Adoption Ministry Starts at Joan of Arc

Children are a gift From the Lord. - Psalm 127:3

Rachael Huyck, Children's Home Society

The Children’s Home Society recently approached St. Joan of Arc with a request that we consider establishing an Adoption Ministry. The purpose of the ministry would be to support and educate the church body in various areas of adoption and help find potential adoptive families for waiting children. This would include and support all types of adoptions: private, international, county, kinship, etc. with an emphasis on The Waiting Children’s program in Minnesota.

Tuesday February 19, approximately 60 people came for an informative planning meeting to discuss the vision of an adoption ministry at SJA. During the first portion of the evening, the group was able to visit with representatives from adoption agencies, foster care and adoption support services. While eating pizza, a panel of parents related their experiences with the adoption process both locally and internationally. In addition, an adopted teen shared her perspective. In the remainder of the evening small groups formed to focus on ideas for structure of the Adoption Ministry at SJA. From these discussions came the plan to begin with a three-part ministry:

1. Adoption Process/Recruitment
2. Support
   • Workshops
   • Cultural issues
3. Communication/Resources
   • Web Site
   • Directory

The next meeting will be on Wednesday April 10 from 7-9 pm April 10 for people that indicated an interest in support groups and workshops. Rachael Huyck, from the Children’s Home Society of Minnesota, will facilitate this meeting. Those interested in the adoption process and being mentors will be meeting later in April.

Nancy Lynch says, "Joy is being a wife, Mom of fourteen, eight with varying disabilities and living at home, Grandma of thirteen, and Great Grandma of three. Serenity is listening and watching the ocean, alone, at our home on Maui. Passion is friends, photography, reading, swimming and children."

God looked at everything He had made, and it was very good. -Genesis 1:31

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