Last night I had the honor of representing two adoption organizations at a huge concert here in Houston. America World Adoption is the amazing agency who has walked us through each step of this two years plus process and I am happy to steer folks who are considering adoption in their direction. I was also there for Show Hope, the organization Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman founded to provide adoption grants. They also run Maria’s Big House of Hope for medically needy orphans in China.
Casting Crowns headlined the tour with the very pregnant (with twins!) Laura Story and American Idol finalist, Colton Dixon, supporting. From my display table I could see the whole show while I spoke to lots and lots of people about adoption. The reason we were invited is the lead singer of Casting Crowns, Mark Hall, is an adoptive father of a daughter from China, through America World. He apparently talked quite a bit about orphans and adoption during the show but I didn’t hear it because I was too busy sharing my own story nearby.
Side note, while walking the long path from my car to the pavilion, I heard two older guys on bikes ask someone who the concert was. “Casting wha? Casting Crowns?” “Oh, it’s JESUS band.” I chuckled.
Driving up to the concert venue in the Woodlands, I had time to think about what I would say about adoption, how we were called to this, how it is a visible representation of the gospel, and what I have learned along the way. (SO MUCH and that is a post for another day!)
I got lots of questions about timelines (“how fast can I get a baby?”) and surprisingly few about money. I encouraged soooo many folks who want to adopt but their spouse isn’t on board yet. Our personal story shows the power of prayer and waiting in that.
And of course there were the goofy comments like “do you have any real kids now?” Um, yeah and my daughter is real too, not a unicorn.
My tour contact was John Michael Hall, high school aged son of lead singer, Mark Hall. I failed to make that connection when I was told to meet him before the show for the materials. When he whipped out the photo of his sister on his phone it dawned on me who he was. Great guy. We teased him a bit to tell his dad to speed up the sermon during the show via text and I’m afraid he didn’t quite get the joking intent. Oops, sorry John Michael!
The most special part of the night for me was when the newly hired on-air talent for KSBJ, Rochelle, stopped by to talk. She was sweet as pie, and already talking about the heat in Houston, bless her heart. She just moved from New York and yesterday it was 85 here. She clearly has a heart for adoption, and with two biological boys I related to her a lot. She intently listened and asked great questions and swooned over my photos of Rose. Then she suddenly said “Let’s pray!” grabbed me and prayed one of the most moving and beautiful prayers over my family I have ever heard. I am so grateful for that and hope to keep sharing the rest of the story with her as we go.
More and more I realize this is what I want to do. I want to share my story and advocate for the fatherless, not just for adoption but for family preservation and child sponsorship and poor mothers and more. I don’t know the hows or wheres but I’m just going to keep saying “Yes” to whatever God asks me to do.
I’m so glad we ran into you at your booth! Your passion for this was so evident. Obvious. Those things that we can’t believe that God “let’s” us do, are usually grounded in His design for us. I can’t wait to see how God uses this going forward!
I’m so glad we ran into you at your booth! Your passion for this was so evident. Obvious. Those things that we can’t believe that God “let’s” us do, are usually grounded in His design for us. I can’t wait to see how God uses this going forward!
I’m so glad we ran into you at your booth! Your passion for this was so evident. Obvious. Those things that we can’t believe that God “let’s” us do, are usually grounded in His design for us. I can’t wait to see how God uses this going forward!