MONTH ONE: The Setup
Service
Watch the video of Brent, an adopted son and adoptive parent. This short video sets up the idea that there are all sorts of ways to start a family. After the video, take a minute to pray for ALL the families in the church that God will protect them. Pray for all those without families that God will provide for them. Pray that the hearts and minds of the congregation will be softened over the next 12 months as the church looks for ways to help children without permanent homes.
Online Video
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Bulletin
Over the next 12 months our church will be spending time each month showcasing ways that you can care for children in need of a home. We ask that over the next year you spend time in prayer asking God to provide for the 163 million kids worldwide without families. Pray that God will show you ways you can help.
MONTH TWO: Showing The Need
Service
Play the video of Focus on the Family President Jim Daly explaining the need for churches to step up and help the fatherless. After the video, pray specifically that at least one family in your church would be called to provide a permanent home for a child in need.
Online Video
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Bulletin
In the U.S. there are an estimated 120,000 kids in the foster care system and 300,000 churches. If just 1 family, in 1 out of 3 churches would provide a permanent home for a foster child then every child in the system would have a home. Please take the next month to pray that God will use a family in our church to help a child in foster care find a permanent home. Pray that God will open your heart to the idea that maybe you are that family.
MONTH THREE: Foster Care
Service
Ask a local (to your county or zip code) representative from the state to come to your church. Interview them about the needs that your county has for foster parents and to adopt out of the foster care system. Ask them how your church can support their efforts. Pray for them and ask that God would use the people in your church to support them.
Bulletin
If you would like more information on foster care please contact Bethany Christian Services. Spend some time over the next month praying for the fatherless. Download this prayer guide to help.
Prayer Guide
In addition, please consider using one of these bulletin inserts provided by Focus on the Family.
Austin
Kendra
Maria
Brothers
MONTH FOUR: Domestic Infant Adoption
Service
Play the video from Bethany Christian Services that highlights the joys of adoption. The video includes testimonies from adoptive families that share their experiences with their children and, in a subtle way, addresses some common myths about adoption. After the video pray that God will use the men in your church to lead their families in considering adoption. Pray that God will use the men in your church to provide fathers for the fatherless.
Online Video
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Bulletin
There are thousands of kids in the U.S. who will need to be adopted this year. They are of all races, sexes, and age. Take some time over the next week to pray about whether God is leading you towards adoption. At the end of the week, initiate a conversation with your spouse about adoption and see if God is leading your family in a particular direction.
MONTH FIVE: International Adoption
Service – Option 1
Interview a family in your church who has adopted internationally. Ask them about their decision to adopt and how God led them towards an international adoption. Ask them about the process and the ups and downs. Ask them how God has changed them as a result of the adoption and what they would share with others who may be considering adoption. Pray for them and thank God for the example of love that they have shown. Pray for those in the church that may be considering adoption that God would guide them through the process. Pray that God would use your church to provide for the fatherless throughout the world.
Bulletin – Option 1
There are an estimated 163 million orphans in the world. Please take some time over the next week to pray for these kids and ask God to provide a permanent home for them. Continue praying about adoption and if God is leading you towards an international adoption. Consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International or another organization that meets the basic needs of orphans in other countries through a monthly sponsorship.
Service – Option 2
If you do not have any couples in your church that have adopted internationally then invite a representative from a respected adoption agency in your area to come. Interview them about the need for adoptions overseas. Prior to the service, consult with them on good things to address with them so that common questions can be answered. Pray for them and their organization. Pray for those in the church that may be considering adoption that God would guide them through the process. Pray that God would use your church to provide for the fatherless throughout the world.
Bulletin – Option 2
There are an estimated 163 million orphans in the world. Please take some time over the next week to pray for these kids and ask God to provide a permanent home for them. Continue praying about adoption and if God is leading you towards an international adoption. Consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International or another organization that meets the basic needs of orphans in other countries through a monthly sponsorship.
MONTH SIX: Adopt an Orphanage
Service
Play this video from LifeSong for Orphans. After the video pray that God will use your church in three ways: to adopt, to care, or to give to orphans.
Online Video
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Bulletin
We need one person in our church to step up and help us "adopt an orphanage." As a church we can sponsor an orphanage overseas but we need a volunteer to coordinate the effort and help raise the funds in the church. Visit the LifeSong for Orphans website to learn more about the program. If you would like to help start this in our church please contact Lifesong at 309.747.3556 or info@lifesongfororphans.org.
Lifesong
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MONTH SEVEN: Child Sponsorship
Service
Show the video from Compassion International that highlights the need for sponsoring children. After the video pray that God will use your church to help these kids. Set a specific goal of sponsorships for your church and challenge the congregants to help meet that goal. (You can track the goal informally through a show of hands the following week or by asking them to email the church. Keep it simple.)
Download Video
Bulletin
Not everyone is called to adopt, but we are all called to care for the orphan (James 1:27). If you are not called to adopt or foster a child, how can you support someone who has? Compassion International or Bethany Christian Services offer ways to sponsor a child on a month-to-month basis.
Compassion
Bethany Sponsorship
MONTH EIGHT: Common Myths
Service
Invite a representative from a local, and respected, adoption agency to come to your church and address some common myths about adoption (domestic, foster, and international). Consult with them beforehand about the most common myths and what myths they feel would be good to address.
Bulletin
There are a lot of myths about adoption. Please take some time this week to pray that God would use our church to dispel some of those myths. Educate yourself on the process by visiting the website of Bethany Christian Services.
MONTH NINE: Adoption Support
Service
Interview a family in your church who has adopted. Ask them about the process and how their family and lives have changed as a result. Ask them about the struggles they faced as a result of the adoption. Ask them about the joy they have found in the adoption. The point is to paint a realistic picture of all that is involved with adoption.
Bulletin
Seek out someone in our church or your neighborhood who has adopted or is fostering and offer your support and help. Pray for those families in your church who have adopted. Download this free booklet for ways you can support families who are adopting.
Booklet
MONTH TEN: Fatherhood
Service
Play one or two of the lighthearted commercials provided by The National Fatherhood Initiative. Interview a father and his son from your church. Ask the son what it means to have a dad and what he appreciates about him. Ask the son what special things they do together. Ask the dad what it means for him to have the honor of being a dad. Ask him to share a fond memory he has of his son. Ask him why he is proud of his son. Pray for them and all the dads in your church that God would guide them and give them wisdom and courage to be good dads. Ask that God would use the men in your church to lead their families in providing, in whatever way they feel called, for the fatherless around the world.
Online Video 1
Online Video 2
Bulletin
Dads, take some time this week to spend some one-on-one time with your kids. Take them to the park or to breakfast or just on a walk. Visit www.Fatherhood.org for tips and resources on being a good dad. Moms, pray for your husbands this week and all the dads in our church and ask God to strengthen our families.
MONTH ELEVEN: Mentoring
Service
Watch the video of Donald Miller explaining The Mentoring Project and hear from some mentors/mentees in the program. Send people to The Mentoring Project website (if your church is signed up) or point people to the local Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Pray that God will use the men in your church to come along side young men without fathers. Pray too for the young men in your community without fathers that God would provide positive male role models for them.
Online Video 1
Online Video 2
Bulletin
There are 30 million fatherless children in America. Will you commit to mentoring just 1 of those kids for 1 hour/week over the next two years? Visit The Mentoring Project or Big Brothers Big Sisters to learn more.
MONTH TWELVE: International Orphan
Service
Play the video that shows how many orphans there are worldwide and how scripture calls on us to help. After the video pray that God will "free" those in your church to visit the orphans in their affliction.
Online Video
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Bulletin
Spend time in prayer this week for the orphans throughout the world. Ask God to provide for them and to protect them. Pray that God would continue to show you ways how you can help.
ADDITONAL RESOURCES
i. Rick Warren
ii. Russell Moore
iii. John Piper
iv. Johnny Carr
v. The Orphan Sunday
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