What's in a Name?

An Orphan is a child that has been deprived of one or usually both parents or of some protection or advantage. Or, another definition is: A child that is deprived of the benefits of parenting by death or disappearance of, abandonment or desertion by, separation or loss from, one or usually both parents. One child welfare expert recently defined an orphan as a child with no functioning parents.

Everyone, Listen, even you foreign nations across the sea. The LORD chose me and gave me a name before I was born. Isaiah 49:1

Each and every orphan matters to God. He knows each one of them by name.

What's in a name anyway? No matter how we feel about our name, it was given to us and it is something we respond to when our name is spoken. A name means you are someone - your name matters. A couple of years ago I was in line to get hot chocolate at our local coffee shop and the gal asked what my name was so that she could put it on my cup. I told her my name and that it didn't matter how she spelled it, it would come out the same. The man standing in line behind me said "Your name and your spelling matter - it is important. It is who you are." While I thought he might have went a little overboard at the time, I smiled and shrugged my shoulders. I have never forgotten that moment. Our names do matter and so do the names of every orphan. You can imagine the names that they are called on the streets, I am sure that it is hurtful. God knows each of their names and I believe that He wants us to know them too.

I want to encourage you to commit to praying for orphans. Find one orphan that you can commit to praying for during the month of November.

Here are a couple of websites I would encourage you to visit.

Reeces Rainbow - http://reecesrainbow.org/

Project 1.27 - Portraits of Hope - http://project127.com/?page_id=2440

AAC Adoption and Family Network -
http://www.aacadoption.com/adoption/waiting_children.aspx

Your prayers will make a difference in the life of the child God is calling you to pray for. :)

Orphan Sunday at Timberline Church

DARE YOU TO MOVE

Kristin Orphan and The Finally Home Band will be leading Praise and Worship at every service on Orphan Sunday weekend. They will be performing in a special concert on Sunday night at 6pm. It will be a powerful, encouraging night of music with stories woven through the evening about how God "moved" people in the areas of adoption, foster care and child advocacy.
We will be introducing you to some precious children from Haiti that live at Son of God Orphanage through Children's Hopechest. Each and every child needs a sponsor. You will be able to sign up to be a child's sponsor that night. A sponsor in a child's life is powerful and can have an eternal impact in their lives. You will receive a picture of your sponsor child along with a brief profile. We encourage sponsors to pray for their child, send letters, pictures and gifts. We plan on sending 3-4 teams a year to Son of God orphanage. You would have the opportunity of meeting your sponsor child face to face.
Over 30 tables of organizations representing: Adoption, Foster Care, Orphan Ministry, Mentoring, CASA (child appointed special advocate) and Human Trafficking will be present.
Change This World will be ministering to our children K-5th grade. The children will hear how they can impact the life of a child around the world. Change This World and our Children's Ministry staff will be working with the kids in a mini food packing event. It is possible that they will pack 4000 meals that evening that will be put in a container going to Haiti.
You can learn more at their website: http://www.changethisworld.com/why-food/
This is going to be an amazing event. We look forward to seeing you there!!! :)

Doors and Information Tables open at 5:00pm
Concert begins at 6:00pm
Childcare is available for Infants through 5th grade beginning at 5:00 and ending at 8:00

Mark Schultz - Everything To Me - story behind the song

As Orphan Sunday and National Adoption Month gets closer my mind frequently goes towards thoughts of our children's birthmothers. Even though they are not physically in our life, they are (in a way) through our children. We pray for them, we think about them and we talk about them. I am grateful for the decision that they made to give life to their unborn child and that they made an adoption plan. When we met our daughter's birthmom in another state she was very direct in telling Jeff and I "don't think for a moment that I don't love my daughter. I love her and want her to have what I cannot give her. I want her to have a mom and a dad." Those words bring comfort to our daughter every time she hears me tell her the words that her birthmom told us. Mark Schulz was adopted and he wrote the song below for his birthmom. The first video is Mark Schulz' story on how he came to write the song and the second link it to the music video. :)

If you would like to know how you can minister to a birthmom please contact our Birthmothers Ministry Leader, Lorraine Meyer at: coloradobirthmothers@gmail.com

Mark Schultz - Everything To Me (Video)

These Sisters in CO need a Family!!!

Delia and Sophie are sisters right here in CO that are waiting to be matched with their forever family. Could it be you or do you know someone that you can share their information with?

Delia was born in Oct. 1999, Sophie was born in Oct. 2001. Please pray for them as they wait.

Here is a brief profile written by their case worker:

Are you the lucky family who can welcome these delightful sisters? Meet Delia and Sophie, a perfect pair who complement each other well. Social butterfly Delia might just fly into your heart! She is a natural leader who likes having many friends. In fifth grade, Delia is very bright and gets good grades. She likes to work hard and actually asks for schoolwork! Eager to please, this sensitive gal would make a great addition to any family. Sophie is a budding artist who just might give you some artwork or a craft she has created! This sweet third grader does especially well with one-on-one interactions, and is working hard every day to become a better reader. Sophie has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) in school and participates in speech therapy. Both girls benefit from counseling, which might need to continue following placement. Their caseworker prefers a two-parent or single-female family; however, all family types will be considered. We only accept inquiries on the sibling pair, who will be placed together. Financial assistance may be available for adoption-related services. For Colorado children, both homestudied and non-homestudied Colorado families are encouraged to inquire; only homestudied families from other states should do so.

For more information please contact the Adoption Exchange at 1-800-451-5246

:)

Cry of the Orphan

FROM FOCUS ON THE FAMILY, SHOW HOPE, HOPE FOR ORPHANS, MARK SHULTZ AND FRANCIS CHAN.

:)

You........ are God's Plan for the Orphan

The United Nations reports that the number of orphans around the world waiting for help is more than 140 million.

This global crisis is present even in the United States where over 120,000 children now wait to be adopted from the foster care system.

But God commands every Christian to act and to care for orphans and we would like you to join us this fall as we serve the orphan.

To help raise awareness of today's orphan crisis, we, along with our friends at Hope for Orphans^®(a ministry of FamilyLife^®), and Show Hope^®worked together to produce Answer the Cry, a special video program hosted by bestselling author Francis Chan. Answer the Cry features musical performances by award winning artists Steven Curtis Chapman and Mark Schultz and highlights our own Jim Daly. Answer the Cry also addresses ways that every Christian can have an impact on the life of an orphan.

This special program is available to you at no cost--visit CryOfTheOrphan.org to learn more about the video and how you can utilize it for an orphan awareness event in your community.

Will you also consider joining us on Orphan Sunday (November 7) to stand for orphans, to defend the fatherless and care for the least of these? More details on how to get involved are atCryOfTheOrphan.org.

I love my Hair!!!

For those of you with AA daughters, you know it can be a challenge for them to love their hair. This is a cute sesame street video that is fun and encouraging about their wild, curly hair!
:)

NORTHERN COLORADO CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE FOR ORPHANS

Northern Colorado Christian Alliance for Orphans is a group of people who want to come together to make a difference in the lives of children in our community and around the world.
If this resonates in your heart and you would like to learn more please join us.

We are meeting for lunch this Thursday Oct. 21 at Johnny Carino's in Loveland at noon. The lunch will be buffet style and will cost $10 w/water and $12 w/soft drink, coffee or tea. :)

WRAPPING AROUND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES

How can you support those who are called to adopt?

Adoptive Families Need Your Help

When God puts the desire to adopt on a couple or single parent's heart it is truly an awe filled time, followed by a sense of joy and excitement that can soon be followed by fear. Most people want to be in situations that they can control. When you are pregnant there is a sense of control and timing. With adoption, each and every step is a step of faith. Adoptive moms and dads often describe the waiting time as exciting and scary at the same time. Being obedient to whatever God calls us to do can bring both of those feelings. Preparing for your child/children to come home is the same as preparing for the birth of a baby. You buy things you think you might need, you read books about parenting. Friends and family ask "when is your child coming home"? The road to and through adoption can be a difficult journey.

Instead of attending birthing classes at their local hospital they are attending pre-adoption classes at their agency. Adoptive families read books about attachment, grief and loss, handling challenging behaviors (that you hope you will never have to deal with). You try to educate your family and friends about how things might be.

What catches some families by surprise (it did me!) is that it can take time, sometimes a long time for you to feel like you have some order in your life. That's when you need to call in your support team. Establishing your support team before your child/children come home can be very helpful. In the moment you may not even be able to tell people exactly what you need.

Focus on the Family has put together a great little booklet called Wrapping Around Adoptive Families.

W.- Wrestle in Prayer - knowing that someone is covering you in prayer is a blessing

R. - Respite Care - respite care is crucial to the well-being of the family and usually does not come into play until the child has been home for several months.

A. - Acts of Service - meals, errands, laundry, yard work, cleaning, financial assistance, gifts

P. - Promise of God - promises are woven throughout God's word. Providing encouragement including those promises through notes, calls or emails can be a powerful source of comfort.

This booklet goes into much more detail. If you are an adoptive family it would be good for you to give this booklet to those in your life who can offer you support. If you have been wondering how you could better support an adoptive family in your life, this booklet is a great resource. If you are in Northern Colorado and would like some copies I would be happy to give you some. Just send me an email. Karalot9@gmail.com :)

These are available to order through Focus on the Family: http://www.icareaboutorphans.org/RBooks.aspx

Orphan Sunday at Timberline Church

DARE YOU TO MOVE

Kristin Orphan and The Finally Home Band will be leading Praise and Worship at every service on Orphan Sunday weekend. They will be performing in a special concert on Sunday night at 6pm. It will be a powerful, encouraging night of music with stories woven through the evening about how God "moved" people in the areas of adoption, foster care and child advocacy.
We will be introducing you to some precious children from Haiti that live at Son of God Orphanage through Children's Hopechest. Each and every child needs a sponsor. You will be able to sign up to be a child's sponsor that night. A sponsor in a child's life is powerful and can have an eternal impact in their lives. You will receive a picture of your sponsor child along with a brief profile. We encourage sponsors to pray for their child, send letters, pictures and gifts. We plan on sending 3-4 teams a year to Son of God orphanage. You would have the opportunity of meeting your sponsor child face to face.
Over 30 tables of organizations representing: Adoption, Foster Care, Orphan Ministry, Mentoring, CASA (child appointed special advocate) and Human Trafficking will be present.
Change This World will be ministering to our children K-5th grade. The children will hear how they can impact the life of a child around the world. Change This World and our Children's Ministry staff will be working with the kids in a mini food packing event. It is possible that they will pack 2000 meals that evening that will be put in a container going to Haiti.
You can learn more at their website: http://www.changethisworld.com/why-food/
This is going to be an amazing event. We look forward to seeing you there!!! :)

Doors and Information Tables open at 5:00pm
Concert begins at 6:00pm
Childcare is available for Infants through 5th grade beginning at 5:00 and ending at 8:00

Desperation Band

Live From

Colorado Springs

Desperation Band

Northern Colo Youth Groups

God calls us to defend the cause of the fatherless.

Come…Unite…Be Changed…Change the World

Friday 11.5.10 6:00-8:30pm

Faith Evangelical Church

Dinner, local worship, multi-church challenge, D-band

Orphan Sunday

Is one month from today!!!! Don't miss getting involved in an activity already going on in your community or organizing an event to give voice to an orphan's needs. :)

Below is an email that I received from Christian Alliance for Orphans:

Dear Orphan Advocate,

If you haven’t already, plan your Orphan Sunday event today!

As you do, you’re also part a national echo with churches across America and beyond. It’s about waking the Church to God’s heart for the orphan and what we can do in response.

Here are three great options for your Orphan Sunday event:

1) Simulcast Concert with the Desperation Band. Invite youth pastors and student leaders (and the young in heart!) to host this LIVE simulcast concert on the night of Friday, November 5. Learn more here! (You can also download free concert posters on the Orphan Sunday resources page.)

2) Answer the Cry DVD. This 60-minute program highlights ways every Christian can make a lasting difference for an orphan. Answer the Cry is hosted by bestselling author Francis Chan and features music performances by award-winning artists Steven Curtis Chapman and Mark Schultz. A limited number of DVDs are available at no charge to anyone hosting an Orphan Sunday event, whether in a small living room or a massive church. Answer the Cry will also be available for streaming as of November 1, 2010. To request a DVD, please email here by October 25, with your name, mailing address and a brief description of your event.

3) An Event You Create. Orphan Sunday events are as unique as their organizers, from a sermon or Sunday morning prayer to home group Bible study or fundraiser. The Orphan Sunday site has 59 FREE downloadable resources, and 14 FREE partnership packages and other ideas to help you create your event.

And, once you’ve decided what you’ll do, make sure to post your event on the Orphan Sunday MAP!

What’s the ultimate goal? Hearts coming to share God’s heart. Choices made. Lives altered. Children rescued. And God glorified as His people are again known as defenders of the fatherless.

Your voice will make a difference!!! :)

Foster Care Parent Support Group

and a Free Dinner - Qdoba Taco Bar - YUMMY!!!!! Come and join other foster families to receive support and encouragement. We are so grateful for all that you do for the kids in our community!!! :)

For: Foster Parents!!!!

When: Thursday, October 14, 2010

Where: Timberline Church Fort Collins, CO

Room: 212

Time: 6-8pm

Childcare is provided with pre-registration at: http://fs8.formsite.com/timberline/Childcareenrollmentform/index.html

Leaders: Chris and Erin Branchflower

Ministry Group Name: Foster Parent Support Group

For more information contact: Erin at erinbeth21@hotmail.com

Adoption/Foster Care Support Group

Last night Dick Fisher was our guest speaker. He is a dad to 4 kids (2 who are adopted) and publisher of Adoption Today Magazine and Fostering Families. I asked him to share about how we as families can answer those sometimes difficult questions that are asked by friends, family and strangers. It was a great night of discussion and encouragement. We talked about W.I.S.E. up power book.

4 ways that our kids can respond:
W-walk away
I - it's private
S - share
E - educate

We didn't have a copy of the book last night, but I will bring one or two to our next meeting that you can look through.
I did find it on amazon.com

This is the kids version. I know there is a parent guide to go with it. I will bring a copy of that too. :)

One Less - Matthew West

We are all called to do something in the life of an orphan. Not everyone is called to be a foster parent or to adopt a child. But, each of us can do something. Check out this new song that Matthew West is working on to encourage us all to do what God puts on our heart. :)

One Less by Matthew West (The Story Behind The Song) from emicmg on Vimeo.