Dr. Moore Invite to 2010 World Impact Conference , posted with vodpod
2010 World Impact Conference Invite From Dr. Russell Moore
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AABC ABBA Fund Offering June 21
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Yeah but They were Rich: Blindness and The Blind Side by david e. prince
I see very few movies that I really enjoy. The Blind Side was a movie that I knew was loosely based on a true story of the life of Michael Oher, a homeless inner-city teen, and his adoption by the Touhy family, wealthy Memphis suburbanites. Knowing the storyline contained S.E.C. Football and adoption there was no doubt I would go see it. I was expecting a second rate but enjoyable film but was surprised at how well the film was produced and at the gripping portrayal of the story.
I was far more surprised by the reaction of some of the Christians I talked to and heard talk about the film. In one conversation I was talking about how powerful I found the story as portrayed in the movie to which the person responded, “Yeah but they were so rich.” When I followed up to discern what they meant it was obvious that they were suggesting that the storyline was not powerful to them because the Touhy family was rich and, of course, rich people can do things like that, but not ordinary people.
I think the story is more amazing because the Touhys were wealthy. In our cultural fascination with money and possessions evangelicals are often blind to the constant warnings in the Bible about the danger of riches even while we carry our well worn study Bibles around (Matthew 19:21-26; Mark 4:19; 1 Timothy 6:9-11; James 2:6-7, 5:1-6). We believe that if we were rich we would automatically become more generous even though the Bible warns that most often the opposite happens. Money and possessions often shrink our soul, steal our affections, and blunt our compassion.
Jesus warned, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24). Likewise, it is true that it is hard for a rich person to live with the priorities of the Kingdom as well. Too many times Christians hear these pleas to avoid hell itself and flippantly remark, “It may be hard for a rich man to go to heaven but I sure would like to try.” I suspect those are the same people saying, “Yeah, but they are rich” about The Blind Side. I am thankful for the racism and reverse racism that The Blind Side has exposed in the context of the beauty of transracial adoption but it is possible that the “ism” the film may most powerfully confront among Christians is materialism.
I posted some initial thoughts about the Blind Side here. This is a guest post by David E. Prince, my pastor and mentor at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church.
7 reasons why you should consider adoption in 2010
Here is are 7 reasons why you should consider beginning the adoption process in 2010. While they are simplistic and overlapping at points, each represents an eternal truth or significant reality that has transformed me and my family over the last year.
- Adoption is a reflection of God’s grace to us in Christ.
- You were once Fatherless and now have a Father.
- You were once without a family and now have a family.
- Adoption is the wisdom of God’s mission in the world. (Ephesians 3:10)
- Adoption is an aspect of true religion. (visiting orphans)
- There are 145 million orphans and vulnerable children in the world, who Jesus considers His brother and sisters.
- The sacrificial love and patience involved in adoption will transform you and your family.
Adopting For Life Video
Considering adoption? Consider attending this conference in Louisville, Ky February 26 – 27th
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Jason Kovacs word to AABC
Jason Kovac from ABBA Fund sent a word of encouragement to Ashland Avenue Baptist Church on Orphan Sunday.
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Adoption is the world mission
Where does adoption fit in your local church’s mission to reach the world with the gospel?
The task of rescuing orphans is often relegated to a small minority of folks in the church usually made up of those who have adopted or those who are in the process of adopting. These folks are embraced and encouraged for doing a ‘good thing,’ but no one knows to see what they are doing as a part of fulfilling the church’s commitment to the Great Commission.
One reason for this is that we fail to see adoption as God’s mission in the world. God’s mission in the world is to form a family for Himself called the church. The church is made up of people from every tribe, language, nation, and people. (Revelation 5:9) This family is created not according to the flesh, but through adoption.
In Ephesians 3, Paul refers to this plan or mission as a mystery once hidden in God but now being revealed in the world. We join God in His mission of adoption by delivering the good news to the nations that they can be adopted through faith in Jesus. As they hear and believe our message, God’s mystery is unveiled to the cosmos. As this happens Paul declares, “the manifold wisdom of God is made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 3:10)
God’s mission is to declare His wisdom by adopting the nations. We join God in this mission as we preach the gospel and gather His church from the ends of the earth.
So what’s the connection between world mission work and rescuing orphans?
If God’s wisdom is made known through world missions, it is the same wisdom that reverberates when our churches take part in rescuing orphans. When a church helps bring to a family a new son not according to the flesh but according to adoption there is a reflection of the same manifold wisdom that is displayed in through our participation in the world mission.
Let me be clear, preaching the gospel brings about eternal salvation to those who hear and believe. The only hope for the over 6,000 unreached people groups around the world is that churches would be planted and reproduced through the proclamation that salvation is in no other name but the name of Jesus. God’s mission will not be completed primarily through families adopting orphans from around the world, but through world mission efforts. And yet, a commitment to join God on mission should cause us to be like God on mission.
Our mission work declares that we believe the gospel transcends our culture. Adoption declares that we believe the gospel transcends our flesh and blood. As former Gentiles, we work to see the nations represented in our congregation. As former orphans, we work together to see former rescued orphans in our families. This is the wisdom of God displayed in missions. It is the same wisdom displayed through adoption.
Every time you see a family standing at the front of your church ready to give their life to the cause of Christ around the world, there you see a church’s commitment to the wisdom of God. Every time you see a couple standing in front of your congregation holding the hand of a child who was once abandoned but now has a father, there again you see a church’s commitment to the wisdom of God.
The local church that embraces the wisdom revealed in the world mission will seek to echo such wisdom by making adoption and orphan care central to their mission strategy. Why? Because it is not their plan or programs to which they are committed. It is the wisdom of God revealed in the gospel to which they are committed. They seek to proclaim this wisdom in every way possible including the most vivid declaration of rescuing orphans.
A church with a heart for the nations should be able to see the faces of the nations each Sunday morning as they gather for worship. They will be able to look around and identify not only former Gentiles from all over the globe, but also former orphans, spiritually and even physically. In doing so, they are saying to the heavenly hosts, Satan’s legions, and all the forces of darkness arrayed against them, ” Mission accomplished!” (At least, in an already not yet sense)
orphan sunday – november 8, 2009
Consider how you will be apart of orphan sunday november 8, 2009 by visiting the website.
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An invitation for AABC folks
I want to personally invite the folks of AABC to consider attending Together for Adoption with me on October 2-3, 2009. The Conference will be held a Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee. Together for Adoption features some great preachers. There will also be tons of information from adoption and orphan care organizations, information that will be vital for our church as we seek to serve the 132 million orphans worldwide. You can register for the conference here or simply contact me. There are discounts for church groups as well as college students interested in attending the conference. Who would not want to spend a weekend in Tennessee of all places considering this glorious subject?
Pray for the Corbins – august 13th court date
Trey and Jenny Corbin are seeking to adopt a little girl named Helina from Ethiopia. She was found abandoned on the streets with another little boy who eventually died. On Thursday August 13th of this week a judge in Ethiopia will make a decision regarding this little girls future as a Corbin. Please pray that early Thursday morning the Corbins would receive a phone call telling them they have a new daughter.
Along with praying for the Corbins and Helina, Lifesong for Orphans has given the Corbins a matching grant of $3,000.00. Giving to the matching grant would be a wonderful way to help rescue this little girl in Ethiopia. If you would like to help the Corbins in this way, send me your email address and I will get you the appropriate information.
Trey and Jenny at this time have 3 children, Taylor, Elijah, and Sophia. The Corbins are also faithful members of Ashland Avenue Baptist Church where I have the privilege of serving as one of their pastors.
