CROWN'S MISSION:
Equipping people worldwide to learn, apply, and teach God's financial principles so they may know Christ more intimately, be free to serve Him, and help fund the Great Commission.

Cry of the Orphan

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world"

-- James 1:27, NIV

This fall, Crown is joining organizations like Focus on the Family, Family Life, and Shaohannah's Hope in support of the Cry of the Orphan campaign. There are over 143 million orphans worldwide. God may be touching your heart to invest in the lives of orphans. Read on for ways that you can help.

Tools to Help you Plan for Adoption

• Debt Payoff Calculator - Get out of debt faster!
• Budgetometer - Analyze your spending in the three major "budget buster" categories: housing, auto, and debt.
• Savings Goal Calculator - Set your goal and see how much you'll need to save.

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Reading Resources

Check out this book by authors Jason Weber and Paul Pennington called Launching an Orphans Ministry in Your Church. This is a great resource for involving your church in the ministry of caring for orphaned children.

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Funding an Adoption: A Crown Article

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Adoption offers a chance at a new beginning for many children cared for by state and private agencies and international orphan situations. Families constitute the building blocks of God's Kingdom. A strong family unit provides an orphan with the love and security that is needed to ensure that they grow into healthy adults and a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (NIV).

Adoption is part of the Great Commission, and we see that God's heart of compassion for the fatherless is clearly expressed throughout Scripture. We see adoption by believers as "missions in reverse" because adoption provides an opportunity to reach across the globe and bring children into homes where Jesus is present and God's Word is central.

The decision to adopt
Because the adoption of children needs to be planned, within reason, a decision to adopt must be made with prayer and the counsel of mature and trusted Christians.

In addition, inviting input from family members could be both insightful and helpful.

Other factors that need to be considered before making a decision to adopt: (1) meeting eligibility standards; (2) travel requirements; (3) the availability of the child desired; (4) willingness to adopt a special needs or biracial child; (5) the length of the process; and (6) the cost.

Cost of adoption
Depending on the circumstances, the cost of adoption can range between nothing to $30,000. Adoption from the foster care system may not cost anything at all and a subsidy may be available. Adoption domestically or internationally can cost between $10,000 to over $30,000. Some of these typical costs can include: adoption agency fees, attorney and legal fees, medical expenses, child-placement agency fees, court fees, filing fees, foster care/orphanage reimbursement, home study and home study follow-up fees, locating fee (if applicable), post-placement supervision expense, finalization fees, birth mother expenses, travel expenses, in-country travel and lodging (international), government filing fees.

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Real Life Stories

The Woodruff's Story

David & Debbey Woodruff – adopted Ashton from China

My husband, David, and I have always felt we should adopt a child or two. However, because of many life circumstances, we had not been in a position to move ahead with an adoption until 2005.  Throughout the year of 2005, many of our adoption barriers were removed and David and I knew the time was right. We began to pursue a China adoption.

When we started the process our biggest barrier was finances. We didn’t have all the money upfront, but David’s business was expanding, our apartments were going well, and we were nearing the end of the process to purchase a duplex.  I thought, “I can be obedient.  I can trust God with this area.  We don’t have the money know, but I can see how it will work out. Besides, adopting from China takes at least a year anyway so we will have time to save all the money.”  I thought I was walking in faith. . .

Through prayer and subsequent circumstances, we felt we should adopt a beautiful special needs toddler girl.  We told our agency of our intent to adopt Yang Xiao Xia and we began the paperwork process.  The paperwork was processed exceedingly quickly. Every time we thought we would have a few weeks between finishing one document and proceeding to the next step, we would receive a phone call or a letter that a document was completed in record time.  We were going to bring our Yang Xiao Xia home much faster than originally intended!

With each expedition of paperwork, we rejoiced, but I secretly wondered how we would “raise” the money in the reduced timeframe. However, I would tell God, “OK, I can trust you. . .” About the time I was feeling comfortable again; that I could trust God with the new timeframe, the timing would expedite again.  And, each time, I would say, “OK, you are the Provider.  I’ll trust you.”  However, each time I surrendered, the money issues grew.  It became IMPOSSIBLE for us to earn enough funds for us to fund the adoption on our own.  NOW we must fully rely on God.  NOW we must trust. 

A friend told us about Life International (www.lifeintl.org) and we checked them out.  We encouraged our friends to prayerfully consider contributing tax-deductible dollars to help bring Yang Xiao Xia home.  Through the help of Life International, we were able to raise 100% of the funds we needed in the last month before we traveled to China! We were so thankful for them and for God’s provision through our friends!

God’s blessings did not end with providing financially.  In July of 2006, we met and brought home our precious Xiao Xia! Almost immediately the bonding began to occur.  Xiao Xia (Ashton) immediately bonded with her siblings and they bonded with her. Ashton bonded with David and I and vice versa.  She is a perfect fit in our family and everyone has adjusted beautifully – another God-thing!

Since coming home, Ashton has accepted Christ into her heart. She is our most ardent prayer warrior. In fact, when she first came home, she wanted to pray everywhere – in stores, in lines, in the bathroom, in restaurants, etc.  We’d pray 4-5 times in an hour. She was so cute when she’d say, “Thank you for to God. . ..”

God definitely blessed this adoption in a positive way. He blessed us with supportive friends and family. He blessed us with Life International’s assistance with fundraising.  He blessed us with quick and effective bonding. He blessed us with a well-adjusted little daughter whom we love very much.  We are rejoicing because we know God is faithful.

If you’d like to hear more about our journey our journals can be found at: www.myladybugjournal.com under the Woodruff family.

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