CAFO Summit 9 in Nashville, TN

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Registration has begun for the Christian Alliance for Orphans annual conference.  I, along with members of our leadership team, have attended the last four conferences, and each time we have all come away inspired, challenged, educated & better equipped to continue our efforts in serving the children and families in our community.   This is THE premier conference to attend if you are involved in any type of ministry that serves vulnerable children.  I highly encourage you to attend.  See you there!

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR SUMMIT 9! Join us May 2-3, 2013 in Nashville, TN EXPLORE and celebrate how God's profound love for the fatherless reveals the depths of His love for each of us. LEARN to build up the local church as a vibrant center of adoption, foster care and global orphan ministry. EXPERIENCE the burgeoning orphan care movement with adoptive and foster families, enthusiastic advocates, ministry entrepreneurs, and believers from around the globe. GROW practical knowledge and skills for parents, churches, and organizations in more than eighty workshops and unforgettable plenary sessions including: David Platt, Randy Alcorn, Michele Bachmann, Bishop & Donna Martin, Nicole C. Mullen and other global leaders.

IJM Global Prayer Gathering

Are you passionate about prayer? Want to see how prayer impacts IJM’s work around the world? Join IJM for the 2013 Global Prayer Gathering on April 5-7 as IJM friends and field office leaders unite in Washington, DC. Together, you will hear news fresh from the frontlines and pray for justice on behalf of the oppressed. Find all the details at IJM.org/gpg – including exciting programs for Students, Church Leaders and IJM Alumni. Last year’s event sold out several weeks in advance, so sign up today! Questions? Contact gpg@ijm.org

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Training

CASA Needs YOU! Save the Date
	Join CASA in supporting and promoting court appointed volunteer advocacy to give abused and neglected children a voice.
Learn how you can give your time to help the CASA mission. Attend an information session! Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer. ~ author unknown Advocate Night Tuesday, January 29 from 6 - 7:30 pm Crystal Lake Public Library 126 Paddock St. Crystal Lake, IL OR Wednesday, February 6 from 6 - 7:30 pm Woodstock Public Library 414 W. Judd St. Woodstock, IL Are you interested in directly making a difference in a child's life by being their voice? Join us for this informational session about becoming a CASA Advocate. Current advocates will be on hand to answer your questions and share their experiences. Can't make it? Email jorie@casamchenrycounty.org or call 815-363-5920 for more information. Please visit our website at www.casamchenrycounty.org Donate to our cause at http://www.casamchenrycounty.org/donations

Orphan Care Training at Harvest Bible Chapel

HARVEST BIBLE CHAPEL

presents

 

Orphan Care Training

Join us for our 2013 Orphan Care Training

February 23, 2013 

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Rolling Meadows Campus

 

Admission is Free

Attend a main session along with 3 workshops of your choice.

Workshops cover Safe families, Foster Care and Adoption focused

topics for families considering, in process, or living out orphan care.

Register at the link below to let us know you are coming, sign

up for childcare, and to purchase a lunch!

To register for this free training, go to:

www.harvestbiblechapel.org/octraining

 

Shelter, Inc. Fundraising Event

Sunnyridge Benefit for Birth Parent Services

 

Fashion Show Benefit
Sunny Ridge Welcomes Tammie Souza at March 2 Benefit
Mark your calendars and join us on Saturday, March 2, 2013, as we

host our annual Sunny Ridge Spring Fashion Show Benefit at the Abbington Banquets in Glen Ellyn. Special guest Tammie Souza from FOX Chicago will be on hand to help Sunny Ridge present our fashions. Doors open at 10:30am, and the day includes shopping, silent auction, lunch, and Spring Fashion Show. Call the ladies and make it a girls' day out in support of Sunny Ridge Birth Parent Services. Watch our website for more information!  www.sunnyridgefamilycenter.org 

Adoption Play "Finding Claire"

Finding Claire

By Kim Merrill

Directed by Joy Surber

Performance Dates: February 14-16, all shows at 8:00pm

Elmhurst College's
Mill Theater

253 Walter St.

Elmhurst, IL 60126

 

About the Show:

Claire was unwed and in high school when she became pregnant. At that time, society considered her an unfit mother, and she was pressured into giving her baby daughter up for adoption. Now an adult, Rachel is searching for her biological family and a place to belong and call home. Rachel struggles to find her place in the family she’s never met as her half sister struggles to make a decision that will bring this family full circle.

Finding Claire examines adoption and the stigma attached to being a young, single mother and how those things have changed in the span of just a generation.

 

About Getting Tickets:

All tickets are $5.

The group rate for 10 or more people is $4 a ticket.

Please call the box office at 630-617-3005 to make your reservation.

Seats are reserved, so by making your reservations, you ensure that you get the best seats possible.

 

Click here for the New York Times review.  It's not the same cast, but will give you more details about the play.

http://theater2.nytimes.com/2005/02/12/theater/reviews/12clai.html?_r=0

Urgent Action Alert: Contact your member of Congress Today

ACTION ALERT: Russia: Contact your member of Congress today! January 15, 2013 Opportunity for Members of Congress to Sign Letters to Presidents Putin and Obama Members of Congress have a short window of opportunity to sign on to two letters regarding Russia’s recent decision to ban adoptions to the United States. The first letter is to President Vladimir Putin of Russia and the second is to President Obama. Both letters appeal to each leader to recognize the basic human rights of these children and all children in Russia to a family and to work to resolve the pending cases of children who were in the adoption process prior to the January 1, 2013 ban. Senator Roy Blunt and Congressional Coalition on Adoption Co-Chairs Senator Landrieu, Senator Inhofe, Representative Bachmann and Representative Karen Bass are currently circulating these letters for signature by their colleagues, with a deadline to sign on to these letters of tomorrow, Wednesday, January 16 at 12pm EST . Please contact your Senators and Representative today and urge them to sign on to these letters and lend their support to Russia’s children. Offices interested in signing on should contact Libby Whitbeck in Senator Landrieu’s office or Kristina Weger in Senator Blunt’s office. - You can find your Senators’ phone numbers and email address at www.senate.gov - You can find your Representatives’ phone numbers and email address at www.house.gov Please distribute this information widely to your friend and family, requesting they also contact their Members of Congress prior to Wednesday, January 16 at 12pm EST Our Thanks to Senator Roy Blunt and Congressional Coalition on Adoption Co-Chairs Senator Landrieu, Senator Inhofe, Representative Bachmann and Representative Karen Bass and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute for their continued leadership on this issue.

Fields of the Fatherless Book Discussion & Pot-luck

Please join us for a

Pot-Luck Dinner and Book Discussion

 

 

Sunday, January 20, 2013

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Willow Creek Community Church

67 E. Algonquin Road, So. Barrington, IL

Room F150

Book: "Fields of the Fatherless: Discovering the Joy of Compassionate Living"

by author Tom Davis

 

Order you book now at Amazon.com.

 Download your discussion guide at here.

Even if you are  not able to read the book, we invite you to come and join in this important discussion.

Childcare is available if you R.S.V.P. with the number of children and their ages to vcministry127@gmail.com.

Paul Pennington Addresses Russian Adoption Crisis

Yesterday's program of "In the Market with Janet Parshall" included an interview with Paul Pennington, founder of Hope for Orphans.  Paul issues a cry for justice on behalf of Russia’s little ones. 

I encourage you to take a few minutes to listen for yourself at the podcast link below. 

http://www.moodyradio.org/brd_podcast.aspx?Program=InTheMarketWithJanetParshall.