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.
