Engage Your Church

As the message spread, SH began in 2005 to come alongside pastors, clergy, and lay leaders to help them begin adoption and orphan care ministries in their church through resources such as instructional guides, helpful tools, and inspirational DVDs.

Specifically, SH has capitalized on its role as leaders in the field of financing adoptions and has put together a step-by step guide to starting an adoption fund in churches, providing an initial matching grant to help church funds get off the ground. Other tools, from posters and handouts to tabletop displays and devotionals, have equipped churches to draw attention to the plight of orphans and move their congregations to care.

• Over 1,400 people have received SH’s Guide to Starting an Orphan Ministry
• More than 900 individuals have downloaded the Guide to Starting an Adoption Fund
• Thus far, 35 church adoption funds have qualified for a matching grant from SH

Much of the movement going on in churches across the country is due to church members who are championing this cause within their congregation. Dozens of individuals like Andrew Steele have successfully implemented a fund with the help of SH resources.

“All of the tools provided were helpful... the main thing that SH provided to us was the vision. By stating that such a fund could be done, that such a fund would help in God’s plan for caring for orphans and building bridges to families, and for challenging churches to answer the call, we were motivated to make it happen.”
-Andrew Steele, Lake Pointe Church, TX

Philosophically, SH believes that we exist to support the church, and we want to be givers, not takers. Even if a church cannot start its own fund, we want to enable God’s people to be a part of the miracle of adoption and care for orphans in whatever way they can, whether it be through donating to SH or helping out with children in their local foster care system. Our vision is that one day the local church will be such a champion of orphan care and adoption, SH will have worked itself out of a job.

More funds and more resources are greatly needed to empower and equip those leaders who want to make a difference. By continuing to fuel the fires that God has lit, the DNA of the church will more and more change to reflect God’s heart for adoption and His love for orphans.