This Means War: Equipping Christian Families for Fostercare or Adoption
This book is meant to educate, equip, and protect adoptive families so they in turn can protect the homeless children of the world. The book is geared toward parents, but I pray it'll also bring encouragement and understanding to those who were adopted.If you're a family or individual hoping to do foster care, adopt, or have recently adopted, chances are the licensing agency/adoption agency didn't give you enough information to prepare you for success. This book is a compilation of things I've learned and also stories shared with me by other adoptive families.Since 1989, I've worked with approximately 50 children. Together, Mike and I were house-parents to about 25 teens and pre-teens in crisis at a long-term shelter. We were foster parents to an additional 25 infants and toddlers in our home in subsequent years. We adopted three special needs children through the foster care system and we have three biological children.Mike spent over 15 years working with adults with disabilities and we did in-home care for that population as well. In 2001, I founded "Specialmom," a support group for foster and adoptive parents, which is still active today. Through this little family of like-minded parents, I've been encouraged as an adoptive mother and as a believer. I hope you also find a supportive group to hold you up in prayer and encourage you on this quest. In the meantime, I pray this book will prepare you to stand firmly and be used mightily for the Kingdom of God.Without information and preparation, too many have waltzed in over their heads, fallen, and seen their families damaged. If the focus of this book seems negative, it should offset that you're probably wearing rose-colored glasses. You're most likely already envisioning the joy and success of loving an unloved child. You know it's more blessed to give than to receive. You believe God's version of love never fails. You expect you'll reap a harvest if you continue to do good and do not give up.I want to prepare you for the fight to come in hopes that you'll persevere long enough to see that harvest."You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love." (Rev 2:3-4)If you learn only one thing from this book, let it be this: It's easy to get caught up in the work of a humanitarian and forget your main objective in life is to love God with all your heart, mind, body, and soul. The only way to succeed in life is to remain as a branch connected to the vine [Jesus]. Keep your relationship with God through Jesus as the most important thing -- the ONLY thing that matters -- and He will pour out His spirit on the children... in His time."Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV)