God has called and we are answering…

This may come as a HUGE surprise to some and much anticipated news to others…Adam and I have just received news that we have been approved to begin our journey of adopting one (or possibly more!) of God’s children into our family!  After much prayer and leading from God, we are following His call to adopt from Ghana.  We do not know who this little person is yet but our God does!   What we do know is this child does not know the warm and loving embrace of a mother, or the joy of a piggy-back ride from a father. They do not know what it feels like to be tucked in and kissed goodnight, warm and safe in a caring home.  This child has yet to receive full medical attention and proper, nutritious food.  We cannot wait to bring this little person home, to hold him/her in our arms, and always provide a hand for them to hold as they grow.  No words can capture the true joy and excitement we feel as we anticipate the blessing of this child’s presence in our home and we are so grateful to God that He has called us to adopt!

We would like to invite you to be a part of our adoption by helping in a couple of different ways.  First of all, we need your prayers!  We have a long way to go and we need God’s help! Please pray…

·   For strength and endurance during the information gathering stage and that the process will go smoothly.  We will have medical tests, home visits, interviews, FBI background checks, etc.    
·   That God would move mountains to bring our son/daughter home and in the meantime that He would provide protection for them and someone to love and snuggle them until we get there. 
·   For God’s provision for the many expenses associated with adoption. 

We really felt that going to Africa would be next to impossible because of the high costs of an international adoption.  We also know that the Lord is leading us to adopt and believe God is bigger than finances, so we are truly relying on faith that God will provide.  This adoption will cost in the neighborhood of $29,000.  I know that sounds like a lot (and it is), but just as Nehemiah and the Israelites rebuilt the wall in Jerusalem one stone at a time, we are relying on God for $1 at a time. James tells us “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”   Not every believer is called to adopt, but every one of us is called to help.  Because God commands His church to help, we would be amiss if we didn’t also ask for help from families and friends who may be willing to donate to bring one of God’s children home – no amount is too small!  Our plan also includes applying for as many grants as possible and we are praying that doors will open for the money to come through. We trust that God will provide the funds needed to complete this adoption.

BE BOLD!

The Witness Commission at Summerdean Church and Pastor Stafford Frederick invite you to join us at 6 pm on Saturday, July 14th at Summerdean Church for a fundraising dinner. We will share about God's call to us in this regard and about the country we are adopting from, what the children are like there and what all goes into such an undertaking of bringing one of God's children into the Summerdean faith community and our home.  The menu for the dinner is chicken, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, green beans, biscuits with apple butter and apple crisp with ice cream for dessert.  We will be accepting a love offering and in addition will have a few items for purchase in support of this ministry.  We invite you to join us on July 14th, 6:00 p.m.  Please rsvp by July 8th to summerdeanchurch@verizon.net or 540-366-6835. Your response will be greatly appreciated as we plan and prepare for the dinner.

Thank you for taking the time to let us share our journey of ministry with you.

Sincerely,

  Adam & Lynsey Stultz

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.” – Matthew 25:40