We have recently heard from the Embassy in Uganda regarding the number of families they can handle per year. Due to their new time constraints, we are increasing our process time estimation to 12-15 months. The Embassy hopes to increase their staff, which would decrease delays. We will keep you posted as we are updated!
Claire Davis, LGSW
International Social Worker
Friday, January 29, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Gifts of Grace
"As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God...if anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:10, 11
As we were in prayer today, we prayed for Traci Newell, our Education Coordinator. Traci will visit a local school in an attempt to gain permission to present the "Decisions, Choices and Options" training to the high school students. I thought about how gifted Traci is at this type of task and how I am not gifted at this at all! I thanked the Lord that each of the staff is so uniquely gifted at what each of us does...that God has put the Lifeline staff together as a puzzle; fitting together to form a beautiful picture of how Christians can come together to fulfill God’s will for our community and our world.
Lea Anne Parker
Senior Supervisor of Social Services
As we were in prayer today, we prayed for Traci Newell, our Education Coordinator. Traci will visit a local school in an attempt to gain permission to present the "Decisions, Choices and Options" training to the high school students. I thought about how gifted Traci is at this type of task and how I am not gifted at this at all! I thanked the Lord that each of the staff is so uniquely gifted at what each of us does...that God has put the Lifeline staff together as a puzzle; fitting together to form a beautiful picture of how Christians can come together to fulfill God’s will for our community and our world.
Lea Anne Parker
Senior Supervisor of Social Services
Walk in The Word: God's Story of Redemption
Bible Study 1/11/10
Reading Passages: Genesis Ch. 1-11; John 1:1-3; Psalm 8; Psalm 104
The staff at Lifeline, along with many others, are reading through the Bible this year. As we begin to read through God's love letter to His people, how fitting that we start with God and all of His creation. He is Yahweh, Jehovah, Lord Almighty - the One who holds the universe in His hands. He gave us all of the blessings and beauty around us, and yet the great God of this universe wants a relationship with us. Who are we that the Almighty would want fellowship with sinful man?
The first two chapters of Genesis reveals the origin of God's world, and how it was perfectly designed for His glory. By chapter three, man had already rebelled against God, choosing independence from the Creator, rather than obeying His every command. The result was irreversible and had tragic consequences of both physical and spiritual death. Man's true nature was revealed through sin, and the divine image within ourselves was distorted. We were made in God's perfect and Holy image, and yet through sin, we reflect the image of the Evil One, God's enemy. The only way to restore our broken fellowship with a Holy God is through true repentance and redemption, which is offered by our merciful Father in chapter three. God's redemption plan, the message of hope, is revealed in verse fifteen, through way of God's Son, Jesus Christ. God's extends an abundance of grace and mercy, as He would rather sacrifice Himself in death out of love, rather than allow us to experience the death that we deserve. So again, I ask you to think: who are we to deserve favor from the Creator of the Universe, God Almighty?
2009 was an awesome year, filled with God's favor and blessings upon our agency. Please be in prayer for Lifeline as we continue to grow in God's Word, individually and collectively as a staff. I will also pray that as you follow along with us through our Bible study this year, your relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ will be strengthened and glorifying to Him!
Bible Study 1/18/10
Reading Passages: Genesis, chapters 12-29
Abram and his faith journey is the main focus from this week's reading. The Abrahamic Covenant is introduced in chapter 12, when Abram is called to leave his home in Haran, and set out for Canaan. This covenant, or agreement, was a promise from God to Abram that he would receive land, divine blessing, protection, and would become "the father of many nations." With this covenant came new identities: Abram became known as Abraham (17:5), and his wife Sarai became known as Sarah (17:15). These new names were a reflection of Abraham's relationship with God, based on the promise of their offspring. Twenty-five years after this promise, Isaac was born to 100 year-old Abraham and 90 year-old Sarah.
Abraham's faith was tested again when God commanded him to sacrifice his only son, in chapter 22. Only this time, Abraham's faith had grown so strong, he trusted God to provide, even if it meant resurrection of his son. ("By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, 'In Isaac your descendants shall be called." Hebrews 11:17-20) The Lord provided a ram in the thicket as an offering, in place of Issac - a beautiful foreshadowing of God's plan for our salvation! The Lord Almighty sacrificed His own Son, out of love,
so that we may experience eternal life with Him, rather than the death that we deserve. "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
Give praise to God today for His blessings and promises!
In His Grace,
Deanna Crist
Next week: Genesis, Chapters 30-50
Reading Passages: Genesis Ch. 1-11; John 1:1-3; Psalm 8; Psalm 104
The staff at Lifeline, along with many others, are reading through the Bible this year. As we begin to read through God's love letter to His people, how fitting that we start with God and all of His creation. He is Yahweh, Jehovah, Lord Almighty - the One who holds the universe in His hands. He gave us all of the blessings and beauty around us, and yet the great God of this universe wants a relationship with us. Who are we that the Almighty would want fellowship with sinful man?
The first two chapters of Genesis reveals the origin of God's world, and how it was perfectly designed for His glory. By chapter three, man had already rebelled against God, choosing independence from the Creator, rather than obeying His every command. The result was irreversible and had tragic consequences of both physical and spiritual death. Man's true nature was revealed through sin, and the divine image within ourselves was distorted. We were made in God's perfect and Holy image, and yet through sin, we reflect the image of the Evil One, God's enemy. The only way to restore our broken fellowship with a Holy God is through true repentance and redemption, which is offered by our merciful Father in chapter three. God's redemption plan, the message of hope, is revealed in verse fifteen, through way of God's Son, Jesus Christ. God's extends an abundance of grace and mercy, as He would rather sacrifice Himself in death out of love, rather than allow us to experience the death that we deserve. So again, I ask you to think: who are we to deserve favor from the Creator of the Universe, God Almighty?
2009 was an awesome year, filled with God's favor and blessings upon our agency. Please be in prayer for Lifeline as we continue to grow in God's Word, individually and collectively as a staff. I will also pray that as you follow along with us through our Bible study this year, your relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ will be strengthened and glorifying to Him!
Bible Study 1/18/10
Reading Passages: Genesis, chapters 12-29
Abram and his faith journey is the main focus from this week's reading. The Abrahamic Covenant is introduced in chapter 12, when Abram is called to leave his home in Haran, and set out for Canaan. This covenant, or agreement, was a promise from God to Abram that he would receive land, divine blessing, protection, and would become "the father of many nations." With this covenant came new identities: Abram became known as Abraham (17:5), and his wife Sarai became known as Sarah (17:15). These new names were a reflection of Abraham's relationship with God, based on the promise of their offspring. Twenty-five years after this promise, Isaac was born to 100 year-old Abraham and 90 year-old Sarah.
Abraham's faith was tested again when God commanded him to sacrifice his only son, in chapter 22. Only this time, Abraham's faith had grown so strong, he trusted God to provide, even if it meant resurrection of his son. ("By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, 'In Isaac your descendants shall be called." Hebrews 11:17-20) The Lord provided a ram in the thicket as an offering, in place of Issac - a beautiful foreshadowing of God's plan for our salvation! The Lord Almighty sacrificed His own Son, out of love,
so that we may experience eternal life with Him, rather than the death that we deserve. "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
Give praise to God today for His blessings and promises!
In His Grace,
Deanna Crist
Next week: Genesis, Chapters 30-50
Monday, January 25, 2010
Lifeline Director on WBRC's Good Day Alabama
This morning Lifeline's Executive Director was interviewed on WBRC's (Fox 6) Good Day Alabama to discuss the orphan crisis in Haiti. Please continue to pray for those recovering on the island nation, as well as for those children who have been orphaned by this disaster.
To watch the interview following this link. WBRC Good Day Alabama January 25, 2010.
To watch the interview following this link. WBRC Good Day Alabama January 25, 2010.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
A Note from the Director - the orphans of Haiti
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you..." John 14:18
It's always hard to watch the news, but the last week has been especially excruciating. It is hard to sit idly by and watch the horrible pictures pass by of the desolation and destruction that has overtaken the already impoverished nation of Haiti.
It's almost impossible to read the stories of week old infants left alone on the streets or to imagine children, much less adults, wandering the streets lost, alone, afraid, forgotten and homeless.
So as believers what is our adequate response? How do we provide help, when it seems so helpless? What can we practically do for orphans?
The first thing we need to do is understand who is speaking in John 14:18. We need to rely upon the power of prayer and the intervention of the Lord in the lives of those children orphaned before the earthquake and those orphaned by the earthquake. The all-surpassing power to intervene in their lives is from God and not from us (2 Corinthians 4:7).
Pray Psalm 82:3-4 to God on behalf of those orphaned in Haiti, "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
Second get involved with the movement of the local church. If you are moved by the Lord through prayer then get involved with what local churches are doing on behalf of the orphans of Haiti. That may mean going on a trip, it may mean providing tangible support, or it may mean giving financially. Whatever the call, the local church is equipped to respond adequately to the needs.
With the current crisis in Haiti, Lifeline has had many requests concerning information on adopting children from Haiti. The Department of State has said adoptions from Haiti will most probably not occur for new family applicants until the Haitian government is able to stabilize the environment enough so that an orphan’s status can be legitimized. Thus meaning an organized system must be established to verify that the each child truly has no family unit who has a claim to that child. Lifeline is monitoring the situation and plans to move to action as soon as things are more organized and the environment is such that legitimate orphans can be identified and become available for adoption.
Until then, besides being moved to prayer and getting involved with a local church, Lifeline suggests the following organizations to get involved with because of their intentionality to help orphans. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, nor is this list meant to imply that organizations omitted are not helping Haiti or helping orphans. There organizations are merely those that have come to our attention as those who are intentionally focusing on orphans through their aid: Samaritans Purse, World Orphans, Global Aid Network (GAiN), Hopegivers, and Orphan's Promise.
Lastly, while we may not understand why this tragedy has occurred, let us trust that the Lord will protect His children in Haiti and let us praise the Lord that the world's attention has been focused on a nation that needs the Gospel and that needs the radical attention of the Body of Christ. If you have any questions, please feel free to call our main office at 205.967.0811.
On behalf of the orphans,
Herbie Newell
Executive Director
Lifeline Children's Services
giving children a hope and a future
It Only Takes One
It only takes one to forever change the life of a child. Will it be you?
Visit www.lifelineadoption.org to learn more about starting the journey towards giving a child a hope and a future...
Visit www.lifelineadoption.org to learn more about starting the journey towards giving a child a hope and a future...
Imprints
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands..." Isaiah 49:15, 16
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