Adoption is a picture of the Gospel!

My friend Luke talked about adoption in our Bible study group at work. He mentioned that his church is really getting behind this ministry, after having seen a video from the Project123 site-based on James 1:23

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction (James 1:27a)

Here is the video



Luke and his his wife (with two biological sons already) have sought to join their church in this ministry. In the last year, they have been very close to adopting only to endure the disappointment of the birth mother choosing another family.

Luke attended a conference called Together for Adoption, which focuses on "vertical" and "horizontal" adoption.

Together for Adoption (T4A) sponsors regional adoption conferences that focus primarily on vertical adoption (i.e., God adopting us in Christ), with a secondary focus on its implications for orphan care and horizontal adoption (i.e., couples adopting children). In fulfillment of our objectives, we desire to see conference attendees walk away from a T4A event:

• understanding why it is that vertical adoption is the highest blessing of the gospel
  
• rejoicing afresh in the gospel
  
• moved to act on James 1:27 both locally and globally

My hope in posting this is that you will visit some of the links on adoption (see below) and be reminded of the believer's glorious adoption into God's family through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Having meditated on the truth of our undeserved adoption, perhaps you will be led to consider adoption in your family.Luke mentioned a quote from a speaker at the conference. He said, "We should all have our heart in adoption, but we will not all have our hands in it." In other words, even if you are not led to adopt, you can encourage and support those who do and the organizations that assist them.Here are some sites to check out:

• Together for Adoption – Conference on adoption with lots of helpful links
  
• Project 127 – based on James 1:27 which tells of God’s love of adoption
  
• Adoption information from Hope in God (Bethleham Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN
  
• Lydia Fund for adopting children in state run institutions throughout the world
  
• Micah Fund for adopting minorities in the US
  
• Sing to Jesus - Luke and Stacie Woodward's blog about their decision to adopt