In light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision in regard to Row vs. Wade, I have thought a lot about our adoption story. Several years ago, sometime in 2010, Mandy and I began to discuss the idea of adopting a child. God had blessed our family so much in the areas of extended families and church families, and our own family life, that we felt we should share the blessings. We spent many months in prayer and exploring all the options. We landed on adopting a child with minor or correctible special needs from China. We began the process through a well-known adoption agency, but doors seemed to keep closing on us. We still felt that we had been called to adopt a child, but we decided that the timing wasn’t right. Soon, Annie, our third child, came along and rocked our world. Then, after we moved to Scottsboro in 2013, we both felt that it was time to get started with the process again. This time, God provided for us each step along the way, and everything seemed to fall into place. In January 2015, we applied to Lifeline Children’s Services to adopt through their China program. After about a year of waiting, lots of dollars and mounds of paperwork, we were matched with Eli who was, at the time, 2-years-old and living in an orphanage in Chongqing, China. In May of 2016, Mandy and I made the long journey to Chongqing to welcome our fourth child, Eli into our family.
We are six years into our adoption journey with Eli. I have learned that adoption is filled with what I would call glorious contradictions. It is both difficult and wonderful, messy and beautiful, emotionally draining yet fulfilling, challenging yet satisfying. It teaches us about God’s grace and long-suffering. It’s a calling. It’s one of the greatest examples of God’s grace and mercy. I’ve learned so much about God’s patience and enduring love toward me. Would I adopt another child? If I’m honest, my reflex answer would be no. But I can say with all sincerity say we would do it again if God led our family to do so.
As we celebrate the Supreme Court’s recent decision, I believe now more than ever before, we the church need to stand in the gap. James 1:27 says, “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” What better way to show the love of Christ than to take care of those who can not care for themselves?
Over the last several weeks I’ve read many articles and posts on news outlets and Facebook about the Supreme Courts’s decision. One that stood out comes from a friend of mine in Scottsboro. One simple line he wrote said, “Choose life: encourage, equip, love, and adopt.” Unwanted pregnancies will not stop if abortion is no longer an option. The church at large and specifically Wall Highway has a great history of caring for orphans. We must continue this and even increase our efforts. There will be young mothers-to-be who need the love and support of the body of Christ. They will need encouragement that they and their children have hope for a future in Christ. They will need equipping to know they can parent their child with the support of the church if they so choose. They will need love, true love that Christ displays through His church. Additionally, some will need Christians who are willing to answer the call and adopt their children when that is the only option they have.
It all really boils down to one question: will we the church be the hands and feet of Jesus and care for those who cannot care for themselves? I pray that we will.
Sincerely,
Pastor Allen