How and Why Should the Church Support Foster and Adoption Families?

I recently met a girl who is in college, and she shared with me that she and her brother were adopted when she was a baby. Her mother did drugs while she was pregnant with her, however by the grace of God, she is perfectly healthy and even on a college sports team earning a degree today.

This family that made the decision to bring her and her brother in as their own have completely changed the trajectory of this young woman’s life. Whether you are adopted, know someone who has adopted kids, or desire to adopt, every Christian should value the act of adoption.

Adoption in the Bible

The truth is that everyone who is a child of God has been adopted into His family through Jesus.

John 1:12-13 - “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

Galatians 4:4-5 - “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”

Romans 8:14-15 - “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”

Psalm 68:5-6 - “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.”

I love how the scriptures tell us that God places the lonely in families. A family is arguably the closest knitted relationship unit apart from marriage in life. You all share a name and a lifelong connection. Those who do not have parents able to care for them or due to another tragedy can be brought into a family by means of adoption.

This picture of being given a family reminds us of the great love of the Lord to bring us into His family. Just like we might receive a new last name in adoption, we receive the name of child of God when we accept Jesus’ gift.

How Can We Support Adoption?

As Christians, we are each called to care for the widows, orphans, and foreigners. The fact is that there are many orphans in the world today in need of good homes. Remember that adoption is not a second option to parent, adoption is a high calling to care for the orphans in this world.

Whether or not you are adopting or supporting, we each play a role. Prayers are always needed. Financial support is a huge help for people hoping to adopt. Counseling support is a great way to bless a family going through this transition. We can also volunteer our time or donate towards reliable places networking children to lifelong homes.

Support Those in Need through Fostering

Another amazing way to serve children in need is by being involved with foster care. This is a unique situation that hopes the a child will be reunited with their parents, however there also could be permanent adoption possibilities. I think of children afraid in horrible situations having nowhere to go, then steps in a person or a family to care for them and meet their needs in hard times. As the church we are called to show hospitality and compassion. What a beautiful way for the body of believers to give care and support for the young ones.

Jesus Himself took time to bless children and minister to them. Matthew 19:14-15 says, “But Jesus said, 'Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.’ And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.” Fostering children is a way of modeling Christ by opening up your home and agreeing that the little children can come to you. This is an incredible and selfless way to show God’s great love.

family gathering group hug

Photo credit: Pexels/August de Richelieu

Adoption Can Minister to a Longing Heart

Many married couples cannot have children. The dream to be a parent feels far off and impossible. However, being open to the joy of adoption can help someone take the courageous step to pursue children in need. When Hannah in the Bible prayed to the Lord to conceive, he answered her prayers and she said, “I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him” (1 Samuel 1:27).

Maybe you are someone to whom God has not provided fertility? Have you considered that maybe the Lord has a greater plan for you to grow a family through adoption? Maybe you already have kids and know that the Lord has blessed you with abilities to care for more kids and you want to take a step of faith. Seek the Lord and walk with Him. Whatever your journey looks like, He is there.

We Need to Care for Those Involved with Adoption

I have known some families who have had incredibly hard experiences with their adopted children. The reality of sin and challenges of emotions set in and families struggle. As the church, we need to come around and pray for them, offer to help baby-sit, give them counseling, provide expert materials, give them words of affirmation, hug them, listen to them, and share stories from grown adults who were adopted and had parents step into their lives.

Adoption is not necessarily easy, but the Lord does not call us to easy. He calls us to obedience. If God has called someone to adopt, then He will equip them and support them in the process. We get to play a role in offering resources and encouragement to them.

Why should we care about adoption as the church? We should care because God cared so much about us that He sent His only Son to die on our behalf and raise to life so that we could be adopted into His family. We ourselves are the adopted ones. We can model Christ’s love by adopting or ministering to those who do adopt.

Emma Danzey’s mission in life stems from Ephesians 3:20-21, to embrace the extraordinary. One of her greatest joys is to journey with the Lord in His Scriptures. She is wife to Drew and mom to Graham. Emma serves alongside her husband in ministry, she focuses most of her time in the home, but loves to provide articles on the Bible, life questions, and Christian lifestyle. Her article on Interracial Marriage was the number 1 on Crosswalk in 2021. Most recently, Emma released Treasures for Tots, (Scripture memory songs) and multiple books and devotionals for young children. During her ministry career, Emma has released Wildflower: Blooming Through Singleness, two worship EP albums, founded and led Polished Conference Ministries, and ran the Refined Magazine. You can view her articles on her blog at emmadanzey.wordpress.com and check out her Instagram @Emmadanzey.