2. Adoption: “The act of adopting, the state of being adopted.” Webster “A legal practice in which an adult assumes the role of parent for a child who is not his or her biological offspring” Wikipedia

3. Actual Adoption Numbers (U.S.) <10,000 <14,000 >22,000 >60,000

4. Actual Adoption Numbers (U.S.) <10,000 <14,000 >60,000

5. Actual Adoption Numbers (U.S.) <14,000 >60,000

6. Actual Adoption Numbers (U.S.) <14,000

7. Ephesians 1:5(NIV) “He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ in accordance to His pleasure and will” Romans 8:23(NIV) “ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies”

8. James 1:27(NIV) “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.”

9. Proverbs 17:17(NIV) “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10(NIV) “ Two are better then one, because they have a good return for their work If one falls down his friend can help him up But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”

10. Romans 15:1(NIV) “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.”

11. Proverbs 15:22(NIV) “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.”

13. Night #2

14. Deuteronomy 10:18(NIV) “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.” Psalm 25:12-14(NIV) “Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.”

15. Adoption: “The act of adopting, the state of being adopted.” Webster “A legal practice in which an adult assumes the role of parent for a child who is not his or her biological offspring” Wikipedia

16. Pregnancy Statistics -About 1 in 2 pregnancies in America are unplanned -About 1 in 3 pregnancies are unwanted -Over 3/4 (76%) of all unplanned pregnancies occur to women in their teens and twenties -Approximately 469,000 babies are born to teenage mothers each year in the U.S. -Children born outside of two-parent married families are more likely to be poor, drop out of high school, have lower grade point averages, lower college aspirations and poorer school attendance records. -Both mothers and fathers who have an unplanned birth report less happiness and more conflict in their relationships compared to similar women and men who have a planned birth

17. Adoption Statistics -From 1989-1995 less than 1% of children born to never- married women were placed for adoption. -Fewer than 14,000 children were voluntarily relinquished in 2003. -Unwed mothers who choose adoption do better than mothers who choose to be single parents *higher educational aspirations, more likely to finish school, and less likely to live in poverty. *less likely to divorce, more likely to be employed 12 months after birth -Adopted children do as well or better than their non-adopted counterparts *Adopted children score higher than their middle-class counterparts on indicators of school performance, social competency, optimism and volunteerism *they are less involved in alcohol abuse, vandalism, group fighting, police trouble, weapon use and theft

18. DECISIONS AbortionParent ChildAdoption Pros Quick Solution No Outward Physical Evidence Out of Sight, Out of Mind Pro-Life Positive Peer-Status Someone to love and to be loved by Relational attachment to baby’s additional parent Pro-Life Financial burden for pre- natal healthcare and child raising assumed by others Frees Birth Parent up to continue education and career choices Helps others to have a family Open Adoption Stronger possibility of giving child better life opportunities Cons Overwhelming Guilt Relational Stress Physical Scarring Emotional Scarring Financial Burden / Responsibility Education / Career Obstacle Relationship attachment to baby’s additional parent Creates vicious-cycle familial trend Strong possibility grandparents will do significant parenting of child Having to put the child’s needs ahead of yours to do the tough thing and place the child up for adoption Having to let go for the better of the child and for yourself.

19. Toward A Biblical Understanding of Adoption God advocates for adoption and blesses those that support it;

20. Toward A Biblical Understanding of Adoption God advocates for adoption and blesses those that support it; The Bible talks about adoption in favorable terms and it is the method by which God uses to include us into His family;

21. Toward A Biblical Understanding of Adoption God advocates for adoption and blesses those that support it; The Bible talks about adoption in favorable terms and it is the method by which God uses to include us into His family; God gives us friends and we should feel responsible to help them through tough decisions;

22. Toward A Biblical Understanding of Adoption God advocates for adoption and blesses those that support it; The Bible talks about adoption in favorable terms and it is the method by which God uses to include us into His family; God gives us friends and we should feel responsible to help them through tough decisions; We,as people who love the Lord, need to understand adoption in a favorable way;

23. Toward A Biblical Understanding of Adoption God advocates for adoption and blesses those that support it; The Bible talks about adoption in favorable terms and it is the method by which God uses to include us into His family; God gives us friends and we should feel responsible to help them through tough decisions; We,as people who love the Lord, need to understand adoption in a favorable way; We need to be ready to share with others that adoption is a good choice.

24. The Commitment Card