Antioch Adoptions

Chad and I went with 2 other couples to Antioch Adoption's dinner/fundraiser and Ken Hutchinson was the guest speaker.

Did you know if you are a white couple looking to adopt, agencies will push for you to adopt a white child because they profit more? It is almost impossible for you to get any child regardless of race if you are white (I know there are some exceptions, but he told us 3 different stories dealing with agencies here in the Bellevue area that were heartbreaking).

It costs around $500 for all the paperwork and background checks (there might be other fees, but he didn't mention any), but agencies will charge you $30,000 + to adopt a caucasion child. Here's the sad part. To adopt an African American child, it will cost you $5000! And, ALL African American children in the foster care system are classified as "special needs" regardless of whether or not they are, because the state and schools get more money from the government.

My heart broke when I heard that. This is a form of human trafficking on the local/state/national level. Since when do we put a price on children and discriminate against all of the races? God created all of these children and I wish I could adopt them all!

There are 500,000+ kids in the foster care system (not sure if it's state or national) that are legally bound to the state(s)--meaning their ties to the birth parents are severed, and over 1 MILLION families just in the US waiting/wanting to adopt. The cost and all the red tape is what's keeping these innocent children from being in loving families. Insetead, they are being tossed around and have no sense of security or belonging in their lives.

So, the Lord laid it on Pastor Hutch's heart to found this agency that helps families adopt without having to pay astronomical amounts. They cover all the fees and the agency is built off of donations. As Christians we are called to take care of the widows and orphans. (James 1:27) and they are doing just that.

What a difference we could make if there wasn't so many hoops to jump through and cost wasn't an issue....And, if these numbers are so high here in the US, just think of all the orphans and parentless children that are in the world......