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Come With Us on a Vision Team Trip!
Katie approached her husband, Ken, with the words: "We need to do something more." Katie had just finished reading a book about a missionary to Uganda who tirelessly gave herself to reach children and widows with the love of Christ. What impressed Katie most about the story was that whenever the…
An Open Letter to Adult Adoptees
You were adopted? So was I. I'm the girl on the right with the puff sleeves and the too-short bangs (circa 1980s). When I was in the third grade one of the teachers at my school casually suggested I might be Canadian. (Her proof? I had blonde hair…
How to Bring a Church Family Together (hint: adopt)
I (Ken) am a pastor and have seen so many amazing things the Lord has done in the lives of others. In all my years of following Jesus and bringing others to a relationship with Him, my wife Sarah and I have never seen so much joy from others…
3 Reasons Orphan Care Needs Testosterone
The first time Mike Howerton thought about orphans was on a mission trip to Kenya in 1999. He and his team were ministering to street children ranging in age from 2 to 13. Moved by what he saw, Mike asked a missionary, "What is the hope for these…
Church Under the Acacia Tree | Ethiopia Update
Enjoy this update from Ethiopia directors, Gary and Peggy Ifft, with Misgana Ministries-- Greetings from very hot Ziway. This time of the year is usually warmer, but nothing like what it is this year. The officials are blaming it on El Niño. The high temperatures each day range from…
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…
Adoption: A Dad’s Perspective
Post created by guest contributor, Peter Ashmore. Looking at the title of “A Dad’s Perspective”... I want to address some issues that I believe are at the core of the orphan crisis. These are issues I struggled with—lies I at one time believed and sometimes still battle. So,…
3 Ways You Can Support Family Preservation
Easy answers rarely exist when caring for vulnerable children around the world. Thankfully, hard questions can be used by God to cause us to think more deeply and critically about difficult topics. One frequently asked question: Is it possible to support international adoption and family preservation simultaneously? We…
Singles and Orphan Care: Husband Not Required
Guest post written by Leslie Anne You’re single. You have a heart for orphans and want to get involved. You’re excited about the opportunity God has given you to follow after Him wholeheartedly with a single-focus and can barely believe you’ve been blessed with the freedom to seek…
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…