Adoption - How Can The Church Get Involved?
'We believe God is a God who is a protector of widows and orphans'.. says Krish Kandiah of the UK Evangelical Alliance, in its video campaign for the church to become part of the answer to the UK's 4,000 children awaiting adoption. Krish - himself adopted - is working with EAUK and Care For The Family to 'work out what needs to be put in place to change the culture of the church towards fostering and adoption.' The Let's Make A Difference campaign is holding free conference for adopters, foster carers, social workers and Christians to get involved in.
(PICTURES: KRISH KANDIAH OF THE EAUK IN THE VIDEO)
Watch Krish!
Editor Emma writes:
When you watch Krish's video the mathematics of 4,000 (ish) children awaiting adoption and around 8,000 needing foster care placements against the 15,000 churches across the UK that Krish is involved with via EAUK, makes sense. But is fostering and adoption honestly a 'simple', or 'straight forward' proposition?
Certainly the family and adoption, were God's idea first!.. But is it really as simple as taking a child into your home and family. An adopter who didn't want to give their name had this to say:
"Once you begin on the adoption journey you realise that it is a journey, complete with many necessary checks on the type of person or couple or family that you are, which really is indepth and involves scrutiny for good reason.
"The professionals, from child psychologists, to the Adoption Team GP, to specialists on issues such as neglect and attachment, spell out to you very clearly that experiences like neglect and emotional neglect can actually affect the way a child's brain develops and the pathways which develop in the brain. Of course negative experiences can be unpicked - but not overnight sometimes and not without a thorough understanding of how to add in good nurturance as well as help weed out negative ways of thinking or fears.
"In fact there is a special term called 'therapeutic parenting' which describes the type of parenting you need to give. So, whilst it would be great for more people and Christians to consider adoption - it should be considered unless you know it is absolutely right for you and you are willing to give what is required to help that child feel at home with you, and know that you are their parent. Perhaps it is a God given purpose and desire."
So what are Krish and EAUK proposing? Six consultation events for current foster and adoptive carers, Christian social workers and Church leaders to go along to.
Tuesday, 19 June – Cardiff
Wednesday, 20 June – Belfast
Thursday, 21 June – Glasgow
Tuesday, 26 June – Manchester
Wednesday, 27 June – Birmingham
Thursday, 28 June – London
For more information Click Here.
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June 2012