Posted 1:32 am Saturday, April 17, 2010
GABC To Hold ‘If You Were Mine' Event
Conference Open To Anyone Considering Adoption, Foster Care
From Staff Reports
Green Acres Baptist Church launched its Hope for 100 Campaign in January 2009 with the goal to have Christians provide loving homes for at least 100 children through adoption or as foster parents.
Green Acres Baptist Church launched its Hope for 100 Campaign in January 2009 with the goal to have Christians provide loving homes for at least 100 children through adoption or as foster parents.
Thus far, 93 East Texas families have accepted the challenge, said the Rev. Kevin Burdette, GABC minister of adult impact.
To help reach the goal, and to continue to spread awareness of adoption and foster care, Green Acres will host the "If You Were Mine" adoption conference from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 24 at the church, 1607 Troup Highway.
It is open to anyone considering adoption or foster care.
"I am thrilled with the work of Hope for 100, a campaign to challenge … families to obey God's word by providing loving, Christian homes for children through adoption or foster care," said Dr. David Dykes, pastor of Green Acres.
Hope for 100: Families for the Fatherless was started by GABC members Rocky and Carrie Gill.
Following an adoption of their own, the Gills began to realize the biblical importance of caring for a vulnerable orphan.
According to the Hope for 100 website, as the Gills studied the Bible, it became increasingly apparent that caring for the fatherless is a calling for the entire church. However, it was evident that many churches were lacking an intentional outreach to the orphans of the world. After Gill served as the campaign chairman of the Tyler United Way drive, he began to dream of a similar campaign for orphans that would accomplish five goals:
Hope for 100 was launched with the first "If Your Were Mine" conference last year.
"We were thrilled at the response of the first IYWM conference held at GABC," Rocky Gill said. "We had about 300 people attend from Texas and other states, and 15 exhibitors took part by providing information and opportunities for those interested in learning more about adoption and foster care."
This year's conference will include information from how to get started selecting an adoption agency and how to become a foster parent. It also will include financial-assistance information on how to afford adoption.
GABC says through Hope for 100, it plans to provide ongoing support to families who adopt or become foster parents.
To learn more about the conference, or to register, visit HopeFor100.org.
