented horrors are happening to children in Indian Country.

It is time to stop it.   We often hear the excuse that nothing can be done.  “Congress’s hands are tied.”   We all know that’s just an excuse from those who are too afraid, too apathetic, or benefiting too much from the status quo to be bothered.   It’s time to make children more important than politics and do what is necessary to help and protect them.  Would you want your own child to be in the same position some of these children are in, without a hope that anyone is going to help?


WE CARE:  The Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW),  formed for Charitable, Religious, and Educational purposes as both a Christian Ministry and a Family Advocacy, is interested in the total well-being of the individual and Family.

CAICW has ministered with music and teaching in Mexico, USA and Canada.

CAICW has advocated since 2004 for families at risk of harm from the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Our advocacy has been both judicial and educational, as well as a prayer resource for families and a shoulder to cry on.

We also advocate for individuals and parents interested in health, growth and God  – yearning for dependence on the Lord and independence from welfare entitlements and control, but who don’t feel like it is an option they can attain easily due to conditions around them or various confines within federal policy.  We are here to support, encourage and educate.

Free the 300+

I encourage you to watch this short video from British filmmaker, Sarah McCarthy.  Her film joins the fight to allow the 300+ Russian children who have met their American families to complete their adoptions.  Please pray about this situation and the upcoming opportunities that have the potential to  create change in this situation. 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/darkmatterlove/the-dark-matter-of-love-joins-the-fight-to-free-th-0

Father's Day Weekend at Wendy's

 

Wendy's wants to wish all the dads out there a Happy Father’s Day! The impact you make in your children’s lives each day is immeasurable.

Every year, Wendy’s celebrates dads during Father’s Day Frosty Weekend. With every Frosty sold this Saturday and Sunday, participating Wendy’s will donate 50 cents to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption so they can help children in foster care find the dads (and moms) they deserve.

So why not celebrate the dads in your lives with a good treat to help a great cause?  That’s one sweet deal.

 

Safe Families Meet & Greet

 

You are invited to the upcoming Meet and Greet for all current and prospective Safe Families!!! This is a great way to meet and connect with other Safe Families in the Chicagoland area, as well as to find out the latest info regarding Safe Families and what is going on in the community!

 

The gathering will be held at the South Barrington Willow Creek campus on Wednesday, June 12th from 7pm-8:30pm in room F360 (which is located on the 3rd floor of the building by the new campus Care Center). The F parking lot is the closest parking lot. Drinks and light refreshments will be provided. If you have children, you will be able to utilize the Wednesday night childcare program. (http://www.willowcreek.org/southbarrington/kidsandstudents/wednesday-night-kids-program)

 

We are going to be discussing some important and exciting topics, so you do not want to miss this! First, we will be reviewing the voucher process for the new Care Center. Safe Families will be able to utilize many of the new Care Center services in a streamlined process and at discounted rates.

 

Second, we will be revealing the new Safe Families Plus program, which is a program geared toward partnering with youth who are aging out of the foster care system. Mentors and host families will be chosen by the youth and matched to their needs to provide them with the love and support they need to navigate life after the system, especially pertaining to seeking out a college education and navigating the workplace.

 

Third, we will be going over community resources and ways in which you can utilize those resources for your families and also provide items/services for under-resourced families in your area.

 

Lastly, we will have several announcements regarding upcoming meetings, training opportunities, and ways in which you can get more involved in the Vulnerable Children Ministry.

 

Please RSVP to vcministry127@gmail.com so we can plan accordingly. We look forward to seeing you there!!!

 

New T.V. Show Highlights Supporting Adoptive Families

 

 

 

This uplifting series features the stories of people making a difference in kids' lives. Be inspired by everyday heroes. Hosted by Leigh Anne Tuohy, the real-life inspiration behind the blockbuster film The Blind Side which earned Sandra Bullock an Academy Award® for Best Actress, “Family Addition with Leigh Anne Tuohy” will feature families as they go through the practical, physical and emotional process of adding a new family member and make over part of their homes to accommodate the new addition.

 

Tuohy will provide the series’ creative vision and oversee the home improvement projects for each episode. “Family Addition” will also feature Team Tuohy, which includes the insight of Tuohy’s daughter, Collins Tuohy, a noted inspirational speaker and co-owner of Whimsy Cookie Company, a boutique cookie company; and Special Educator “Miss Sue” Mitchell (the character played by Kathy Bates in The Blind Side), each providing support to families in unique ways as they transition into their new family situation. And as is Leigh Anne’s get-it-done-style, don’t be surprised who else may show up as needed to help get the project completed.

 

An advocate for the underdog, Leigh Anne's family fostered and then adopted Michael Oher and changed his life forever – or as Leigh Anne would say, Michael changed their lives forever.

For more information about the program click HERE.   

Webinar: Successful Life Transitions for Aging-Out Orphans

 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...   

Successful Life Transitions for Aging-Out Orphans

 

  

Date:  Tuesday, June 25, 2013     Time:  1:00 PM Central Time

As older orphans age out of care, international trends are heartbreaking: homelessness, substance abuse, prostitution, crime and incarceration await many who lack adequate support networks.  The Church is called to step into this gap, aiding orphans into adulthood through holistic life transition support.

This Webinar will examine information and models useful to Christian leaders, churches and para-church organizations as they work to create healthy life transition for aging-out orphans.  W. Scott Brown, Coordinator of the new CAFO “Aging Out Initiative,” will highlight case studies from the new site www.cafo.org/aging-out, discuss trends and best practices, and share how this new initiative can help you both access and share learning on Aging Out programs.

In addition to spotlighting key information and models, this webinar is also intended to seek your input and ideas as we built a clearinghouse of best practices for aging-out orphans in these five areas:  Life Skills Training, Spiritual Care and Mentoring, Transitional Housing, Vocational Training/Entrepreneurship/Job Placement and Church and Community Support Networks.

W. Scott Brown is the coordinator of the Aging-Out Initiative for Christian Alliance for Orphans. He is vice president of communications and lifelong learning for Christian Leadership Alliance. Scott also leads the Orphan Care Ministry for Cherrydale Baptist Church in Arlington, Va. 

    

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.

Twenty Ways to Become an Adoption-Friendly Church

Check out this great article from WORLD Magazine:

"While Christians commonly praise adoption, most American churches do not have a single family that adopted a child during the past year. Churches can and should play a crucial role in encouraging members to "look after orphans in their distress" (James 1:27). Here are some specific ideas on how to become an adoption-friendly church:"

(Click here to read complete article.)

Safe Families for Children National Conference

 

Celebrate Safe Families for Children's 10th Anniversary at our National Conference

Tuesday, August 6th and Wednesday, August 7th, 2013 

 

Safe Families for Children is becoming a vital movement in this country! Please plan to join them in exploring and learning ways you can Share Space and Show Love.

Join the Safe Families for Children community and learn practical steps you can take to deepen the breadth of Safe Families for Children in your area as an individual, family, leader, or organization.

Willow Creek Community Church will host the conference at Willow Creek's North Shore Campus. All existing Safe Families for Children sites are invited to participate, plus any individual or organization that is interested in learning more about Safe Families for Children.

Learn how you and your church can Share Space and Show Love with families that are experiencing crisis.

REGISTER TODAY!

August 6th Celebration: FREE (Space is limited!)

August 7th Conference: $57.00 per person

Address: Willow Creek North Shore, 315 Waukegan Road, Northfield, Illinois

Click Here for easy online registration!

Questions? Contact Sarah Mohr by email or call (773) 653-2222