*Here I Am Orphan Ministry-
Serving orphaned children worldwide
is dedicated to reaching out to orphaned children domestically and abroad.The Bible clearly expresses the Lord’s heart for orphans and we feel that as Christians, we are all called to minister to these needy children. Here I Am Orphan Ministry ministers to orphans in many ways through prayer, missions, awareness and education, adoption and advocacy. The world is full of orphaned children who will never know an earthly father or their Heavenly Father without the loving dedication of Christian orphan ministry.

Lighting the Way Workshop-
An Educational Program for Families Considering Adoption
Adoption is a complicated and yet beautiful journey with many trials and joys, and it often calls upon every emotion. Therefore, adoptive parents must be properly equipped to wisely discern what is best for their families when it comes to making adoption decisions. Lighting the Way Workshop is a one day seminar to help equip families for all aspects of the adoption process. Through the Lighting the Way Workshop, families can learn about seeking God’s will in adoption, how the adoption process unfolds from the decision to adopt to bringing your child home, the paperwork involved in adoption, how immigration works in international adoption, the financial aspects of adoption and the blessings and challenges throughout the adoption process, even beyond the day your child comes home.

*Hope for a Future-
Our Summer Families Host Program
Over the summer and fall of 2003, God worked many incredible miracles in the lives of 29 children from Kazakhstan and the families who fell in love with them. All 29 orphaned children received loving adoptive Christian families. Without God’s perfect provision, most of these children would have never known an earthly father or their Heavenly Father. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to show God’s love through our families.

Without the host families, monetary gifts, meals and housing provided for escorts and all the prayers, this program would not have been a success. What took place in the summer of 2003 is a testimony of how He will bless those who reach out to His children. After seeing the success of this program in 2003, we have decided to work toward a 2005 summer program. We are currently working to find a reputable agency to help bring these children to Texas to spend four weeks with a host family. The purpose of the program is to find families for older orphaned children who have little chance of being adopted and knowing the love that comes with being part of a family.

Ideally, the children participating in this program will be ages 5-13. Some siblings groups may be available. During the 2005 summer program, a Vacation Bible School program will be provided for the children.

There are two kinds of host families. Some families are hosting with the intention of adoption. Others are hosting the children as advocates for them to find an adoptive family. Advocate host families are just as important as adoptive families. Without advocate host families, many of the 2003 Kazakhstan children would have never received a forever family.

Once again, we will have the challenge of raising the funds for the children to come on the summer hosting program, as well as finding host families. Please pray that God will provide for all the needs to make this program successful in 2005.

*Project HOPE-
Helping Families Adopt through Financial Support
The number one reason families choose not to adopt is because of the costs associated with adoption. Sadly, international adoption is costly. But out of the desire to trust in God’s provision to make a way for those who step forward in faith to adopt, Project HOPE was born. Project HOPE helps raise funds for families who are struggling to meet the financial commitment of adoption through the generous tax-deductible donations of those willing to support the cause of these orphans.

In October of 2003, we had the first Project HOPE adoption fundraiser. Hundreds attended the festive event which included a catered dinner, a fantastic worship concert and a lively and entertaining auction. Last year, donations came in from dozens of supportive businesses, TMG Foundation and International Care, Inc., along with individuals from the local community. Bob D’Antoni and others volunteered their tremendous musical talents for the concert.

We feel that God gave Project HOPE great success and we are praying for his abundant provisions again in the future. Many families were able to benefit from this event, adding to their financial ability to bring their children home to their forever families.

Without generous donations from those who believe God is leading them to help financially, many families willing to adopt would be unable to complete their adoption.

*Forever Families-
A Christian Adoption Support Group for the South Central Texas Region
The mission of Forever Families, established in December of 2002, is to promote fellowship between adoptive families, to be supportive of these families through prayer and encouragement, to be a resource for families considering adoption and to glorify God by doing His will in helping to find families for orphaned children, who desperately need to know the love of a “forever family.”

The group is very diverse, and yet we share two passions in common; we love the Lord and we love our children. It is our hope that everyone would feel comfortable in the group and that we can recognize that God has called each of us to different situations. We feel that each family has something to contribute to this group and that each of us can learn from one another.

We are so excited about the blessings the Lord is pouring over Forever Families. In its short existence, we already have adoptees from China, Russia, Korea, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Guatemala, El Salvador, India, Uzbekistan and the United States. There are families who have experienced international adoption, domestic adoption and those considering adoption for the first time. There are children who entered their forever families as infants and those who entered as teenagers. There is a wide variety of children with special needs as well as those who are healthy.

We meet every other month on a Sunday afternoon for a time of fellowship. In the summer of 2005, we will be having our first Heritage Camp for adopted children and their families. Together, we have created a website where many families have shared their adoption stories and information about adoption resources. We feel this is a great source of encouragement and a testimony of faith for those families adopting and considering adoption.

*Lambs Not Forgotten-
Meeting the Physical & Spiritual Needs of Orphans through Mission Trip, Medical Care and Life-Skills and Provision
Though the orphanages are overcrowded with children, not every child is available for adoption. For these children, meeting their physical and spiritual needs is most important. As families travel to bring their newly adopted children home, it is a great opportunity for us to provide personal hygiene items, clothing, shoes, school supplies and other daily necessities to children who are left behind. It is sometimes also a great opportunity to share the Gospel with children who have little chance of knowing Christ. Some orphanages abroad are open to mission trips to minister to children.

Here I Am Orphan Ministry also works to provide medical care and surgery for children in need, particularly orphans who have no one to advocate for them. In cooperation with other organizations, these children receive the medical care they need in their native country or they are brought to the United States to receive surgery or treatment that is unavailable where they live.

Here I Am Orphan Ministry is seeking God’s will in a new program. This program will be called “Beyond the Gate.” The goal of this program will be to reach out to older children who will soon be leaving the orphanage. Through this program, they will gain life skills and job training for life beyond the orphanage. They will also have the opportunity to hear the Gospel through an ESL program on a daily basis. The program may also provide temporary housing for young adults as they make the difficult transition from the orphanage to life beyond the orphanage gates.

Contact Information:

Use this e-mail address specifically
for contact regarding orphan ministry