"World Without End"

Two fantastic songs, both entitled "World Without End."  One, by A.A. Bondy, is new to me and is a great tune.  The other is a cover of the song written by Reece Roper and performed by Five Iron Frenzy...an old love that I was reminded of today. Enjoy.

A God-Sized Dream

As a follow-up to some recent discussions in chapel and in my Bible classes, I assigned a paper about dreams/vision to my students.  The idea is that they will lay out a "God-sized" dream for their life in a 2-3 page paper.  Obviously, God will adjust their thinking through experiences over the course of their lives, but I believe that without specific plans people tend to spin their wheels. I want them to think big, world-changing thoughts instead of settling for mediocrity.  

I decided that it would help my students to write out this paper covering my own vision and share it with them.  In the long run, putting this dream down on paper has been infinitely more valuable to me than to them.  The following is the paper that I wrote.

Introduction


Recently, I preached a sermon to my students about setting the bar higher for their expectations of themselves and the dreams for their lives.  We live in a country that perpetuates the idea that wealth, family and influence define a “successful” life.  While none of these ideals are wrong in and of themselves, they completely leave God’s plans out of the picture.  Does God define success by these ideals or is there something different to his evaluation of our lives?  I believe that God evaluates our lives on the basis of two things.  First, did we live in relationship with Him?  Second, did we carry out His will for our lives?  When it comes to questions of God’s will, I am beginning to firmly believe that God’s plans for us are far more significant than we would ever dream.  I think the bar is set higher by God than we imagine.  I also know that His will is always others-centered and God-honoring.  Finally, I believe that with the Spirit of God living in us, there is virtually no limit to what we can do when we live according to His plan for our lives.
My dream over the past few years has been to internationally adopt a child from an orphanage.  Through this process, God has convicted me that my dreams are simply not big enough.  While adoption will be a part of our family, my calling is to rally others to engage in orphan care and adoption.  Ultimately, my prayer is that God would use me to help end the orphan crisis in the United States.

My Next Steps Are...

First, and foremost, my wife and I hope to complete our adoption process from Ukraine over the next three months.  It is one thing to talk about adoption and orphan care, it is another thing to take action.  I don’t think I will really be able to comprehend the plight of the orphan until I come face to face with children who are fatherless.  My prayer is that after the process is complete, I will be able to more clearly articulate my vision and also have the credibility to share that vision with others.
Second, I need to avail myself of more resources in order to have a complete picture of the orphan crisis.  I recently began reading Orphanology (Morton/Merida), a book that provides a Gospel-centered perspective on adoption and orphan care.  It has been extremely insightful, both in terms of the theology of adoption and by providing practical wisdom for orphan ministry.  I plan to undertake a Biblical study of adoption over the trip to Ukraine so that I can better understand God’s heart for children without earthly parents.
Finally, my wife and I plan to begin an adoption support ministry through Bridgepoint Church.  I’m not certain what this group will entail, but I am certain that it is absolutely necessary.  There are a preponderance of families within the congregation who have adopted or have expressed a desire to do so.  Our experiences, along with those of others, need to be shared in order to edify and support those beginning or in the middle of pursuing adoption.

In Five Years...

Unofficially, there are approximately 10,000 children in Indiana living in temporary foster homes or facilities.  About 200 of these children come from families in which both parents have had their parents’ rights terminated by the state.  That means these children are immediately adoptable.  (This number of course fluctuates slightly on a daily basis, but overall it remains relatively stable.)  There are well over 3,000,000 church members in the state of Indiana.  When you consider the statistics, it seems obvious to me that the Church in Indiana could single-handedly end the orphan crisis in this state.  It would take 1 in 15,000 church members to adopt to place those 200 children in homes.  If 1 in 300 church members stepped up to adopt or foster, every children could be placed in a safe, loving Christian home.  So, how do we make this happen?
I hope that Bridgepoint Church’s adoption and orphan care ministry can be a springboard to other churches starting similar ministries.  In the next two years, I would like to initiate these ministries at least ten other churches in Northwest Indiana.  My goal would be that those ten churches would begin their ministry with the understanding that they will plant an adoption ministry at another church within the following three years.  At minimum, there would be 20 new adoption church-based adoption ministries in Indiana by 2018.  Could each of those 20 churches help to initiate 10 adoptions each?  I believe this is a goal that is entirely reachable.  Could those 20 churches help to place 500 foster children in Christian homes?  This goal is lofty, but not impossible with God behind it.
This movement would not primarily focus on pro-life/anti-abortion programs or on pregnancy crisis care centers, but we certainly would support and partner with these organizations.  At the heart of orphan care and adoption is a decidedly pro-life worldview.  These groups must work hand-in-hand.  If abortion is slowed or, better yet, eradicated, someone will need to stand in the gap to adopt these new lives.  Our organization would help be a part of the “problems” that arise when pro-life advocates are successful.
On a more personal level, Alyssa and I would like to adopt more children from the foster care system as God would allow.  We have already taken the steps to learn the Indiana process and feel equipped to act when the time is right.  If we are going to be advocates for fostered and orphaned children, we want to be leading the charge in word and in deed.  We love children and want to protect the most vulnerable kids, both on personal level and on program level.

In My Lifetime...

At the end of my life, it is my dream to see every adoptable, orphaned child in this country in a permanent family.  There are over 100,000 children who are immediately adoptable in the United States and there are over 330,000 churches.  This dream is completely possible, even if the numbers are significant.
Obviously, the Indiana adoption ministry program would need to spread throughout the United States over a 20-30 year period in order to see this massive goal realized.  After the year period of developing ministry in Indiana, I would like to spend the next 5-10 years expanding this ministry into the Great Lakes region.  We would particularly focus on Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio.  I think that a multi-state movement of adopting churches would be able to establish national momentum and quickly spread the ministry into other parts of the country.  I would like to place speakers at major Christian conferences and ministry events to try and engage new, committed churches to the movement.  In the midst of this growth, I would like to write about orphan care and adoption, whether it be through books or an online platform.
Seeing the United States orphan crisis end seems like an impossibility when you consider how long the problem has existed and the significance of the orphan/foster statistics. Yet, we serve a God that is much bigger than these problems.  We also are part of the Body of Christ that, when awakened and empowered, is far stronger than the sin that is in the world.  I refuse to settle for dreams that are ultimately mediocre.  The American Dream has allowed the bar to be set far too low for all of us, including Christians.  My family and job are important to me and are foundational to my life; yet, I think we were all made for more than the typical.  My dream is to see the American orphan crisis ended and I will fight to see it happen.  I pray that God will prepare and strengthen me to carry out His will in this calling.

The Cost (and Adoption News)

Instead of worrying about what the adoption is going to cost, I've started thinking about what it would cost us if we DIDN'T adopt.  Yes, the money needed sometimes feels like an insurmountable obstacle.  Yes, we are anxious about how our family will blend with new children.  Yes, the setbacks have been frustrating and, at times, crushing.  However, we won't stop until we have reached the finish line.  There are children sitting in an orphanage that we know will be sitting in their bedroom in our home in the near future.  Quitting now would cost us that vision and it would mean we believed our God could not or will not provide.  The cost of not pressing on is far greater than the finances needed to complete the adoption. 

Perhaps you have seen this video before.  If so, I anticipate that you will feel the urge to watch it again. If not, you must watch this brief film.  It puts into words and pictures how we feel about adoption and explains why we have pressed on over the last two years.

Like I said, it sums up the passion behind what we're doing.  We currently have about $10, 500 left to raise before we leave for Europe at some point this summer.  This includes an interest-free adoption loan of $5,000 (which we prefer not to take, but are thankful for this provision.)  To us, it is a big mountain to climb.  However, we serve a God who says through faith we can move mountains.  So, we are trusting that God in His might will throw this mountain out of the way of our progress.  We believe this because we know that God loves orphans more than we ever could and it is His will that these children be loved and cared for.  

So, we submit our plans to God in faith and we trust in Him for provision.  What are our plans?  Well, we will continue to operate the etsy store and sell our remaining jarred items as well as prints, bibs and more.  You can visit the store and support us here.  We also plan to try to sell many of these items at farmer's markets and community sales.  Second, we are planning an event that will include garage sales in multiple locations on the same day.  The idea is that friends, family or adoption supporters will host a yard sale---big or small---to raise the remaining funds.  We are working on sales in Hobart and Valparaiso, but would love to see sales across the region, state, and even the country.  If a sale like this is something you might consider hosting, please let me know by commenting on this blog or emailing me at derekchirch@comcast.net.  Third, we will probably host a couple of nights at local fast food restaurants where a percentage of profits will go towards the adoptions.  Fourth, we will pray for donations and grants to help us.  Finally, we will continue to pour as much money into our adoption account as we can over the next couple of months.  Most of you know that we work in non-profit ministry, so we are by no means wealthy (by the American standard, at least).  But, I think it is important to share that we give a large percentage of our income towards this adoption each month.  It is not much, but we want to do everything we can do if we are asking for others to come alongside us.

At this point, it appears we should have all paperwork completed this week.  We will get everything notarized and sent to Indianapolis for the apostille process.  Meanwhile, our facilitator is already translating our home study and other paperwork we have emailed to her.  Once things come back in a week or so, we will send everything overseas.  It will likely be a month or less until we are given a travel date.  That date could be a couple of weeks away or a month or more away.  So, optimistically, we could be leaving in the third week of June.  Conservatively, we could leave in early July.  Either way, we finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.  There is a lot of money to raise and our paperwork needs to move smoothly, but we prayerfully trust the Lord that His timing is perfect here.  Thank you all for your prayers, encouragement and giving!  We've almost completed the journey!  

Then the real journey of becoming a family starts. :)

Do You Dream Big Enough?

Are the size of your dreams in proportion to the size of your God? This is Mr. Chirch's message from today, as well as some AMAZING dreams from some of our VCA students...those testimonies start at 29:00...please check those out and see what God is doing in the lives of some of our students!

VCA Chapel-4-24-13- Derek Chirch

Signs of the Times

Apparently, this is the week for signs and symbols on Facebook.  As it is Holy Week, inevitably you've seen numerous symbols of our Christian faith, primarily crosses, but plenty of additional Christ-imagery.  If you're a true "'Bookie" (my name for frequent Facebook users...it's probably going viral), you could not have missed the abundance of red and pink equality signs posted to show support for gay marriage.  Then there's the response imagery---pink and red crosses, abortion-themed pictures, and quirky memes deriding the entire viral imagery movement.  Of course, most of these pictures are posted to generate discussion, to be provocative, or, honestly, to irritate.  Unfortunately, there's been plenty of talk and very little discussion.  I've read plenty of monologues and lots of back-patting, but not much civil engagement between either side of this issue.

So, should I just write another monologue, pouring my beliefs out in an environment that is slightly less invasive than Facebook?  That's not the point of this blog (and either way, I'll be posting this link to Facebook for all you 'Bookies to check out).  I won't try to speak for those who are posting the equality sign.  Certainly, they have their reasons and feel justified in their approach.  My commentary is for Christians who feel obligated to use their social media to chime in on this "debate" (which is really no debate at all, considering that the two sides aren't really talking, right?).

I've got a few friends and several more acquaintances who are gay, and my experience has been that a social media image or meme, let alone a diatribe, has never convinced anyone that their lifestyle is wrong.  For most, being gay is not something they can be talked out of.  Whether you agree or not, you will be hard-pressed to find a gay person who will tell you they are choosing homosexuality.  So, talking someone out of something they believe is a part of their makeup is not a realistic approach.

If this is the case, what does posting an anti gay-marriage image or comment really accomplish?  Well, other Christians may look on with smug approval and pat you on the back for a job well-done.  You may have exercised your right to free speech.  Maybe you feel you've stood up for what is right.  But you haven't changed anyone's mind.  No one is changing their lifestyle based on your post.  The Supreme Court isn't eagerly checking out your page to help them make a decision on gay marriage.  It's quite likely you've further alienated the people you say you want to reach...that's about all that has been accomplished.  (Side note:  As much as I like the cross of Christ, I don't really like the pink and red response crosses.  It smacks of snarkiness and is far more likely to create needless conflict than to convert anyone.)

Pictures don't change people.  Arguments don't change people.  Your religion doesn't change people.  Jesus, however, He actually has the power to change things.  Let's focus our outreach on the person of Jesus, the transformer of the world.  Instead of introducing to people to stereotypical Christianity, let's introduce them to the Christ.  Let's allow Christ to work in the lives of people without us stepping all over the work He is trying to do.

What's your motivation when you post?  Biblically speaking, if love is not at the heart, it's time to delete.  Later, Bookies.

Five Symptoms of Spiritual Infancy

I've read a lot of books in recent months that attempt to diagnose the problems of the Church and look to provide a remedy for said problems.  Topics have ranged from small groups, to relationship development, to post-modern philosophy.  You know what?  I think the "problem" with the Church is a lack of spiritually mature people.  We have a lot of spiritual babies and few spiritually mature adults.  I like to think that I am progressing into spiritual maturity, but I admit that occasionally I suffer from Benjamin Button syndrome.  I look around the Christian school I teach at and the church I attend and can't help but notice a lot of baby believers.  Sadly, most of these people are not new believers.  "Baby believer" does not necessarily equate to "new believer."  Most people don't even recognize that they are spiritually immature.  Do you consider yourself spiritually mature?  Consider what the Scripture says about infant Christians.

*Baby Christians are jealous.  In I Corinthians 3, Paul addresses the church as "mere infants in Christ," people who are not ready for spiritual "meat."  He indicates that a symptom of immature faith is jealousy and quarreling.  Babies are self-centered.  They know no other way.  Likewise, an immature believer is consumed with self.  If you constantly find yourself to be jealous of others or overly concerned with the affairs of other believers, you have a pride and jealousy issue.  You want what others have because you feel you deserve what others have.  My niece and nephew (4 and 2 respectively) can go from sweet to very quickly at each other's throats when something they both want enters the scenario.  This is normal for toddlers...it's not okay for supposedly mature Christians.

*Baby Christians are unskilled with God's Word.  Paul indicates in Hebrews 5:13 that spiritual babies are unable to rightly divide God's Word.  Want to know if you're spiritually mature?  Ask yourself, "How well do I know God's Word?  How often do I read His Word?"  Further, do you simply read God's Word or do you study it, breathing it in like oxygen needed to survive?  Your spiritual maturity is completely dependent on your study of God's Word.  Unfortunately, there are many Biblically illiterate Christians who consider themselves mature.  This is nearly impossible.

*Baby Christians have no discernment between good and evil.  Again, in Hebrews 5, Paul notes that spiritual babies cannot rightly determine between right and wrong.  Young children have to be taught from birth what is right and wrong.  They have little natural discernment about good and evil.  As Christians, we often think we know right from wrong when the truth is we're either misguided or afraid to stand for what's right.  I believe that the term "gray area" has probably been used more over the last two decades of Christendom than the previous 1900+ years combined.  What has always been considered right and always been considered wrong is now up for grabs in a post-modern culture that throws absolutes to the wind.  Spiritually mature people do not lose their moral or Biblical compass.  Do not misunderstand what I mean here.  I'm the last person to insist that a movie with an "R" rating or a "secular" song is evil.  These labels are oftentimes unfair and lead to Christians who can't/don't think for themselves.  We need to judge all things on merit, not on label.  Yet, there are many things that the Bible is clear are wrong and yet, we have made them gray areas.  The spiritually mature person knows what the Bible teaches and is not afraid to stand up for what's right.  A spiritually mature person does not consistently take the "gray area" route to avoid offense or to avoid making a hard call in their own life.  Spiritually mature people are not tossed to and fro by the cultural and community waves.  

*Baby Christians have no filter on their words.  You may remember Bill Cosby's program "Kids Say the Darndest Things."  Bill would interview children and, just like the title indicated, they would say outrageous, unscripted things.  Kids have a tendency to simply blurt out what they think and what is in their heart.  Sometimes that makes you feel good when it's nice, and sometimes you learn some thing about yourself that you didn't want to know!  Spiritually immature people are similar to children in that they do not filter their words.  The New Testament talks at length about how a Christian should talk.  Scripture not only outlines what is evil (gossip, slander, coarse joking, inappropriate language) but also gives guidelines for what we SHOULD be saying (encouragement, prayer, praise, etc).  Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the man speaks/acts.  You can almost always tell if a person is spiritually mature by the way they speak to and of others.  If your words are full of hate, envy, discouragement and destruction, you'll have a hard time convincing me that you are not a spiritual baby.  In fact, you may have a hard time convincing anyone that you are a believer at all.  

*Baby Christians can't feed themselves.  Paul wrote in Hebrews that there were Christians who should have been mature enough to teach and yet they were still being bottle-fed milk.  This may be the biggest but most subtle symptom of baby Christianity.  I can't tell you how many times I have whined after a Church service that I didn't "get anything" out of the sermon.  Those are the words of a spiritually immature person.  Once you consider yourself to be spiritually mature, the emphasis shifts from being discipled to being a discipler.  You still must feed yourself on God's Word, and the Bible is rich and filling to those who hunger for it.  However, you begin to approach "church" and "sermons" as an opportunity for others to be fed and for yourself to gain tools to feed others.  This is something that has strongly convicted me recently and is changing my approach to church.

I don't have everything figured it out.  However, that does not undermine my message here or knock me off my soap box.  I acknowledge my failings and desire to grow more mature in my faith, and these are two key ingredients for growth----humility and desire.  I hope to see God glorified through my life and through the lives of those around me.  If we stay infants forever, we limit the good we can do for the sake of Christ.  Babies can only do so much, and babies are a lot of work for those who are mature.  Let us grow up into the strength, power and wisdom that is part of the inheritance promised to us in Christ.  It's time to get off the bottle.