Congratulations to Darius, his family and to Project 1.27!!!!!!!
Rejoicing with all of you - It is an awesome journey!! :)
Project 1.27 Announces Its 100th Adoption!
16-year-old Darius became the 100th child to be adopted by his “forever family” through Project 1.27. In just five
years, Project 1.27 has made a huge impact on the “waiting children” in Colorado foster care.
Centennial, March 8, 2010 – Forty people watched as 16-year-old Darius Radford discovered he has to practice
something new: writing his new last name. On Feb. 23, Judge William B. Sylvester pronounced Darius an official
“Radford” at a packed adoption hearing in Colorado’s 18th Judicial District Court in Arapahoe County. Surrounded
by his new siblings and parents, Darius beamed from ear to ear as cheers erupted all around the room from friends
and family in attendance.
Rowland and Celeste Radford, regular ushers at Colorado Community Church (CCC), were helping people find their
seats in church two years ago when they heard Pastor Robert Gelinas announce a prayer request: Darius, a 14-yearold
in foster care in Arapahoe County, was in need of being adopted. His case was special because not only was he
an “older child,” but he also was a two-time cancer survivor. The Radfords made contact with Project 1.27 and
immediately began the interview and training process to become eligible as an adoptive family.
A short time later, in a meeting at the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services, Darius told County staff
and the Radfords: “I feel like I’m supposed to be with them.”
Celeste remembers starting to cry. “It was such a validation of what God had been doing in our hearts. We were
thrilled.”
PROJECT 1.27
Pastor Gelinas and Chris Padbury, a U.S. Air Force officer, founded Project 1.27 in 2005. Its mission is to recruit,
train and support adoptive families through Christian churches for Colorado’s “waiting children” in foster care.
These are children whose biological parents’ rights have been terminated due to unresolved concerns for their safety
and well being, and who are in need of a new, permanent family. The average age for Colorado’s waiting children
is 10 years old, and often they include siblings groups who need to be adopted together.
“All children are special in God’s sight, and therefore in our sight as Christians,” said Chris Padbury, President of
Project 1.27. “The church has a responsibility to care for the orphan in our midst. There shouldn’t be ‘waiting
children’. There should only be ‘waiting parents’.”
Project 1.27 has moved beyond the walls of CCC to churches all across Colorado. Project 1.27’s adoptive families
represent over 165 different Christian churches. Churches share this mission all across the state offering their
facilities for orientations, trainings, and support groups.
“The church has the parents and the call; the state has the children and the law. We bring the two together for the
benefit of the children, our communities and our state,” said Padbury.
CHILD WELFARE PARTNERSHIP
By partnering with 8 Colorado counties and 5 child placement agencies, Project 1.27 has effectively mobilized a
community of parents that has been difficult for social services to attract in the past.
“Arapahoe County is so pleased to partner with Project 1.27 in our efforts to find and prepare adoptive families who
will open their hearts and homes to children in our care,” said Arapahoe County Commissioner Frank Weddig. “It’s
so important for children to have lifelong connections with a family. Darius Radford will now know that kind of
support, but also know that there are many other foster children who are looking to find a forever family.”
2010 RESULTS
When Project 1.27 began in 2005, there were 875 children available for adoption according to the Colorado
Department of Human Services (CDHS). There are now only 365 “waiting children”.
Five years and one administration later, our collaborative efforts with Colorado child welfare are showing that
church and state can work together for the benefit of children. The investment has proven fruitful:
Project 1.27’s church families are responsible for 20% of the reduction in the margin of waiting children
(100:510). The other 80% is the fine work of CDHS, the Colorado counties and its child placement agency partners.
Their focus on this effort has been outstanding.
Darius has been cancer-free for two years and likes the stability of having a permanent family. Noting he has three
new sisters, Darius said with a smile, “These people are crazy!” When he grows up, Darius would like to play for
the Denver Nuggets. Looks like his new family will get to cheer him on for years to come.
To learn about Colorado’s many “waiting children,” please visit www.changealifeforever.org.
About Project 1.27:
Project 1.27 is a “Ministry from the Churches of Colorado to the Orphans of Colorado”. We recruit, train and
supported adoptive families from churches to help empty the pool of “waiting children” in Colorado foster care.
For more information, please visit
www.project127.com
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