So thrilled our fellow SHC families showed up on a recent Sunday evening. Not
only did 40+ people and their children they mark their spot in a chair
with a warm body, but we got to hear
their hearts and passion that God has already been stirring in their lives for His vulnerable children.
We
had younger couples, couples who had been married for longer seasons,
single people, and staff all come together to begin a great community
for this movement to make a difference. They heard testimonies from us,
the Smiths, and a church staff person on how God brought us on this
adoption journey.
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| One
of the Smith's girls playing with the colorful prayer reminder
clothespin dolls 20+ SHC families painted. |
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| There are 14.7 million
orphans worldwide. That means each clothespin doll Andy and Lea Smith, and us, Kelly and Steve Hopkins, are holding here represents 14,700
children who don't have parents who can care for them. |
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| Steve setting up the technological side of things for our meeting.
Yes, we even found him high on a ladder pulling wires to get the
connections just right. I love my I.T. nerd. |
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Our dear friend Lea and her daughter detailing out the ministry's purpose and plans to put feet to it.
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We hope they left feeling encouraged, excited, and with eyes wide open
for how God will continue to orchestrate things perfectly to bring them
along His plans for living out James 1:27 in their lives.
And the food ... yes, Southern Baptists pride themselves on the incredible food we share when we get together.
We worked together to put a list of already generating ideas we can do in order to make a difference under one of our three focal areas.
Sugar Hill's Orphan Care ministry is about three small things for the one big thing – the orphan.
1 • We are having gatherings each month to emphasize
Community
in our church where families can get together and play at the park
together, or lean on each other for support and encouragement while we
each care for the orphan in our own ways.
2 • We will also help families by giving them
Tools & Resources for those who may be on the journey to adopt or already parenting children from hard places
3 • And we will get our hands dirty by serving the needs of these children through various
Missions projects
God calls us all to care for the orphan and the widow. Does that mean it
looks the same for everyone? No. What it does mean is we can all do
something.
You may be a single person, a high school student, an older couple who
finally has that empty nest, or a family whose house is already full –
but we can all make a difference for those children who need safe,
loving families together.
