November 1, 2008 10:52 PM
The Kovacs Family - adoption encouragement
Have told you all lately how much I love you? I am so grateful for how you've rallied around and sent so many links for me to share. But tonight I tried a new strategy with my overflowing Inbox: beginning with the oldest - which is how I came up with Shawnda's question on writing instruments for little children.
Which reminded me that there's something about Shawnda I needed to share with you. Shawnda's been a friend of MommyLife since January 1. 2006 when she left her first comment here.
How excited I was then to find this on page 76 of the current issue of World:
'True religion'
Charity: Adoption funds allow the entire church to care for orphans
Rusty Leonard and Warren Cole SmithWhen Jason Kovacs and his wife Shawnda were newly married, they developed a strong passion for adopting. "We were convicted by James 1:27, which said that 'true religion' involved looking after orphans," Kovacs said. But as a young couple on the staff at a church--Minneapolis' Bethlehem Baptist Church--the estimated $20,000 needed to adopt a child was simply beyond their means.
So they turned to the Abba Fund, one of a small but growing number of organizations that provide matching grants and interest-free loans to Christian families that want to adopt. Now, nearly 10 years and two adoptions later, Kovacs is the executive director of the Abba Fund.
Adoption funds are, in concept, simple: They provide grants and interest-free loans to couples who want to adopt but cannot afford the up-front costs associated with adoptions. "Most adoptive couples are relatively young," said Kovacs. "This is a great way for the church to come alongside these young couples to help with the adoption process."
To read the entire article, you have to be a World subscriber - either the magazine itself or online .
The article focuses on how churches can make it possible to help couples and families interested in adoption through funding.
World lists these organizations which offer grants, zero-interest loans, and advice for churches on establishing adoption funds:
The Abba Fund
Lifesong for Orphans
Shaohannah's Hope
Family Legacies
I always get a chill when I write about adoption because with three adopted children and one adopted grandchild, it's a subject dear to my heart - and who knows if reading this might light a spark for someone that will end in another child finding the way home.
Adoption is a reflection of the divine - as I'm sure Shawnda would be the first to agree, with three adopted children of her own.
At her blog Spirit of Adoption, she writes:
I'm a sinner, saved by grace. I was adopted by my heavenly Father when I was in college. The Lord radically changed my heart and gave me desires and passions I never could have stirred up on my own! I spend each day striving to glorify Him in all I do, failing, being forgiven, and receiving His fresh mercies each day. . . .I'm a stay at home mom to these amazing kids who continually show me my need for Jesus and His precious love for us. We are passionate about adoption because God is passionate about adoption. He saved us, by grace, and gave us the spirit of adoption. He also commands us to care for the orphans - James 1:27. This has become a 'life verse' for us - we feel we have been called to grow our family through the spirit of adoption for the glory of our Savior and our great joy!!!
May God continue to richly bless you, Shawnda and Jason! Thank you for being a light and a witness to God's love for each of us!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also:
A Tale of Four Adoptions
Adoption Song - Steven Curtis Chapman
Posted in Adoption | Permalink
Comments
Yeah! Great post! I love Shawnda and Jason. They have been such an encouragement to us on our own adoption journey. They are the real deal!
Posted by: Tracie Loux | November 2, 2008 5:21 AM
Thanks for the update on
Shawnda's family. Congratulations to her on their newest addition!
Posted by: Julana | November 2, 2008 5:59 AM
Thank you for this! I actually read the article too in the WORLD magazine I got from reading your blog and getting a short free subscription! Thank you for that!
We are looking into adopting through Antioch in Redmond, WA http://www.antiochadoptions.org/. They do domestic adoptions only (I think) and they're fairly low cost, compared to the $15-30K normally spent before tax credits. We still at the very beginning stages, and Antioch only serves WA state at this point. It's nice to know there are other options to help make adoption more affordable.
Posted by: Addie | November 2, 2008 10:27 PM
Barbara, thank you SO much for your encouragement!!! You brought tears to my eyes!!! I'm so thankful for all you have challenged me in - the Lord has used you SO much. I still remember when I asked you to pray that the Lord would heal Karis if she had Downs, and you refused, rebuking the idea that Downs was not God's perfect plan. Amen! I needed that kick in the pants, and the Lord is still using those words of yours as we pray forward in growing our family! I love you, Barbara!!!
Posted by: shawnda | November 11, 2008 3:22 PM
