Overview of Adoption & the Process

The easiest way to understand adoption is to think of it in terms of parents adopting a child and some of the responsibilities that a parent does have for a child. Certainly a child needs the basics such as food, water, clothing and shelter, but they also need love and attention from the parent to show the child and raise the child in God’s ways. A child should learn that God has a purpose and plan for their lives and that they are an important part of the body and that they are appreciated. Children like new believers need to be taught some of the basics, but it all starts with a commitment to care for the child as He has cared for us. Obviously if we do know and understand in our personal lives what all God has done for us then it will be easier to share that with someone than if we are not sure what He has done.

Although we are concerned with all people including children we are more concerned that we all receive God’s provision to deal with all problems and all needs, but we have learned it all needs to be done His way. His promise to His people is if we learn to do things His way and are committed to doing things His way He will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory. We have found that God does have a method to reach all globally and to care for all people if His people will learn to work as one body His way. What we are doing is not a band-aid or a quick fix, but the focus is on long term solutions so there is growth and maturity in the body. With that growth will also come the stability and stability is what is needed in the body and those in the world. So how do any of us know that we are going the right direction? Scripture tells us that we are to be led by the Spirit of God to be sons of God. That takes each of us hearing from His Spirit and being led by His Spirit.

His Spirit is always consistent with Scripture and in scripture He gave us the Five-Fold Gift Ministry for balance and His presence so He can deal with all things globally. Many churches today do not see the need for His ministry but in that ministry are His ways and His provision. Once again, do thing His way and it is His problem, do things our way then it is our problem.

We have found that His ways builds the body and each member so each in the body can be free enough to do what they are called to do. Each in the body have been called to do something and if we all do what we are called to, it will save lives and it will reach globally. He cares for all people and Jesus died for all people, so He does not want anyone lost, but the body needs to learn to work as one body for His will to be done. In His provision for us, He gave us the keys to the kingdom of God in the five-fold gift ministry if they walk in love and unity. One is not over the other, but a servant to all. The body is only as strong as the weakest member of the body so the while the main thrust of most churches is leading people to God through Jesus, the mission of ODB is to build each member of the body, to bring each to maturity so all can walk with Him in His ways so they can do what they are called to do. We have found it is the only way to reach all globally to demonstrate His love, forgiveness, grace, anointing, salvation and provision through each member of the body. So the focus in religion is to support organizations and while we do that also we also each member needs to be built and cared for in love so they will be equipped to reach out to all others, whether it be in the local community or globally. It is not about building buildings, but about building each member of the body in love so they can demonstrate that love to others.

In the advocates prayer group, they will often adopt a people in a foreign land, but what about the people in the church we go to or even a certain block. Wouldn’t it be nice for the church we go to as a part of their outreach program to adopt certain blocks and reach out to people with God’s love? It starts with prayer. Some have the ability to go door to door to meet people, while some would rather leave a tract or brochure or even do a mailing to reach out to people. Other ways perhaps are to have a car wash, breakfast, open house or vacation Bible school for children or talk to someone at work or school especially if you know they are in some crisis situation, where the body of believers will gather around the hurting and care for them. It is how the New Testament church was formed. All of these are effective ways to reach out to people in a given area.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer… Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47

Often time’s outreach is created because of the needs of individuals or an area. One way God does have of getting the point across to us is for us to go through something that we cannot deal with on our own in the flesh, where we learn to reach out to God for help. All communities and people in communities have some sort of need. All people need love and attention, but sometimes other things such as food. Food can be a good outreach in many areas, providing a food pantry, which is stocked by the congregation.

What makes parent love a child, a member of the body, missionary, church or a people? It is true we cannot teach people to love their children, nor can we make believers care about each other or those in need. It is all a condition of the heart to care and love children or reach out to those in need. If we have His heart we will work to reach out to those in need. If we are not reaching out to people in need in love we need to look at the condition of our hearts in self examination, while there is still time to do so, but it is obvious to most what is happening with all the disasters that are happening we are in a time well described in scripture and we are either going to take the time to do what is important, which starts with prayer or we choose not to be involved. We have found all matters of the heart are the work of the Holy Spirit. He is the only one that can change the condition of the heart. The change of the heart comes from surrendering our total lives to His Spirit. Many have given part of their hearts, but what He is looking for is the total heart and for us to individually turn our lives and will over to him. He wants us to turn everything over to Him, including the churches we go to. Every aspect of life including were we work, so His will can be done on earth as it is in heaven through each one of us. To go in the right direction brings His presence, peace, joy and provision to help all that we meet. We may not know how to deal with all needs and all people, but if we bring back information to the body in what is happening we can seek God as one body to seek that His will is done in every situations and circumstance.

Most adoptions are a commitment on the part of a group or church, but deeper in that it is about a personal commitment to God in His ways. To "adopt" means to focus on whatever you personally choose to focus on as an individual and as a group or church, secondly. The gospel is the good news that God has adopted each of us that come to Him and it is about us adopting others and much the same commitment. The good news is that God cares and loves each of us and if we are to grow to be like Him, then we will be willing to adopt others. The good news is that God loves and cares for everyone and if we are His so will we. We are a representation of the Good News that He cares and the body cares as much as He does. The Adoption Guidance Program presents several elements, which may be included in an adoption, but you, your church, school or group, may emphasize or eliminate certain ones based on where you are in your walk with Him and your gifting and ability. If your church is interested in networking, partnering or church planting, please see those sections of the program.

Here is a brief overview of the initial adoption steps:

1. Why Adopt? It is scriptural. We are to be like Him. We either are or are not. He adopts us and we are to adopt each other and others we are called to serve. It is about covenant relationship with each other and God. It is much like the salt covenant or marriage covenant, where we the body are the bride of Christ. It is important for all to understand and learn about the commitment involved in adoption. We are to count the costs in doing things God’s way. It is about love, but a sober love one for the other.

2. Select a people. This is an important step as we are commanded by scripture to go into all the world and preach the gospel, baptize them, but also teach them to observe all things. It is not really about us selecting people but walking with God to represent His ways to all as He sends them to us because we have grown enough to help others. He gives us small things to do to begin with and if we can do the small things He will give us more. It starts with praying for the needs of others in love, then adopting one at a time, then on to a group or maybe as city block and work its way from there to a town or city and then perhaps a country depending on the size of the advocate group you are a part of and how you are led by God. After all if God takes you there then He will provide. While His plan comes together for you at home it is important to pray for other countries and people as a part of the work. Missions and ministry always start with having the heart of God in His ways and in prayer and praise.

3. Register Your Adoption and or register your decision to pray. Registering your commitment is good for several reasons; the first is accountability to God so others can walk with you. Also it will assist the mission’s community in knowing which peoples still need adopting and makes it easier for you to communicate with others also focused on your people.

4. Praying for an unreached people is essential to seeing God's purposes established. Ephesians 6:12 states that, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." You or your group will want to continually ask God to for His direction. Some become involved as a advocate group and some become involved just because they are led to become involved, but each step of the way it is always important to seek God and be led by His Spirit to be a son of God. Seek Him and spend some time to listen. What is He saying or asking you to do? Be assured you are not on your own and we are here to help and walk with you each step of the way as we are all dependent on God and each other. It is important as you hear from Him to do what He asks you to do. You may be ready for more than you think or understand or may not be as ready as you may think. He will show you and we will be there to walk with you if you are not forming your own group from your own church or school. The purpose of prayer is for a better relationship with God, hearing His voice, learning to walk with Him and each other and to help usher a people from the kingdom of darkness to light, in your prayers and your group’s prayers as they are vital. Some groups start in prayer and actually end up in the missions field, while others always focus on prayer, but the point of it all is to be open to how God leads you and your group as it is an individual effort and a team effort. There are many effective tools that you use including the GMI web site. You also might include newsletters, and from there create prayer profiles, special prayer sessions and strategies for effective prayer. At this point you do not have to be concerned with all of the nuts and bolts, as we will walk with you and your group.

5. Researching your unreached people gives your group the information and motivation to pray and provides assistance for determining other areas of potential involvement or support. It is possible to find internet and library information on most unreached peoples. In addition, as a part of our prayer package we can provide you with some basic forms in Word that will help you assess needs, what services are offered, which will help your focus. These forms are free to use and they can be customized if you desire. So you will understand our desire is to help equip and empower you and your group to help get the job done.

6. Sustaining the adoption. Even though we are to be led by His Spirit and the commitment we make is really to Him, sometimes the initial excitement of a church adoption can grow cold without leadership who regularly bring the unreached people's culture and needs before the advocacy prayer group or congregation. Photos, banquets, contact with ODB and those in the field and communication with other adopting churches are things, which can be helpful to the effort. Be creative. Once again we will help you along the way, it is in all our best interests to see the work accomplished and is how we view things.

Not ready for adoption? Some groups or churches commit to praying for an unreached people regardless of whether they decide to go the extra step toward adoption. We all can be ready for adoption by faith in His will if each member of the body is edified. It does not make a person good or bad, it is what it is. Our desire is to reach out to the body so the body can be edified so we can reach all people on earth, to bring people into the body and for the body to be edified and brought up in His ways so the body can reach all people. Much of adoption comes from the body walking in agreement with each other, because each adoption involves the whole body and the body needs to stand together, (Amos 3:3). Be assured we are committed to His will being done on earth as it is in heaven and are willing to walk with all believers from all denominations so the body can be brought to maturity in Him. Not ready to Adopt? We also welcome your Registration of Prayer Commitment as a Prayer Partner.

We are responsible…..

When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, We want our hand always to be there.

For that we are responsible,

We are responsible both to God and each other.

"Together we can make a change, we can make a difference!"

"God gave us His Son, Spirit, Love, Direction, Purpose, Gifts, and free will. He gave us all the basic tools to either care for Him and others or care just for ourselves.

It is a choice either way, to either learn to work together to solve problems, but at the end, when it is all said and done, our true hearts will be exposed. We are given two things to do, love God and love our neighbor as ourselves.

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