Catalyst 2009

Catalyst Conference 2009 was held in Atlanta, GA on October 7 - 9 with over 13,000 Christian leaders attending. Coach Tony Dungy (first African American to coach a winning Super Bowl team) was interviewed and was asked about his adoption experience. He said something like this: I really wasn't for it since we had 3 kids already but my wife wanted to do it. I went with her to meet with the social worker. At one point I leaned over and said "IF we proceed with this, how long would it take to get a child in our home?" The social worker looked at me and said, "sir, if you are willing to accept an African American child or a child of mixed race, as soon as we get you approved." That statement pierced my heart and we now have 4 adopted children.

Later, a Kenyan man (named Jimmy) who was sponsored for most of his life through Compassion International, was interviewed. It was awesome to hear him talk about how his life

changed as a young boy when he started receiving this help. Jimmy is now a student at Moody Bible College. You can only imagine the response from crowd. After things

died down a little, he was asked if he had ever met his sponsor and he said no. The interviewer then

said, "Well, I would like to introduce him to you right now." The place went CRAZY! Jimmy held his sponsor for at least 5

minutes and sobbed uncontrollably. When they finally loosened their embrace, Jimmy's knees literally buckled and he fell to the ground

sobbing.

Right after that, the crowd was asked to consider "what's next" (that was a theme

running through the conference.) Would individuals in this crowd of 13,000 Christian leaders consider moving from sponsoring a child to adopting a child. Mac Powell (lead singer of Third Day) was then introduced as the surprise guest. Mac shared his family’s adoption story. He and Amy adopted through Bethany Christian Services of Georgia. Half way through his interview, Amy brought their baby up on stage. The place was in tears. Mac then sang with the African children's choir. It was an unbelievable moment.

Catalyst released their new website www.143million.org during the conference. It has been so great to partner with this organization and to see how God has moved on their leader’s hearts for orphan care and adoption. Catalyst and Bethany Christian Services also partnered to produce a 3 minute video for churches to use to ask their members if they would consider adoption. It can be viewed in the Bethany Christian Services window of www.143million.org.

Together for Adoption

This weekend in Nashville, TN over 500 people will be gathering for Together for Adoption. Dan Cruver has done an outstanding job putting this conference together. I will have the pleasure of sharing in two breakout sessions.

November 8 has been designated Orphan Sunday by the Christian Alliance for Orphans. Churches all across the country will be participating in many different ways. An official web site has been established to provide support and resources for churches. www.orphansunday.org

Bethany Christian Services has also added resources to their site as well: http://tiny.cc/sUnjZ

finally... an update

It has been too long since I have updated this blog. I will do better in the future. This has been the busiest summer that I can remember. Each year we say that we are going to slow down and each year we get busier. Oh well - we had fun!

Lots of things beginning to happen in the Orphan Care and Adoption world. Even the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution this year (which really is just an acknowledgement and encouragement) that SB churches should set aside one Sunday each year to focus on Orphan Care and Adoption. Many churches are truly beginning to see the missional nature of adoption!

I have several speaking engagements coming up this fall. The first is in Nashville, TN at the Together for Adoption conference. I will be leading a breakout session at this conference. The dates are Oct. 2 and 3. Go to www.togetherforadoption.org for more info.

I will also be in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area on Oct. 10 and 11. On the tenth I will be with Dr. Karyn Purvis as she does a seminar on raising adopted children who come from very difficult pasts. Then on that Sunday I will be preaching at the Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Delafield, WI. Saturday's conference will also be held at the church. Contact Bethany Christian Services of Wisconsin for more info.

Bethany Christian Services

Here is some of the work by Bethany Christian Services around the world:

Inspirational Student of the Year

James was awarded this honor on Tuesday. As Mary says - most people have no idea the challenges that he faces everyday, they only know that he is deaf. He will also have the highest AR (accelerated reader) points in the entire first grade of his school this year. But there is one thing that he is most proud of recently: He learned to tie his shoes. For a kid with visual motor challenges and sensory processing disorder - that is huge! We are very proud of him.

Orphan Care and Adoption Expo in Pensacola

HELP US GET THE WORD OUT!! (Click on the Graphic above to go to registration)

Saturday, May 16 | 8:30am-1:30pm | $10/person (includes lunch)

Keynote Speaker: Emily Chapman Richards

Emily Chapman Richards, eldest daughter of Christian recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman, will share her compelling story of faith that began as an eleven-year-old child with a heart for adoption and continues today as an active worker on behalf of orphans through Shaohannah’s Hope. Emily has two biological brothers and three younger sisters adopted from China. The Chapman family has been featured on various media outlets such as Good Morning America, Larry King Live, The Huckabee Show, Fox and Friends highlighting their adoption story and continued advocacy work on behalf of the 130 million orphans worldwide. Having impacted thousands of lives, Emily has experienced much joy, brokenness, and hope, and through it all has become even more passionate about seeing all people, both young and old, join together in the most important work of caring for orphans.

Breakout Choices:

Adoption 101
This track is designed for people who are interested in learning the basics about adoption. Anyone can come and go through the breakout sessions designed to give them information on domestic infant adoption, international adoption, foster care adoption, and fund raising for an adoption.

Orphan Care and Adoption Ministry
If you are interested in getting your church more involved in orphan care and promoting adoption, this track will give you tools and resources you need to make that happen. Breakouts include Developing an Orphan Care and Adoption Ministry in Your Church, Adoption Funds for Your Church, and Leading Support Groups and Information Meetings in Your Church.

Adoptive Parents
This track is intended to give support and information for those who have already adopted. Breakouts include What Every Adoptee Wishes their Adoptive Parents Knew, Raising the Hurt Child, and Bonding and Attachment.

---

Winning isn't Everything

Football can bring out the worst in all of us. Growing up in Alabama, I was taught two things from birth - God and Football - and not necessarily in that order. As I travel the country, I try to explain to people the rivalry between Auburn and Alabama but it is really difficult to explain. I will have to admit that in the past several years I have not really paid much attention to Auburn. Ever since we adopted James, my priorities changed. I still enjoy it but I don't spend the money nor do I lose any sleep over it like I once did.

Growing up, that was a little different. For many in my home state, football is a culture more than a game. Even in Michigan where my national headquarters is located, the Michigan and Ohio State rivalry doesn't quite compare to the angst that the Alabama/Auburn rivalry brings out in people from the South.

The only other place that I know of that takes football as seriously is in the state of Texas. Not so much the professional or college levels - but the high school. Friday Night Lights (movie and TV mini-series) is based on high school football in Texas. It is truly a culture.

That makes this next story that much more important. It is about what is really important in life. It is about giving up some of your own pride to serve others. Here is the money quote from the article: "You are just as valuable as any other person on planet Earth." Click on the link to read the remarkable story about two football teams who came from very different backgrounds and one coach who dared to do the impossible to add value to the lives of these young men.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3789373

Johnny