Together for Adoption breakout session CD recordings

You can now order the CD recordings of the Together for Adoption Canada conference breakout sessions. There are 9 breakout sessions recorded and each can be purchased for $6, including shipping and handling. The following sessions are available:

1. Launching an Orphan’s Ministry in Your Church (Jason Weber)
2. Churches Caring for Children (Calgary & Ottawa)
3. Creating a Life Book for Your Child (Kirsty Stormer)
4. Safe Families (Westminster Chapel – Toronto)
5. What I Wish I Had Known Before I Had Adopted (panel)
6. Men and the Fatherless (Jason Kovacs)
7. Foster Care as a Ministry (Sandi Kowalko)
8. Churches Caring for Children (Saddleback Church)
9. Funding an Adoption (ABBA Canada)

Please click on the Buy Now button below and enter the number of CD’s you would like to order, as the quantity for your PayPal purchase. Next, email the CD #'s you would like to: info@abbacanada.com

We want to thank everyone that came to the first ever Together For Adoption Conference Canada. We were so encouraged and excited to be a part of this event! A huge thank you to Focus on the Family, Home For Every Child and all of the volunteers that made it possible. We expected big things for the weekend, but we were blown away with what God did in the hearts of those attending.

We were so encouraged to meet people from all over Canada that are returning to their city to make a difference for the orphan and start something in their church. We had conversations with people that came because they are considering adoption and left wanting to start an orphan ministry in their church!

Please email us with your testimonies from the weekend; we would love to hear them. One of the greatest parts of the weekend for us, was hearing about the move of God that is happening all across Canada in the hearts of His people, to care for the orphan. If you left this weekend, wanting to start something, big or small, in your church, please contact us, info@abbacanada.com for the next steps. We will be following up over the next couple of weeks. We would love to help you get a church page started like Southgate Church or maybe you just want to tell your story in support of adoption and bring awareness to your circle of influence like the Schmidt’s. We can help you get started.

God is drawing together people across Canada that have a heart for the orphan, you have a part to play, don’t miss out!

It starts with a seed…where it all started, Together for Adoption

For my wife and I, Together for Adoption holds a special place in our hearts. Two and a half years ago, we hopped on a plane to Texas to attend Together for Adoption. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into and we didn’t know very much about the orphan care or the adoption world. All we knew is that a seed had been planted in our hearts. For years, I had been an advocate for child sponsorship organizations, because there was a seed planted in my heart to help the world’s most vulnerable children. Tamara had been a children’s pastor for many years, with a seed in her heart to love and care for children. We got married in 2009 and knew God was growing those seeds into a larger thing, but we didn’t know what.

During the first year of our marriage, we couldn’t escape the cry of the orphan. Everywhere we turned, we heard their voice. It got louder and louder and we kept asking, “Lord how do we respond?” Still with no idea, we stumbled upon Steven Curtis Chapman’s ministry “Show Hope” and the seed continued to grow. We learned about how they challenged the Church to respond to the cry of the orphan and provided adoption grants to encourage their work within the Church. We got excited and looked for the same in Canada, but couldn’t find it.

Then we heard about the Together for Adoption conference in Texas and, in faith, got on the plane. Together for Adoption watered the seed and planted many more. This conference was exactly what we needed to take that small seed and grow it into a vision. We heard so many stories of people responding to the orphan crisis and creatively meeting the needs of adopting families, we began to dream. Every session we were inspired to make a difference and that aimless wandering towards an unknown vision, started to solidify into a plan of action. We came home with vision, passion and practical strategy to make something happen.

Maybe you just have the seed right now or maybe you just hear the cry of the orphan and don’t know which direction to run. Come this weekend and see where God leads you. You might be surprised at what He’s already put inside of you. Together for Adoption Canada

Two simple ways you could care for the orphan

Here are two simple ways you could contribute to the needs of the orphan and an adopting family. We talk to so many people that say “ I would love to help, but I’m not sure what I could do.” If that’s you, here are two very simple things. This past weekend, a few volunteers from Southgate Church held two small and easy to organize fundraisers and brought in $775!

The first was a soup fundraiser. The church was asked permission to hold a “by donation” soup and buns lunch after the second service. A handful of people volunteered to bring down a pot of soup and an announcement was made that all donations would go towards grants for adopting families. People stayed around after church, enjoyed a soup and buns lunch and enjoyed the fellowship. At the end of it, $445 was raised towards adoption grants.

The second was a clothing swap, which was organized by someone sending out an email and message through Facebook asking for donations of clothes that people were no longer wearing. Bags and bags of clothes came in. At the swap, $5 was charged at the door and $1 for each item of clothing taken home. Only 12 people attended the event and $330 was raised.

These are two examples of very simple fundraisers that don’t require much time and not a huge attendance, but make a huge difference for an adopting family. If you have been wondering what you can do to support adopting families and help find permanent homes for children, maybe this has given you an idea. We’d love to help you develop it!