FAMILY FUN NIGHT AT THE YMCA!
All adoptive Families and Foster Care families in Allen County are invited to a FREE Family night at the Parkview YMCA. This is a time to spend connecting with one another and having fun as a family! Swimming, racquetball, the rock wall, basketball, the kids area and the game room will all be open and available! The event is free, and you do not need to be a member of the YMCA to attend. The Family Fun Night is sponsored by True Vine, an adoption Ministry of Pathway community Church and the Parkview YMCA.
Saturday, January 29, 8-10p.m.
Parkview Family YMCA
10001 Dawsons Creek Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46825
Questions? Laura Williams mom4williams@yahoo.com
We exist to impact future generations by reaching out to orphaned children and loving them as God has loved us.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Sunday, December 5, 2010
This article was written by Laura Williams for information about starting an adoption ministry at your church so felt it would be good to share:
You and I have been given much. We have every comfort imaginable. I can sit in my warm home, eating whatever I want, while planning my family’s weekend adventures. The Word says that for those who have been given much, much will be required.
In 2010 there were 45 million orphans world wide. Combining the total population of New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago wouldn’t even equal half that amount, so you’d have to add in the population of the countries of Haiti, Portugal, Kuwait, and Switzerland! Can you imagine this many orphans with no comforts of a family? Many are hungry. Many will not be able to make one decision for themselves, let alone ever think about what to do with their families on a Friday night.
Today there are 45 million orphans … minus ONE. That one child is my beautiful Bella Mei. We brought her home from China a little more than a year ago. But this article isn’t about my adoption. It’s about how God is using my church to help the orphans and how God can use your church, too (see James 1:27).
True Vine Ministries, launched in the spring of 2009 at Pathway Community Church, followed the eight steps detailed in “Launching an Orphans Ministry in Your Church” by Hope for Orphans. The first step was easy enough for me and would be for you too—approach a key leader with your vision. This isn’t too hard when you’re married to the pastor! The next steps include inviting other passionate families to join you in prayer, dreaming together, planning and developing a leadership structure.
The first six months, my church followed the advice provided by Hope for Orphans and then launched the orphan ministry in November 2009. It has been exciting to see the church community step up as they become more aware of the needs of orphans. God has used True Vine Ministries to …
develop a small group to help families who are considering adoption or already in the process;
hold a community garage sale with proceeds benefitting adopting families;
host socials to help adoptive families connect with each other;
organize a “free family fun night” at the YMCA for all adoptive and foster care families in our county;
collect and send shoes to orphans in our community and around the world;
partner with Life Song to provide matching grants for adopting families.
If you think about it, adoption and foster care offer a child much more than a warm home on this earth. These are opportunities to give her the hope of eternal life, to share with him the love and peace that only comes from the one true God!
God has placed you in an optimal position to start an orphan ministry in your church. You can tailor it to match your community and delegate all you want. You can make a difference. Your church can say, “There are 45 million orphans … minus TWO!”
You and I have been given much. We have every comfort imaginable. I can sit in my warm home, eating whatever I want, while planning my family’s weekend adventures. The Word says that for those who have been given much, much will be required.
In 2010 there were 45 million orphans world wide. Combining the total population of New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago wouldn’t even equal half that amount, so you’d have to add in the population of the countries of Haiti, Portugal, Kuwait, and Switzerland! Can you imagine this many orphans with no comforts of a family? Many are hungry. Many will not be able to make one decision for themselves, let alone ever think about what to do with their families on a Friday night.
Today there are 45 million orphans … minus ONE. That one child is my beautiful Bella Mei. We brought her home from China a little more than a year ago. But this article isn’t about my adoption. It’s about how God is using my church to help the orphans and how God can use your church, too (see James 1:27).
True Vine Ministries, launched in the spring of 2009 at Pathway Community Church, followed the eight steps detailed in “Launching an Orphans Ministry in Your Church” by Hope for Orphans. The first step was easy enough for me and would be for you too—approach a key leader with your vision. This isn’t too hard when you’re married to the pastor! The next steps include inviting other passionate families to join you in prayer, dreaming together, planning and developing a leadership structure.
The first six months, my church followed the advice provided by Hope for Orphans and then launched the orphan ministry in November 2009. It has been exciting to see the church community step up as they become more aware of the needs of orphans. God has used True Vine Ministries to …
develop a small group to help families who are considering adoption or already in the process;
hold a community garage sale with proceeds benefitting adopting families;
host socials to help adoptive families connect with each other;
organize a “free family fun night” at the YMCA for all adoptive and foster care families in our county;
collect and send shoes to orphans in our community and around the world;
partner with Life Song to provide matching grants for adopting families.
If you think about it, adoption and foster care offer a child much more than a warm home on this earth. These are opportunities to give her the hope of eternal life, to share with him the love and peace that only comes from the one true God!
God has placed you in an optimal position to start an orphan ministry in your church. You can tailor it to match your community and delegate all you want. You can make a difference. Your church can say, “There are 45 million orphans … minus TWO!”
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Fall Event
For Adoptive or soon to be Adoptive Parents!
This will be a great time for adults to connect around a fire pit with a bowl of warm Chili!
Saturday, Oct 23th, 7:00 PM at the home of David and Angie Donaldson 4525 Denali Cove Fort Wayne, IN 46845
Drinks, and paper products will be provided. Please bring lawn chairs and one of the following: A-L Side Dish and M-Z Dessert.
Please RSVP to Angie Donaldson don5ftw@msn.com
This will be a great time for adults to connect around a fire pit with a bowl of warm Chili!
Saturday, Oct 23th, 7:00 PM at the home of David and Angie Donaldson 4525 Denali Cove Fort Wayne, IN 46845
Drinks, and paper products will be provided. Please bring lawn chairs and one of the following: A-L Side Dish and M-Z Dessert.
Please RSVP to Angie Donaldson don5ftw@msn.com
Saturday, August 28, 2010
5000 Foot Wall
Please help donate shoes for orphans by donating a new or like new pair of shoe(s) the weekends of August 28/29, Sept 4/5, and Sept 11/12. Bring them to PCC during service and you will be directed where to place them. Imagine if we can help put shoes on 2500 children's' feet!!
Read this article from the newspaper for more details
Read this article from the newspaper for more details
A Night With the Chapman's
A Night with the Chapmans:
Join us for a special night of music and hope with Steven Curtis Chapman and his family as part of the Star 88.3 Adoption Celebration, Saturday October 2 at First Assembly of God on Washington Center Road in Fort Wayne. You can order tickets here right now!
What a fun way to celebrate adoption!!!
Join us for a special night of music and hope with Steven Curtis Chapman and his family as part of the Star 88.3 Adoption Celebration, Saturday October 2 at First Assembly of God on Washington Center Road in Fort Wayne. You can order tickets here right now!
What a fun way to celebrate adoption!!!
Beyond Consequences Conference
Wanted to let you know of a great opportunity available to us, coming in just a few weeks. Heather Forbes, LCSW, will be at Fellowship Church for a one day training on Saturday, Sept. 11, 9:00-4:00. Heather is a nationally recognized speaker/author/therapist specializing in children who often express themselves through difficult behavior. We are honored to have her in our community! Heather's approach has proven to be life changing for many in our Foster Adoption Ministry community as they have attended a conference, participated in a webinar, or studied her book, Beyond Consequences Logic and Control.
The admission ticket for the event is Heather’s book, Beyond Consequences Logic and Control, which can be purchased the morning of the conference or feel free to contact Susan Bowden 414-0854 (director of FAM ministries).
If you want more information, click on this link to learn more about the conference
The admission ticket for the event is Heather’s book, Beyond Consequences Logic and Control, which can be purchased the morning of the conference or feel free to contact Susan Bowden 414-0854 (director of FAM ministries).
If you want more information, click on this link to learn more about the conference
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Letter To Family and Friends
I know when we started our adoption journey, we wrote a simple letter, explaining why we were adopting and stats about Guatemala. It opened the door for communication and allowed us to explain before others jumped to conclusions.
Another family at PCC recently started their adoption journey and shared their letter. With their permission, I am posting it. I think it is great example how to educate family and friends on the front end.
Friends and Family,
On July 14th we officially submitted our application to Holt International to begin the adoption process! We will be adopting an infant girl (typically around 6-8 months old) from the country of Ethiopia in Africa. We couldn’t be more excited, but Ashley and I wanted to write to let everyone know of our intentions and also answer many questions that you
may have.
Why Adoption, and Why Now?
Ashley and I have known that orphan ministry was going to be a big part of our life for many years. I felt this call very strongly while on a mission trip in the Czech Republic during my time at Taylor University. During the mission trip we spent a month visiting orphanages, trying to show these children love that they desperately needed and deserved. Ashley and I have continued in this passion over the years through supporting a child with Compassion International as well as helping with the orphan ministry within our church, called Truevine.
Our plan was to have several children the more traditional way and then proceed with international adoption. Many of you know that Ashley has been diagnosed with chronic headaches in the last couple of years - forcing her to be on some medications that she couldn’t take if she were pregnant. Could she still go through a pregnancy and simply be in pain for nine months? Yes. As her husband, I know without a shadow of a doubt she is “tough” enough. The question that has really challenged us recently is - Are we fighting God’s plan for our family?
Over the past several months, Ashley and I have been asking God to break our hearts for the things that break His, to challenge us to step away from the ordinary and to open our hearts, hands and abundance to God’s calling for our growing family. Through this process our eyes were opened and our hearts broken for the millions of orphans worldwide. As we researched and prayed, we began to feel God lead us towards Ethiopia to adopt an orphan and make her our own.
Why Ethiopia?
A few statistics about Ethiopia that point to the enormous problem that this country is facing (as a side note: this is also true of many countries in Africa)
Another family at PCC recently started their adoption journey and shared their letter. With their permission, I am posting it. I think it is great example how to educate family and friends on the front end.
Friends and Family,
On July 14th we officially submitted our application to Holt International to begin the adoption process! We will be adopting an infant girl (typically around 6-8 months old) from the country of Ethiopia in Africa. We couldn’t be more excited, but Ashley and I wanted to write to let everyone know of our intentions and also answer many questions that you
may have.
Why Adoption, and Why Now?
Ashley and I have known that orphan ministry was going to be a big part of our life for many years. I felt this call very strongly while on a mission trip in the Czech Republic during my time at Taylor University. During the mission trip we spent a month visiting orphanages, trying to show these children love that they desperately needed and deserved. Ashley and I have continued in this passion over the years through supporting a child with Compassion International as well as helping with the orphan ministry within our church, called Truevine.
Our plan was to have several children the more traditional way and then proceed with international adoption. Many of you know that Ashley has been diagnosed with chronic headaches in the last couple of years - forcing her to be on some medications that she couldn’t take if she were pregnant. Could she still go through a pregnancy and simply be in pain for nine months? Yes. As her husband, I know without a shadow of a doubt she is “tough” enough. The question that has really challenged us recently is - Are we fighting God’s plan for our family?
Over the past several months, Ashley and I have been asking God to break our hearts for the things that break His, to challenge us to step away from the ordinary and to open our hearts, hands and abundance to God’s calling for our growing family. Through this process our eyes were opened and our hearts broken for the millions of orphans worldwide. As we researched and prayed, we began to feel God lead us towards Ethiopia to adopt an orphan and make her our own.
Why Ethiopia?
A few statistics about Ethiopia that point to the enormous problem that this country is facing (as a side note: this is also true of many countries in Africa)
There are nearly 6 million orphans in Ethiopia, a country with a population of only 80 million people.
To put that in perspective:
7.50% of Ethiopian population is an orphaned child
0.16% of the U.S. population is an orphaned child (likely in foster care)
50% of the children will never attend school.
88% will never attend secondary school.
One in ten children dies before their first birthday.
51% of children under the age of 5 are suffering from moderate to severe stunting due to lack of nutrition
up to 20% of the population are not able to eat even once a day
26% of the population live on less than 1 dollar per day and 81% live on less than two dollars a day
40% of children sleep on the floor, where nighttime temperatures average 5 degrees Celsius in the cold season
The average life expectancy is 48 years old.
The median age of the population is 16 years old, meaning that 50% of the population is less than 16 years old.
There is 1 medical doctor per 100,000 people.
For comparison, in the US there are 300 medical doctors per 100,000 people
In sub-Saharan Africa, one in six households with children is caring for at least one orphan. Yet this still leaves
millions of children who are left in the care of strangers — or with no one
Why Write This Letter?
I believe there are four reasons that we wanted to write this letter:
1. The first reason is simply to inform our family and friends of our journey and our excitement. We don’t get to see you all as often as we’d like, and we knew that to share the whole story with everyone would have to be through a letter.
2. The second is hoping that many of you will partner with us in excitement, prayer, and emotional support. The process will take some time (12 months - give or take), and we know there will be emotional ups and downs.
Having the support of our family and friends will help us through this process. We plan to keep our blog updated often.
3. The third reason is to give everyone the green light to ask us questions or to learn more about our adoption process and the questions/concerns you may have. We realize that there are many stereotypes and preconceived notions
regarding adoption, but we are trusting God’s leading to guide us through the challenges.
4. The fourth and most important reason is we hope to inform and influence others to be passionate about the fact that as Rick Warren states, “Orphans and vulnerable children are not a cause, they are a Biblical mandate and a
social mandate that we cannot ignore.” We would love nothing more than to influence families to help 100 other children to be adopted into forever families, and countless more orphans helped and ministered to in different
ways. If you know anyone considering adoption or interested in orphan ministry, we would love to walk along side of them.
I would encourage you to go to this family’s website: http://vogeltanzfamily.com/adoption-faq/ Near the top of the page
they have a video detailing their Ethiopian adoption that was incredibly powerful for Ashley and I, and then after the video they have more answers to FAQ’s that you may have. The video hit so close to home for us.
We’ll have plenty more to come on our blog. More cultural information about Ethiopia, stats about adoption, updates on where we are in the process, various quotes, verses, and other random items should show up on the blog as we plan to update it fairly regularly. http://thebakercrew.blogspot.com/
Thank you all for your love and support. We’re so thankful for our great friends and family!
God Bless,
Drew, Ashley, and Evan Baker
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