Christ Community

Forever Families

 

An Adoption, Foster Care, and Orphan Care Ministry @ Christ Community

 

"God sets the lonely in families"

Psalm 68:6

 

Vision:

Sharing God's heart for the fatherless.

 

Mission:

To equip families, advocate for all orphans, and mobilize our communiy to care for the fatherless.

 

We desire to connect in authentic community through both small group atmospheres, as well as large group events. We are focused on helping children and families as they travel the adoption or foster journeys. While all who have been touched by the miracle of adoption share a common bond, each journey is unique and presents its own joys, and challenges. We are here to inform, encourage, and pray for families and individuals that are pursuing adoption or foster care, sharing a realistic understanding of both the joys and challenges adoptive and foster families often face. The journey continues after the child is welcomed into the family, so we desire to provide effective information, support and resources to post-adoptive families. We have also set up an Adoption Assistance Fund for families that are adopting. 

 

For more information contact Becky Pringle at 970.395.0667 or Loni Corliss at 970.339.8545, or ForeverFamilies@comcast.net.   

 

Click Here to see some of the resources and links Forever Families has put on the Message Series Resources page of our church website for Orphan Awareness Sunday, as a part of the "A Ray of Hope" teaching series at Christ Community, November 7/8, 2009 -- "A Ray of Hope for the Orphan".

 

The mission and vision of Forever Families is captured well in this song/video by Steven Curtis Chapman: 

  

Upcoming Forever Families Activities

 

Free Monthly Trainings

Behavioral Support and Intervention With Challenging Kids

Featuring Local Specialist: Barry Lindstrom, Ph.D., Clinical and School Psychologist with 20 years of working with foster kids and families.    

Saturday, September 11th from 9:00am-12:00noon Come prepared to “Stump the Chump!” Be ready to discuss difficult situations and behaviors, as a portion of the morning will be dedicated as a group consultation and support session.

There is no cost to attend this training. FREE reserved childcare will be offered for birth to age 5 only and refreshments will also be provided. Registration Deadline: September 8th.  If you are interested in attending or have questions please contact Loni at 339-8545 or lwcorliss@skybeam.com.

 

Responding to Children Orphaned By the Haitian Earthquake

If you've been wrestling with the possibility of adopting a child orphaned by the January 2010 Haitian earthquake, consider these insights ...

AdoptUsKids has received a number of inquiries from families that are interested in adopting Haitian Earthquake Orphans. At this time, the first priority of government and disaster recovery officials is to address the immediate medical and physical needs of the people affected by the earthquake and assist in the reunion of family members who have been displaced or separated by the disaster. Therefore, it may take a long time before children affected by the disaster may be available for adoption. The U.S. Department of State provides information on the adoption of children affected by natural disasters and conflict on their website at: http://adoption.state.gov/news/Haiti.html.  You also can locate contact information for adoption agencies that place children from Haiti through our resource list of U.S. Adoption Agencies That Place Children From Abroad at: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/country_resource_lists.cfm.

K-Love Radio is also encouraging people to call the hotline number 954-315-7537 to inquire about Haitian children. A program called SAFE Kids of South Florida has put this hotline number to direct people to their website and apply on line to help a child in need. The web address is www.4kidsofSFL.org.   

 

Fundraiser for the Christ Community ABBA Fund

Purchase an orphan-awareness t-shirt and help a family adopt!   While raising awareness to the plight of the 147,000,000 orphans in our world (yes, that's million!), we also have the goal of raising $10,000 this year for the Christ Community ABBA Fund. Please help us to reach people who are unaware of the huge need for orphan care in the world by purchasing and wearing one of our t-shirts.  Click here to find out more about the fundraiser and the ABBA Fund.

  

Fields of the Fatherless: Discover the Joy of Compassionate Living Book Study

will be offered after our Orphan Sunday Expo this year.  Please let us know if you would like to be included in this opportunity.  If you feel God may be calling you to adopt, please sign up for our Considering Adoption Study as well.   Contact Becky or Loni at ForeverFamilies@comcast.net.  

 

The Called to Adopt Support Group ...

is for those families in every stage of the adoption journey. Please join us if you are considering adoption, pursuing adoption or even in the post stages of adoption. We meet the 4th Saturday of the month from 6:00-7:30pm in the Community Room at Christ Community Church. Free childcare is available.   

 

Social Connections

The Forever Families Ministry offers social events each quarter. This is a time for the whole family to relax and fellowship with other adoptive families and children. We had a BBQ in the park this spring and a swimming party at the Evans Pool this summer.   Be watching here for upcoming events, when scheduled.

 

Adoption Journeys @ Christ Community

Simon and Jessica Gonifas' Journey to Ethiopia To Embrace Their Son David

 

The Adoption Journey of Danny and Andrea Shindle and Terry and Marylin Rothe As Told in The Greeley Tribune on National Adoption Day 2009

Danny and Jacob Shindle at Jacob's adoption proceedings.  On the cover of the Greeley Tribune, November 21, 2009

Click Here to Read the Article

To learn more about Weld County's foster and adoption program, go to www.co.weld.co.us and click on the Social Services link and then the Foster Care link.