LifeSong for Orphans Prayer Team

Weekly in the office, our Lifesong Family comes together to pray for our in-country orphan initiatives, adoptive families, Forgotten Advocates, fellow co-workers and anything other items needing prayer or praise that week. It's a special time to come together to remember and acknowledge THE ONE who deserves all the glory and praise for the work HE allows us to do. To THE ONE who has ultimate control and power over every situation.

We would love to invite you to join us in this time of prayer by subscribing to our monthly Prayer Team email. At the end of each month, you will receive an email outlining the prayers and praises for specific needs from that month. We hope you will pray along with us!

Sign up HERE.

 

 For more information about the prayer team, click HERE.

 

“Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well…The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” 
James 5:14-16

Monthly Gathering: "Helping Without Hurting"

The Vulnerable Children's Ministry

Presents a Workshop

“Helping Without Hurting”

with Guest Speaker Lynn Clay, Certified Poverty Trainer

 

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Willow Creek Community Church

67 E. Algonquin Road, So. Barrington, IL

(Room B204/206 near the chapel)

Caring for those who come from a background of poverty can often be confusing and complicated.  We can do a lot of damage assuming everyone should be “like us”.  Sometimes those who desire to help, can even create damage to the very people they wish to serve.  This workshop will help us learn to step into relationships with people who have a different way of approaching life and creating a bridge that allows us all to walk back and forth between the two worlds.

This workshop is designed for:

·         Adoptive Families

·         Foster Care Families

·         Safe Families Hosts

·         Those involved in orphan care

·         Those who care about vulnerable children

 

5:30 Dinner together (Atrium)

7:00 Worship service (Lakeside Auditorium)

7:30 Workshop (room B204/206)

 

 

 

Lynn Clay, Poverty Trainer 

Lynn is devoted to Christ for the past 25 years, a wife to Rich Clay for 23 years, a mom to Kristen (20) and Jasmine (16) and is on staff at The Chapel in Libertyville for the past 14 years. Her role at The Chapel includes being a Chaplain at the Lake County Jail, overseeing the jail ministry volunteers, an Area Leader for small group leaders and she does women’s pastoral counseling.  As a certified Poverty Trainer, she and her team teach classes on how to help/partner with those in poverty without doing more harm than good.  Her youngest daughter is adopted, putting her on a path to learn and grow in ways she never imagined and she is passionate about getting messy with relationships that take us out of our comfort zone.

 

Register HERE

 

Childcare is available with Midweek for Kids (ages 0-5 years)

 

Shoes for Orphaned Souls

Buckner International is celebrating the 15th anniversary of Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls

and they need you to help them reach an exciting goal: delivering the 3 millionth pair of shoes by the end of 2014.

  

People are needed to support Shoes for Orphan Souls this year by praying, donating a pair of new shoes, hosting a shoe drive where you live or traveling to deliver new shoes to orphans and vulnerable children.  Check out the following video to learn more, or visit www.shoesfororphansouls.org. 

Safe Families Host Training Day

 

 

Safe Families for Children and New Life Community Church Present:

The Greater Chicago Host Family Training Day

 

Prospective Safe Families, you're invited to a live, accelerated Comprehensive Training Session. 

Offered as an alternative to online training, this event is designed to equip you to welcome a child into your home and move you through the training process efficiently. The live Comprehensive Training Session includes everything you need to become a certified Safe Family—all in one place. 

• Start or submit your application
• Schedule a Home Study
• Complete your training hours
• Meet like-minded families who will support you

 

Doors open at 8:30 AM for those who need to start an application, schedule a home study, start a background check, or ask one-on-one questions.  Training session begins at 9:00 AM sharp.
 
A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. There will also be a variety of special giveaways throughout the training session you won't want to miss!

Free Parking is available on Keeler street next to the church.  

The training session will be presented by Tom Maluga the Director of Safe Families for Children since the ministry's inception in 2002.  Tom holds two Masters degrees, has served in two urban pastorates, and is devoted to helping urban families find God’s healing and redeeming grace.

Reserve your spot today! We look forward to seeing you on February 8 to equip and encourage you in your journey.

Training is FREE.   To Register click here:  http://www.eventbrite.com/e/host-family-training-day-new-life-community-church-february-8-2014-tickets-10250332019

If you have further questions please contact Tom Csora at  773-573-6759 or email at tcsora@safefamilies.net.

Adoption and Foster Care Conference

A Future and A Hope is a two day adoption and foster care conference located in Austin, TX taking place on February 14th and 15th! (Please note, there are separate registrations for each day.)

Day One- Professional Track: This workshop is designed for Social Workers, Counselors, Psychologists, Pastors and ministry leaders: join Hope for Orphans' Dr. Jon Bergeron and Robin Pennington as they partner with Austin Stone Counseling and Generations Adoptions to bring you new content on topics like working with families in post-placement crisis, ethics in international adoption and self-care for the professional. CEU's are available for this day.

Click here (http://hopefororphans.org/afah_flyer.pdf) to download a brochure. Click HERE to register now.

Day Two- Adoption and Foster Care Family Track: Are you interested in foster care or adoption? Are you already an adoptive parent? Are you already involved in foster care? Or, are you interested in serving those who have adopted or fostered? Come learn from experts in the adoption and foster care community!

Click HERE for more information and to register!

Adoptive Parent Training

Cherry Hill Center Presents....

An Adoptive Parenting Class

 

 

Are you dealing with an adopted child who is

angry, oppositional, lying, stealing, hoarding,

defiant, hostile, or aggressive? Are you tired

of the traditional parenting techniques that

don’t seem to work?

 

We have a word of hope for you!

 

 

 

 

Join us for a 10-week parenting

course with other adoptive parents

as we explore new ways to break

through to our adopted children,

despite their past experiences of

fear, neglect, and trauma.

This parenting course is based on

the book, Beyond Consequences,

Logic, and Control, Volume 1.

 

March 3 - May 5, 2014

Lake Zurich, IL

 

An initial phone interview is required in order to register for the course so

 

call today to reserve your spot!  Contact Amy Tanner at 847-438-4222 X17 or

 

amy@cherryhillcounseling.com.

 

 

 

 

Amy Tanner is a Licensed Clinical

Social Worker and has been

working in the field in various

capacities since 1998. She holds a

Master’s degree in Social Work

from the Jane Addams College of

Social Work at the University of

Illinois at Chicago.

Before joining Cherry Hill in 2008,

Amy worked exclusively with

abused and neglected children in

various settings, particularly in the

foster care and adoption arenas.

She has been thoroughly trained in

this Beyond Consequences

approach and is the only Certified

Instructor of this parenting model in

the State of Illinois.

http://cherryhillcenterlz.com

 

 

 

 

"Making Foster Care Work - Let Churches Lead"

Below is a very motivating article from Bloomberg.com news entitled "Make Foster Care Work - Let Churches Lead".  Wouldn't it be incredible to implement the same model - zip code by zip code - until every child is in a home that loves and supports them throughout their lives!  I encourage you to read the article.



http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-17/make-foster-care-work-let-churches-lead.html

Seminar: "Eating Disorders in Children & Adolescents"

Shelter, Inc.'s Community Education Department is proud to present this FREE seminar providing information about eating disorders in children and adolescents.  "Eating Disorders in Children   and Adolescents"     Featured Speaker:   Dr. Denise M. Styer, PsyD  Clinical Director  Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital Centers for Eating Disorders and Self-Injury Recovery Services         Friday, January 24, 2014  9:30 am - 12:30 pm   Schaumburg Township District Library 130 S. Roselle Rd, Schaumburg Adult Classroom   Admission is FREE - Light Breakfast Included Licensed social workers & counselors will have the opportunity to earn three (3) CEU's at no cost  by attending. Seating is limited.  Registration deadline is Monday, January 20th.   We expect this seminar to fill up quickly, please register early! Register Online      Or contact Laura Ramser,   Community Education Coordinator   847-590-6190 x37   lramser@shelter-inc.org

Shelter, Inc. is a nonprofit child welfare agency that protects abused and neglected children and adolescents by providing foster care, emergency and longer-term group home services in a safe and caring environment.  Our Healthy Families Program provides home visits to first-time parents emphasizing children's well-being and positive parenting.  Increased public awareness concerning child abuse, neglect and other social problems directly impacting children and their families is accomplished through our Community Education Program.

Change of Date: CAFO Webinar

 

 

January 2014 Webinar:

The Light of Life: The Church and Orphan Care from the First Century to the Present

One of the most distinctive aspects of the story of the Church through the ages has been its constant care for those the world has cast aside: the poor and outcast, the despised and rejected, the unloved and unlovely. From its earliest days, it was the Church that established hospitals, founded orphanages, rescued the perishing, and fought for justice for the ostracized and the brokenhearted.  This was not merely a new-found altruism.  It was the natural consequence of the Gospel itself. In this seminar, author and historian George Grant will survey the history of the Church’s distinctively Christian approach to the care of orphans.

 

Presenter: George Grant, Seminar Author, Historian, and Pastor, Parish Presbyterian Church

 

Date: Wednesday, January 29              Time: 2:00 pm (Eastern)

 

 

Book Discussion: The Global Orphan Crisis

 

The Vulnerable Children’s Ministry

 

Invites you to

 

A Book Discussion

January 22, 2014, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Willow Creek Community Church

67 E. Algonquin Road, South Barrington, IL 60010

Room b204/206 (near the Chapel)

 God calls His people to care for the orphaned and vulnerable children of the world. Many hearts around the world are stirred by this calling, and yet it is hard to know what to do without understanding the issues surrounding the global orphan crisis and without knowing exactly how to get involved.

In Diane Lynn Elliot’s book, The Global Orphan Crisis, she takes her readers on a journey of understanding and a call to action. The book discusses the factors that are contributing to the orphan crisis, the dangers that orphaned children face, and what this crisis looks like in different parts of the world.

 

Diane then talks about what it looks like to redeem orphaned and vulnerable children. She calls her readers to transformation so that they can then transform the lives of orphaned children around the world. The book contains many practical and real ways to get involved and how to invite others along that journey.

To enhance discussion, please come prepared by writing down your answers in advance to the questions at the end of each chapter.

 

 

Diane Lynn Elliot

 

Diane is an author, professional photographer, and business administrator.  She has a heart for people and a passion for ministry, specifically with women and children.  She has co-written two youth management books, and has spent many years in the not-for-profit and corporate settings.  Diane and her husband are fellow members of Willow Creek Community Church.

Dealing with Trials During an Adoption Journey

Below is a great video from AdoptionJourney.org.  I'm sure you'll find the couple in the video to be an inspiration as they tell about the struggles of their journey.

CAFO Webinar

 

 

YOU'RE INVITED...

THE LIGHT OF LIFE:  THE CHURCH AND ORPHAN CARE FROM THE FIRST CENTURY TO THE PRESENT  

 

Wednesday, January 15, 2014  |  2:00 PM (Eastern)

 

One of the most distinctive aspects of the story of the Church through the ages has been its constant care for those the world has cast aside: the poor and outcast, the despised and rejected, the unloved and unlovely. From its earliest days, it was the Church that established hospitals, founded orphanages, rescued the perishing, and fought for justice for the ostracized and the brokenhearted. This was not merely a new-found altruism.  It was the natural consequence of the Gospel itself.   In this seminar, author and historian George Grant will survey the history of the Church’s distinctively Christian approach to the care of orphans.      PRESENTER:   George Grant, Seminar Author, Historian, and Pastor, Parish Presbyterian Church

. . .

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.  Each 60-minute webinar is free and will give local advocates access to the knowledge and experience of top Alliance member churches and organizations nationwide.

Adoptive Families Event

Chicago Area Families For Adoption (CAFFA) invites you to a pool party!
Come beat the winter blahs!  We will have exclusive use of Oak Brook Aquatic Center's indoor facility. Lifeguards will be present but adult supervision is required. Enjoy pizza, beverages and dessert. CAFFA members and their friends and families are welcome--come join us, and invite your friends in the adoptive community too! Waiting families are encouraged to attend. This is a great way to meet and connect.


When:            Saturday, January 25th from 6 pm to 8 pm
Where:           Oak Brook Aquatic Center
                       1450 Forest Gate Road
                       Oak Brook, IL

Admission:      $10 per family (members)
                        $20 per family (non-members)

Register:         Pre-registration is required.  Pre-register at http://www.caffa.org/caffaevents.html

Deadline:        Monday, January 20, 2014

We hope you join us!  For questions, please email social@caffa.org or call our voice mail at 1.708.79.ADOPT

D.C.F.S. Classes at Willow Creek Community Church

 

 

Calling all prospective foster families!  If you are interested in becoming licensed foster parents,  mandatory P.R.I.D.E.  classes will be held at Willow Creek/So. Barrington this spring.  Please note: you must be referred to this class by a foster care agency, and register through DCFS.

Tuesdays, March 4 - April 29th

6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Willow Creek Community Church

67 E. Algonquin Road, So. Barrington, IL

Trainer: Joyce Moffitt

PRIDE PRE-SERVICE TRAINING FOR PROSPECTIVE FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS 27 hours

The goal of this competency based training is to share essential information about fostering and adopting that will help the participants to develop into a successful foster and/or adoptive family.  It will also help you to learn the knowledge and skills you need to make an informed decision about fostering or adopting and get off to a healthy start. 27 hours.