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The Last 2 Seats | Family Friday
When we started the adoption process we really had no idea where all the money was coming from. It was one of my personal reasons for not considering it for a long time. The cost was nearly an entire year’s worth of salary. We are on the low…
It’s Time to Celebrate!
Outside the Walls has met a new milestone! As many as 153 million orphans world-wide are trapped in a cycle of hopelessness. Adoptive families all over the world wish to bring fatherless children into their family, however, finances often pose great obstacles or even cause good families to walk…
$10,000 in Pocket Change | Family Friday
For many years, my wife and I have been talking about adopting a little girl from China. God finally put it on our hearts to begin the process in 2013 and we started to research the details of the adoption process. With an estimated total of $35-40,000 in…
Empowered to Connect: 5 Valuable Take-aways
Editor's note: Several weeks ago the decision was made to publish a post at the conclusion of the Empowered to Connect Conference this past weekend (April 7-8). The conference was a success, and we returned to the daily grind with no idea that God would call Dr. Karyn…
The Big Hike: Putting Feet to Faith
Terry Smathers, like you, is an adoption advocate. In recent years God impressed on his heart to do more for the fatherless and vulnerable. Terry always dreamed of hiking the Appalachian Trail, the narrow 2,190-mile route that runs from Georgia to Maine. For years he envisioned taking the 5 million steps…
3 Exciting Resources!
Let's breathe some life into these long, winter months, shall we? We have 3 opportunities for you to take advantage of or pass along to other friends or family. 1. mySTORY: We are excited to share the news that mySTORY, our new crowdfunding platform for adopting families and adoption…
7 Ways Your Church Can Serve the Fatherless
We talk a lot about churches serving the fatherless. Sunday School classes discuss it and entire Orphan Sundays are dedicated to the topic. But orphan care shouldn't just be a ministry option within the church. It should be a mission of the entire body. What does it look like for the…
When God Pays the Bills
On August 11th, 2013, we were on the brink of a financial crisis. We had already been through several years of a struggling business. We had depleted our three-figure savings and were trying to resolve a three-figure business debt that the bank demanded to be paid in full.…
Growing from 5 to 11
Michael and Suzanne say they're just an ordinary family. They help out with homework, share family dinners, and try to keep their schedule straight. While this ordinary family started out with three children, God has been leading them on an adventure... The Journey Begins Through a…
3 Truths When Mother’s Day Is Hard
For women all over the country, Sunday will bring a bombardment of sticky, unidentifiable crafts. Mothers will treasure these masterpieces even if they have no idea what they actually are. Fact: There are worse things in life than looking like a hippo in a child's drawing of the…