Adoption Support

Hebrews 10:23-24 

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.

When I look back on our journey of adoption as well as our new ministry of foster care, the most helpful thing in the past 10+ years has been having the support and encouragement of an understanding group of like-minded believers.  This support system has been exceedingly more helpful than any book or training on adoption, attachment, trauma, neglect, abuse, culture, or development.  At times during the past 10+ years this support system has helped us hold on to our Hope while we were so weak.  When our faith wavered, they reminded us that He who promised is faithful.  And they continually aimed at stirring us up to love and good works.  

For a short season during our first adoptions we co-led a support group for adoptive families in our area.  When we adopted our first sibling group of older children, we walked through a dark valley for a season and we set aside our role in co-leading that group and the group eventually quit meeting, though several of the group members have continued to be a cherished part of our lives, even today. We are so thankful for friendships that have weathered some of our darkest storms.  

Once we were able to regroup enough to leave home for support group meetings again, we tried out a variety of support groups in our area. We found that most had a focus that was not helpful for our family - either relying too heavily on contemporary psychology and the advice of the world or spending too much time focused on the disasters, dilemmas, diagnoses, and disappointments of adoption.  Our hearts craved a group that was focused on Christ and not on our circumstances and that had a Biblical view of adoption.  We needed a group that would do as Hebrews 10:23-24 directs. We needed reminders of God's faithfulness.  We needed others who would help us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering in those dark valleys that we knew would eventually come again in life.

We are so thankful for the adoption support group that we meet with once a month.  The group lives out Hebrews 10:23-24, effectively propelling one another on toward love and good works.  This group is literally the hands and feet of Christ to come alongside adoptive families.  An added bonus to this support group is that our children are all welcome and involved.  The older children meet for open gym time in a supervised setting and the younger children meet in a nursery/play room setting. The adults who minister to the children make it a priority to propel them to love and good works as well. We have seen our children step up to be purposeful encouragers of other kids who may share a similar background.  It is a sweet thing to see children embracing the opportunity to build one another up and come alongside someone who is struggling.

If you live in the Twin Cities metro area and are looking for an amazing support group to encourage you in your journey with adoption, foster care, or Safe Families for Children, please consider visiting the support group we attend.  It is called Propel after Hebrews 10:24.  Propel meets the second Friday of every month during the school year from 7-9 at New Hope Church in New Hope, utilizing the parking lot on the back side of the building.  We would love to see you there and to consider with you how to stir up one another to love and good works.