The Blessing of Adoption

November is Adoption Awareness Month. The following is a guest blog by Mark Hiehle, a former Pregnancy Center Executive Director who currently serves as senior pastor at First Church of the Nazarene in Chickasha, Oklahoma.

For 15 years, we had talked about adopting a little girl. There was always the vastness of unanswered questions and reasons why we couldn't or shouldn't. We even went to numerous adoption informational meetings and took home packets from many different agencies—all of which were thrown away over the years. Time after time, however, adoption was brought to our attention through radio broadcasts, magazine articles, or songs on the radio. Then in 2004, the Lord spoke to my wife and impressed upon her that if we did not pursue an adoption, we were being disobedient. The questions and concerns were still there, such as where the money would come from, timing, what agency to use, and all the paperwork involved. It all seemed overwhelming. As we talked and prayed together, we took the step of faith and committed to adopting a little girl from China.

From that initial step of faith, it took us about a year and a half to compile all the paper work, wait, and prepare. I will always be the first to say, however, that my wife did just about all the work, research, and preparation throughout the process. If it were not for her diligence and persistence, the process would not have been completed.

"ALTHOUGH MY FATHER AND MOTHER HAVE FORSAKEN ME,YET THE LORD WILLTAKE ME UP AND ADOPT ME AS HIS CHILD" (PSALM 27:10).

After all the paperwork was completed and the documents were sent to China, the day came when we were approved to adopt a little girl from a special needs list. Due to either the one-child policy in China or this little girl's heart condition, her mother made the difficult decision to leave her next to a fire station on June 13, 2005. In God's providence, our flight left the United States to China on June 13, 2006. We received her when she was 13 months old, and she is 13 years younger than our youngest biological child. I love to say that 13 is our new favorite number.

In preparation for our adoption of this little girl, we read a book entitled, The Lost Daughters of China. In this book, we learned that all the children that are abandoned and taken to an orphanage are given the classification of 'Forsaken.' With that word, my mind raced to recount the plea of Jesus on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" In Scripture, the word translated 'forsaken' literally means to reject, abandon, or be deserted without hope. Upon hearing that our daughter-to-be was known as 'Forsaken,' I was impressed that her new name would be 'Forsaken No More.'

As the truth of that meaning swept over me, I immediately thought of the words of Scripture found in Deuteronomy when the Lord told Joshua, "Be strong and courageous...for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Those words are echoed throughout the Word of God, but no more profoundly than in Psalm 27:10 which tells us in the Amplified Bible, "Although my father and mother have forsaken me, yet the Lord will take me up and adopt me as his child." This truth is also revealed in the reality that each of us has been adopted into God's family by the sacrifice of Jesus' blood that was shed on the cross. A great price was paid for our adoption.

The meaning of adoption in biblical history has been forgotten or blurred in today's understanding. In the time of the Old Testament, an adoptive child was more secure than a biological child in his standing within a family. A naturally born child could lose his standing and promise, but an adopted child was legally secure in his inheritance for life. An adoptive child could never lose that promise. He could never be forsaken again. This became strikingly reminiscent when we signed the adoption papers in China. Before completing the adoption in China, my wife and I had to promise by oath that we would not mistreat our daughter nor forsake her. With joy, the promise was made because she was, "Forsaken No More."

In the beginning, I thought that our family would rescue a little girl from an orphanage, giving her a home full of love and the promise and blessing of a new life. The reality and truth of adoption is that we are the ones who have been blessed. Our adopted daughter has brought us joy beyond words, love beyond measure, and we have been dramatically changed.
For a birthmother, the release of a child is the most difficult and heart-wrenching decision that she can make. It is also the most loving and selfless act that she could perform. The blessing of that love is given both to her child and the adoptive family. The unconditional love of adoption is one of the greatest gifts that can be experienced—next to life itself.

Vehicle Donation Program

Do you have a car you want to get rid of but don't know what to do with it? The Pregnancy Care Center's vehicle donation program just might be the answer you've been looking for. We accept donations of cars, motorcycles, RV's and boats. All you have to do is call us with your information and answer a few simple questions about the condition of the car. Within a couple of weeks someone will be out to your house to tow the vehicle away. Once the car is sold, either as is or for parts, you will receive a receipt for the amount it was sold which you can then claim for your taxes...and PCC receives the proceeds from the sale of the vehicle. It's a win-win for everyone. Whether it's a newer car or one that's not running, give us a call to find out how you can support the PCC with a vehicle donation. Our toll free number is 866-510-5067. Call today!

Teresa Russell

The Safety

After a few weeks of grueling, middle school football practice involving profuse sweating, running, dehydration, re-hydration, shedding some blood and being driven to near tears, my son climbed into the car on the day they were to receive position assignments and announced in a half-defeated tone, “I’m just a safety, Mom.”

I scrambled in my mind to process this new information. I didn’t even know what a safety was! For all I knew he was going to be handing out Band-Aids to other players that got hurt! However, I gathered my thoughts quickly and launched into a impromptu speech on the incredible importance of a safety. One of the things I said, after learning a little more about this position was, “Tyler, what good is an offensive team if you don’t have a good defensive team?” I explained that on a team no position is useful by itself; every position must do his job for the team to work together well. Every position is incredibly valuable. As I continued on (as I tend to do) driving home the point I explained further that although some positions get more recognition, the success of those recognized players can only be attributed to those around him on his team and how well they do their job. I began to see his demeanor change. He settled into his seat a little more proud of his newly appointed position and newly discovered importance to the team.

And that is exactly the experience I recalled one day when I met a new acquaintance and she introduced herself to me as “just a volunteer.” And I thought of it again at the “Walk for Life” in Seymour when a young man indicated that gathering pledges and getting out of bed on a gray Saturday morning to walk wasn’t that big of a deal! My heart breaks when I hear people underestimate the value of their contribution to this ministry! Fortunately, I spared both of these team-mates from same tirade poor Tyler had to sit through but I wondered how many others have bought into that lie from Satan that their calling, gifting, contribution is less important than someone else’s that may be more visible.

We are a team, my friend. Your position is valuable. I pray that as you attend a football game this fall, or run across a good game on T.V. that you pause and analyze the importance of each player. I pray you consider how much we need you and appreciate you in this ministry! God has a great playbook, we’ve been given our positions, and the game has never been more intense!

Tracey Pike

Ground Breaking Report on Pregnancy Center Movement Released

On Wednesday, the Family Research Council, along with Care Net (our national affiliate) and other national pregnancy resource groups, released a groundbreaking report, A Passion to Serve, A Vision for Life, which shares the tremendous contributions of pregnancy centers since the inception of the movement over forty years ago.

Go to www.apassiontoserve.com to download a copy of the report. You will be blessed to read the impact of pregnancy centers on women’s, men's, adolescent, maternal and child health and how the movement’s growth is driven by the public’s desire to support abortion alternatives.

Teresa Russell

Columbus Resale Shop Benefits PCC

The Kids Resale will take place at Northside Middle School's gym and cafeteria on Saturday, September 26 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Come by to purchase items that are in good shape but no longer needed by the various sellers such as baby/youth clothing, toys, DVD's, books and baby equipment. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will benefit the Pregnancy Care Center. For more information, go to www.columbusinresale.com.