This is another excerpt from the book Reclaiming Adoption in the chapter by Scotty Smith. It was too good not to share.

To have the hope of a final adoption is both a personal and cosmic reality. Not only in our hearts, but the whole creation is groaning for the day when adoption in part gives way to the fullness of adoption. We are pregnant with glory!

Because the whole pan-national family of God will be adopted (Just as God has promised), because Jesus is going to finish making all things new (Just as He has promised), we can and must give ourselves over to offering this world the first fruits of the new heaven and new earth. This is why Christians should be the front-line lovers and servants in the world of human trafficking, poverty, hunger, injustice, and indeed, in the world of orphans. Because Jesus has signed on for eliminating the very category and word “orphan” from the human vocabulary, let’s partner with Him, one adoption at a time. We cannot fail. We cannot and will not possibly fail. Our labors in the Lord are, and never will be in vain!

I got this email today from our adoption agency and I wanted to pass it on to you. As soon as I saw this picture it just broke my heart and I had to do something.

This is a picture of Kahesay, an 11 year old boy, pictured with his 9 year old sister, Mulubirhan. Because they are older children, and there are two of them, the cold truth is that they are less likely to be adopted.  Most people want to adopt a single infant.  I am praying for one family who will be more influenced and motivated by the Gospel than by preference and comfort.  I’m praying that a family would adopt these two children.

They have ZERO foriegn and agency fees. This means you don’t pay the $5,000 agency fee OR the $12,000 foreign fee. Essentially you would only be paying for your travel, homestudy, and a few other miscellaneous expenses, but you’re getting to skip about $17,000 worth of expenses and the wait for you to get your referral.

If you’ve been praying about adopting or considering it, this is an amazing opportunity to change 2 lives forever! There is nothing easy or convenient about adopting. There is nothing sexy about it. But God has adopted us and given us an example of sacrificial generosity and taking care of the fatherless.

If you are interested, please email me at stephen@stephen-miller.com and I’ll send you the information.

Grace and peace,
Stephen Miller

I am honored and excited to be leading worship for an upcoming conference called The Idea Camp: Orphan on Feb. 25-26.

There are an estimated 163 million orphans in our world.  The good news is that there’s much hope!  Many churches and organizations are creatively stepping up to actualize God’s heart to care for orphans.  Join us for a fresh, honest, meaningful and transformative conversation about a collaborative movement to bring hope to the orphan.

We will be talking with leading thinkers and practitioners on topics including US & International care, community development, trafficking of orphans, adoption, foster care, child sponsorship, special needs, cross-cultural & religious dynamics to care, and many more.

I would love for you to join me, Aaron Ivey, Jason Kovacs, Dan Cruver, Esther Havens, Chris Marlow and slew of other amazing guides as we dream about ways to be a light in our world and to care for the orphan in the way God had in mind for us when created us, saved us, and adopted us.

For more information, go to www.theideacamp.com. Register with the discount code “NWA” to cut registration price in half to $49.

See you there!