100 Reasons not to Foster or Adopt

“There are 100 reasons not to foster or adopt,”John Moore said Saturday, raising the Bible in his hand. “The only problem is that none of them can be found in this book.”

He was right, and 570 people from 170 churches at last weekend’s Focus on the Family Wait No More event, knew it. Standing behind Colonial’s pulpit, John continued, exhorting us to view foster and adoption not simply as ways to build beautiful families, but also as ways to live out the Gospel and advance the Kingdom.

85 families immediately responded that day, as they began the process of adopting children living in foster care.

John mixed in humor, sharing that his family’s decision to adopt seven children began after a leading geneticist said that their biological children would have a 1 in 4 chance of getting John’s bushy eyebrows. Classic, bringing well-timed levity to a world-class presentation on a serious subject, but all the humor and eloquence has given me little respite.

The discussion spilled over to our dinner table. Kristin asked, “If we lived in the 1800’s, would we have been part of the underground rail road? If we lived in Nazi Germany, would we have opened our home to our Jewish neighbors?”

Loving a vulnerable child, and extending grace to his or her parents in the process, is not as risky as facing Nazi repercussions. It’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, but is opening your home to a child who needs safety, security, and family so different?

Caring for orphans is a movement of God and His family in our time.  If I don’t do the safer task of opening my heart and home today, can I really believe that I would have done the costlier in times past?

There are 100 reasons not to foster and adopt vulnerable children who need family. Schedules. Safety. Comfort. Convenience. Timing and 95+ more…my only problem is none of them are in the Bible.

To learn more about caring for US orphans and for resources on adopting and fostering in Kansas City, CLICK HERE>>