Making Adoption Possible
October 12, 2008
On Sunday I mentioned that there is a way for our entire church family to be involved in adoption. Obviously there is the call for families to pursue adoption and foster care through agencies like Christian Family Care Agency (do not count yourself out of this category because you aren’t 25 and full of energy; our pastor in Minneapolis and his wife adopted when he was 50!). But for those who are not in a life position where adoption is possible, there is a way to be an integral part of making adoption possible for Whitton Avenue families.
The ABBA Fund is a Christian non-profit organization that provides interest-free loans and matching grants to help Christian couples overcome a major obstacle in adoption: the initial cost. It places 100% of Whitton Avenue’s contributions directly into the Whitton Avenue Adoption Fund, which then are then available to Whitton Avenue families who qualify based on spiritual and financial stability. This allows families to take advantage of the $11,000 federal Adoption Tax credit to repay the loan, based on the covenant agreement they sign with the ABBA Fund.
The beauty of this opportunity is that it creates a self-perpetuating fund, as loan repayments provide funds to meet needs of new adopting families. The ABBA Fund also administrates Matching Grants, which provides family with a “support raising” process to help them gather prayer and financial support for their adoption. It also matches funds raised on a “dollar-for-dollar” basis up to a specified amount. This has the potential to mobilize our body to come alongside believers who have been called by God to adopt.
The ABBA Fund provides administration for the following:
–Qualifies families for no-interest loans based on mutually agreed upon criteria
–Administers the funds as directed by the partnership with the church
–Receives and disburses funds to adoption agencies, etc. on behalf of approved couples as mutually agreed upon
–Administers tax-deductible receipts, mailings, follow-ups, etc.
If you are interested in helping start the Whitton Avenue Adoption Fund, please make your check payable to The ABBA Fund and mark “Whitton Avenue Adoption Fund” in the memo.
As I mentioned on Sunday, Dan and Sarah McCurley will be advocates for this ministry, so you will be hearing more from them in the months to come. Our desire is that this would be one piece in continuing to foster the culture of adoption that already exists at Whitton Avenue Bible Church, so that God’s adopting love toward us might be on full display both in our words and our lives.
Pastor Chris
For more information on the ABBA Fund you can visit their website at http://www.abbafund.org/