(This post was written by Gina McClain, Director of Children’s Ministries)

The past several weeks we’ve focused on the topic of Faith, believing in what we can’t see, because of what we can see.

One of the best activities we’ve done in fpKIDS is to gather ‘Faith Stories’ from families just like yours.  Here is the ‘Faith Story’ of one of our faithful volunteers.  Read this amazing story and see how God works to stretch and grow our faith.

Adopting a child is not simple and means numerous forms to be filled out giving permission to look at your finances and home. You have to have letters of reference, take a physical, and psychological evaluations. None of this takes into count the emotional upheaval you experience in your life.

In June of 2002, I received a phone call one evening from a foster parent, who had a six month old child, whom she could no longer care for. She asked me if we could take him into our home for respite care for two weeks and if things worked out and liked him, we could adopt him. The first question I ask was, “How could anyone not like a baby?”  Then I really began to question what was really going on with this situation. The next morning my doorbell rang and I found an infant in a car seat sitting on my front porch alone with no one around. Six and a half years later the journey was finished.

In the beginning no one really took interest in this child. After about a year, the state decided this child needed to go back to mom. I was devastated. There were many times when I just knew the state was going to come in our home and take him from us. Long court battles year after year. The attorney bill just kept getting bigger and bigger. My emotional state was whirling out of control. I often wondered why God chose me to take on what I felt like was the world. I kept asking, “Why me, Lord.”  We really didn’t have the money to financially keep up. We were losing everything we had worked so hard for. Finally, one day I broke down and began to ask God to take control. I knew then I could not do this by myself.

This very long journey taught me with all of its ups and downs taught me about faith and hope and that “all things work together for the good of those who love God…” Adoption is a lesson in patience and what it really means to have faith in God and to trust that everything will work out according to His plan.

Today, we have brought two siblings in our home, only they are not babies and come with much more hurt and pain in their lives. We are taking the journey once again. Adoption for me has strengthened my faith and trust in God. I thank God for the gift of a child. This is a gift like no other! Children are truly gifts from God.

Share your ‘Faith Story’ with us.  Email Gina at [email protected] or Kandice at [email protected].