America World Adoption News

Purposeful & Simple

The Bible references orphans and adoption over 52 times because of its importance to the Father. Nearly half of these verses describe God's heart for this specific group of children. The other half pertain to Christians' call to protect, give justice to and provide for "the least of these."

There are a plethora of ways that each Christian can be involved in caring for the Lord’s children.  Whether that’s walking through the adoption process or hosting a visiting child for a period of time or taking a child into your home through the Foster Care system or serving at an orphanage on short term missions trips, each area is both valuable and necessary in order to fulfill God’s command to look after orphans.

Over the past year, America World staff members have worked hard on strategically rethinking the way that we proactively care to orphans around the globe.  As an agency, we want to be continually testing and reexamining the way that we pursue orphan care so that we are being as wise as possible with all of the resources that God has graciously entrusted us with.  As a result, we have come up with a new structure for our orphan care ventures that is both purposeful and simple.

We invite you to get involved in one of our efforts to care for the Lord’s children.  We have restructured these orphan care initiatives - moving away from the idea of a limited, short-term campaign and instead transforming our work into two main, continuous and growing funds - the Isaiah 1:17 Fund and the Orphan’s Ticket Home Fund.  Each is uniquely designed to provide support and practical care to orphaned children and the families seeking to bring them home.

As in the past, all donated monies go directly toward taking up the cause of orphans around the globe - nothing goes toward America World’s overhead costs.  Our desire is to build God's kingdom; not our own.  We simply want to provide a channel for more and more individuals, families and communities to be able to find simple and effective ways to be obedient to the Father’s admonition to care for the millions of vulnerable children worldwide - one orphan at a time.

To participate, you can give a gift online or direct your questions to me via email or phone (703-891-3280).  Thank you for your faithful partnership in defending the cause of the fatherless and considering how to be involved in further ways!

In Him,

Jason West, Director of Development

Waiting - Trust in His Promises

As adoptive parents, my wife and I, like you, know the prayers of adoptive families during the long wait.  My wife, Connie, wrote this prayer today with the hope that a reflection on His promises will strengthen your family.

Please be encouraged by AW’s prayers for you.
-- Les Gallagher, CFO

Waiting

As You suspend the stars in the heavens,
The planets in their corridors,
Hold this child in check
In the distant orphanage.

As you deliver one season into the waiting arms of another,
Winter melting into spring through the ages,
Move this child along in Your perfect timing
To the longing embrace of adoptive parents.

And as You keep the generations of Your little creatures
Dry and fed, concealed in nature,
Calling to each other with neither thought nor concern,
Keep this child safe, answer his wonderings with trust.

And as You replenish the dry earth with rain,
Refilling the parched waterways with Your graciousness,
Soften the hardness of his hurts.
Prepare him for new life!

As You build families like galaxies,
Provide widows, the childless with prophets,
Speak through donkeys and angels and tongues of fire
“Do not be afraid!”
Speak peace and promise to the hearts of the waiting.

Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Cross the sea on dry land.
Crumble the ancient walls.
Slay the enemies’ giants with Your Spirit.
Conquer the darkness with your mercy and grace.
Bring our child home!

-- Connie Gallagher   July 8th, 2011

Ask Governor McDonnell to Stand Up for Faith-Based Agencies

Thank you to everyone who responded to our “A Call to Action” blog post and commented on the proposed changes to Virginia’s “Minimum Standards for Licensed Private Child-Placing Agencies.” When the public comment period ended on April 1, 2011, there were over 1,000 comments in support of protecting faith-based adoption and foster care agencies.

However, the fight is not over.

Under Virginia law, the Governor has the power to amend proposed regulations within 15 days of the end of the public comment period. This means that we have until April 15 to ask Governor Bob McDonnell to amend the proposed regulations and support the vital ministry of faith-based adoption and foster care agencies.

Please take a few minutes to contact Governor McDonnell and encourage him to amend the proposed regulations so that faith-based agencies are allowed to continue in the vital ministry of serving children.

You can contact the Governor by EMAIL, or at:

Governor Bob McDonnell
P.O. Box 1475
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: (804)786-2211
Fax: (804)371-6351

Governor McDonnell is a Christian and has long been a friend of faith-based organizations. All we are trying to do is make sure he is aware of the regulations that a few bureaucrats are trying to slip past the voters and ask him to stop them from hijacking our legislative process. As always, please be sure that your comments are respectful and glorifying to Christ.

A sample letter can be found in our original “A Call to Action” blog post.

Thank you again for your support!

A Call to Action - Final Opportunity to Share your Voice

Thank you to all who have commented on the proposed changes to Virginia’s licensing requirements for private child-placing agencies. Currently, over 250 people have spoken out in support of the rights of faith-based agencies.

We are in the final hours of the public comment period - comments will not be accepted after midnight tonight (April 1st). If you have not yet commented, please do so by clicking HERE.

When you post, please be sure that your comments are respectful and glorifying to Christ.  Our aim is not to slander any specific group; rather we want to protect religious organizations' rights to operate in accordance with their beliefs and morals in order to best serve orphaned and needy children.

Thank you again for your overwhelmingly positive support.

A Call to Action - Addendum

First, thank you to everyone who has already contacted their representatives in the Virginia government to comment on the proposed changes to the standards governing child-placing agencies. It is a blessing to work alongside so many passionate and faithful families.

Since posting the original “A Call to Action” post, we received some questions from families wondering how these regulations could affect their adoptions. I want to take a few minutes to ease these concerns. 

Let me be clear: there is no reason for any of our families to worry about their adoptions. America World will make sure that our families continue to receive uninterrupted services regardless of whether the proposed regulations are enacted.

The regulations themselves relate to how we, as a Christian adoption agency, screen families during the initial application and home study phase. Families who are currently working with America World will continue their adoption process as normal.

America World is working with other faith-based adoption and child welfare agencies in the state to be sure that our voices are heard in Richmond. This is a passionate and dedicated group that is working hard on behalf of our families, all faith-based agencies, and, most importantly, the children we are called to serve.

A Call to Action - New Virginia Licensing Regulations Endanger Faith-Based Agencies

Your immediate help is needed to protect the rights of Christian adoption agencies in Virginia.

The Virginia Department of Social Services recently announced revisions to the legal regulations that govern the licensing of adoption agencies in the state. While many of the proposed changes will improve the services offered to children and families, certain standards will harm America World's, and other wonderful agencies', important mission of ensuring that all children grow up in loving homes.

One regulation is particularly troubling because it would deny faith-based agencies the right to provide services in accordance with their religious and moral beliefs. This standard would deny an agency a license if that agency screened applicants based on religion, sexual orientation, or family status. This means that America World and other Christian agencies would be forced to accept all applicants regardless of whether or not they share our religious and moral convictions, or else be forced to forfeit our license to conduct adoption services.

America World is proud to be a part of the calling and tradition of Christians helping orphaned and vulnerable children throughout the world. Since our founding we have united over 3000 children with loving, Christian families.

This regulation, if allowed to become law, would violate the Constitutional rights of faith-based organizations and endanger our ability to continue in this vital ministry. What’s worse is that it will deny countless children in Virginia and around the world their fundamental right to a family. 

We implore you to please take a few minutes of your time to stand up for orphaned and vulnerable children.

There is an online town hall accepting comments from the public until April 1, 2011. To comment and express your concerns, simply click HERE.

You can also contact your elected representatives to urge them to protect the rights of faith-based organizations and the precious children we serve.

Click HERE to contact your Virginia Legislators.

Click HERE to contact Gov. Bob McDonnell.

Click HERE to contact Attorney General Kenneth T. Cuccinelli.

Here’s a sample letter to use or help you think about what to say:

I am writing to express my opposition to new regulations proposed by the Virginia Department of Social Services that violate the rights of faith-based child welfare agencies, and will deny countless orphaned and vulnerable children the right to a permanent, loving family.

Proposed regulation 22 VAC 40-131-170(B) would require a Licensed Private Child Placing Agency to accept any individual who applies to become a foster or adoptive parent regardless of whether that individual shares the agency’s religious and moral beliefs. Agencies that do not comply with this regulation would be in danger of losing their license.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has a long and proud tradition of citizens of faith working together to care for and protect children. In fact, a significant number of children who are adopted today are adopted with the help of faith-based organizations. These groups have been successful at protecting children and providing them with permanent, loving homes because of their tireless advocacy on behalf of children. The proposed regulation, however, would forever silence one of the strongest voices for children in the Commonwealth.

This regulation is a clear violation of the Constitutional right to the free exercise of religion and is an attempt to elevate the rights of one group of citizens at the expense of another. What’s worse is that countless children in Virginia and around the world will be denied their fundamental right to a family if it is allowed to become law.

I urge you to do everything in your power to oppose this regulation and protect the right of faith-based organizations to continue to serve children.

I will be following this issue and your response closely.

Thank you in advance, to all of our families, for your prayers on this matter.  We serve a mighty God who can move mountains and change men's hearts!