Posted on December 13, 2010 - by Megan
Jump and the Money Will Appear
34% of Christians consider adoption. The majority of them will never follow through, let alone even start—less than 1% actually. The main reason: the costs of adoption seem too overwhelming—often as much as $20,000-40,000.
When we began fundraising for our adoption, I had no idea how we would ever reach our goal of $20,000. It seemed so impossible, so far away, and yet, we are now within sight. I can’t believe it, but we are almost 60% of the way there. We have raised nearly $12,000 and we have just $8,000 to go. “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26
Joel and I have prayed from the beginning that God would use our story to inspire others to believe adoption possibly for ordinary families, not something reserved for the wealthy. We believe that there is more at stake with our fundraising than our own adoption—we are also doing this for the families that come after us. Every dollar that comes in says to another family: You don’t have to be rich and you don’t have to go into debt to respond to God’s call. You simply have to step out in faith, show up with your willingness to be creative and work hard, and trust that God will provide, one dollar at a time.
As I’ve met family after family who has adopted, whether face-to-face or through the world of social media, I have found that God provided exactly what they needed financially to adopt, literally without exception. Every story is unique, but the result is the same.
I remember seeing the first few donations come in several weeks back–$25 here, $50 there. I thought to myself, “Well, that’s great, but how in the world will we ever get to $20,000?” All I can say, somehow, it all adds up. Bottom line: God is in this!
While it may sound strange to say, I’m so thankful that Joel and I aren’t able to fund our adoption personally. In God’s providence, this piece of our story is absolutely necessary to the bigger narrative that God is writing in our family and our community. Without it, we would never be able to encourage others in the way that we can now, and our own faith would not have the chance to grow under pressure like it is at this very moment.
If you find yourself daunted by the financial obstacles of adoption, take heart. God wants to demonstrate his power through your story with HIS resources. Don’t let fear cause you to abandon a story like that for a smaller one.
Question: How have you stepped out in faith and seen God provide in ways you never imagined?
Want to join our story? Here’s how you can help.
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13. Dec, 2010
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Joel J. Miller, Megan Hyatt Miller, Andy Lehman, Andy Lehman, Resources4adoption and others. Resources4adoption said: http://fb.me/QhzV4Uly [...]
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My name is Megan Hyatt Miller. I'm a little Emmilou Harris, a little Bonnie Rait, and a dash of Paula Dean—mostly because I identify with her unbridled use of butter and ample hips. I am passionate about living and telling a good story. I'm a wife, a stepmom and and an adoptive mom. I am passionate about adoption, racial reconciliation, and creating beauty and a sense belonging for those I love. To learn more, click here. Thanks for stopping by.
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December 13, 2010
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Michele Cervone Scott said:
I completely agree, and I devote a whole chapter in Praying Through Your Adoption (coming March 2011 from WinePress Publishing) to finances. We adopted our son from Russia. The cost seemed prohibitive, but God always comes through. I’ll be praying for your journey!
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December 13, 2010
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Sarah said:
Well said!!!
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December 13, 2010
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CHERRI WALROD said:
Megan,
I saw this posted on LifeSong for Orphans. I reposted it to the Resources4adoption Facebook page. Looks like we have a lot in common…adoption and how to get the money to pay for it! I would love to visit with you further. Please feel free to email me at your convenience. Blessings on your journey!!
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December 13, 2010
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Megan said:
Cherri,
So cool. Thanks for re-posting. I’d love to connect at some point! Best to you!
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December 13, 2010
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Andrea said:
This post came at the perfect time! We recently started our 3rd adoption. I have been struggling with fear as we are in the worst position with this adotion financially than in any of the others. I also struggled with where our next child/children were to come from. But if you read my post from today, you will see how God spoke to my heart…then just 20 minutes later someone made the first donation to our Chip-in. I was a blubbering mess when I saw that donation…it was only 10.00 but it was as if God were saying to me that He had this covered…. now that I was in plan with Him. Praying for you!
Andrea
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December 13, 2010
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Megan said:
Andrea, that is so cool! I love these stories. God will provide every dollar you need. Thanks for the witness of your life already. Blessings!
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December 13, 2010
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Deanne Hamlette said:
May I have your permission to post this on our agency’s blog and link it back to your blog? I love to see how God is working in the lives of everyday people and feel like this can be a real encouragement to those who feel like $$ is a barrier to adoption.
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December 13, 2010
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Megan said:
Of course! Which agency are you with?
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December 13, 2010
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Deanne Hamlette said:
Family Life Services in Lynchburg, Virginia. Our agency’s blog can be found at http://www.flsadoption.blogspot.com
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December 13, 2010
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Tracy said:
Thank you for reafirming what we are doing! We took that leap and are half way through our homestudy. God will get us there! We completely believe! I pray others will follow everyday.
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December 13, 2010
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Kayla said:
My husband and I are experiencing the EXACT same thing. We deeply felt God leading us to adopt our first child and just took the jump. We’re in our early twenties, I’m a journalist and my husband is a seminary student. Needless to say, we don’t have the money up front!
But as soon as we announced our adoption, we started to see the Lord providing and it has been absolutely amazing. It is 100 percent worth it.
Blessings to your family + adoption journey!
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December 13, 2010
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Megan said:
Kayla–this is what I mean! I love hearing these stories. Every single person I know who has adopted has a similar one, even though the way things unfolded is unique. Thanks for taking a leap of faith. It means more thank you know. Blessings on your journey!
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December 14, 2010
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Jill said:
I saw a link to this post on another blog. My husband and I initially were overwhelmed (and I was slightly panicked) at the financial aspect of our adopting our first child. I began to doubt this was really God’s plan for us. Finally, he gave us a peace…and we began to rest in his plan…trusting that He would provide all we needed on this journey.
Three and a half months later, with one fundraiser, us pinching our pennies, and numerous individuals and couples that have felt led to give to what God is calling us to we have 2/3 of our goal…We are humbled, knowing that this is something ONLY God could do!
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December 14, 2010
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Megan said:
Jill, I know your story will inspire so many. Keep sharing. I love it! Best to you as you bring your child home.
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December 15, 2010
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Linda Keyser-Smith said:
You are so absolutely right and God has provided for us exactly that way seven times so far and we are in the process of seeing Him provide now for our 8th and 9th international adoptions: 8 and 11 year old sibs. LIFESONG was how God helped provide for our special needs baby who came home in June! He’s our #15 in a family whose kiddos range in age from 2-36! God WILL PROVIDE when we trust Him and we do not “lean to our own understnding”
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December 15, 2010
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Linda Keyser-Smith said:
We are ongoing testimony to your words as the parents of 15 chidlren right now, soon to be 17. With 7 hoem -grown children and the others international adoptions we have seen God do some pretty amazing things as HE called us to be mommy and daddy to several special medical needs children, to two older boys who were best friends in their orphanage, to a sib group of three at that same orphanage whom we met years before God opened the doors for us to adopt them, and soooooon, PLEASE God very soon, to another sib pair: 8 and 11 year old brother and sister. When we don’t “lean unto our own understanding ” God is so free to do what HE wants to do!!
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December 27, 2010
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Hope said:
thank you, oh thank you. we are just starting the adoption process and i totally needed to hear this. right now, it seems like a huge mountain, BUT God is bigger than the mountains. thanks. God bless you with your adoption.