November is National Adoption Month – how will you celebrate?
I’ve spent 29 years thinking about adoption in one way or another, but in recent years, I’ve been exposed to more adoption stories that are not like my own. My adoption was a closed, domestic adoption through a private adoption agency. That was basically the norm in 1982 and I wouldn’t change anything about my adoption experience. But many people living adoption stories today have open adoptions, foster-to-adopt, or international adoptions (like my magical nephew, Nate).
Adoption can take many forms. That’s the beauty of it – and that’s one of the ways it so clearly reflects the gospel. No matter the complexity of the situation, there is hope in adoption. That doesn’t mean it’s always easy, but is hope always easy? Hope can be scary and messy and risky, but it also paves the way for more than all we ask or imagine.
It turns out that as of the 2000 US census, there were 2.1 million adopted “children” living in the US. I am so pleased and blessed to be counted as one in TWO million! But there are many more would-be adoptees that need our prayers, encouragement, and our action.
In this article, Ryan Bomberger of The Radiance Foundation points out:
In 2008, out of the 463,00 children in the foster care system, 111,225 are waiting for adoption, according to the most recent statistics from the Department of Health and Human Services. The Pew Research Institute reports that Evangelicals and Catholics make up 26.3% and 23.9%, respectfully, of the US adult population. Census Bureau data indicates this would amount to 117,751,128 adults. (I’m using the two largest religious affiliations to show how only a portion of our nation’s religious make-up can eradicate the orphan crisis here in the United States.) That’s 1058 adults for every single child that’s available for adoption through foster care—sounds like a pretty good ratio.
Here’s some more adoption information/resources you might enjoy:
Resources:
- Together for Adoption
- Our Mission: Together for Adoption exists to provide gospel-centered resources to mobilize the church for global orphan care.
- Gladney Center for Adoption
MarshaGarbage 
Thank you so much for highlighting a do-able solution! That the two largest denominations in America could eradicate the orphan crisis here is amazingly hopeful! THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing this! I love your blog! ~Katie
I shared the Gladney home with a work colleague here in Memphis and after interviewing several organizations around the country, they are going to adopt through Gladney!! Glad to share the Texas joy!