Testimony

My daughter and son-in-law had the opportunity to share their testimony in church today. It is something that they had been planning on doing as soon as it was convenient for quite some time. And the way it turned out it kind of happened on the spur of the moment that it was today. It also happened to be the week that I was in the media booth and I ended up being able to help out with it a little which was really awesome.

Melissa has had a heart for unborn children most of her life. She would come along eagerly when we helped to man The pro-life booth at the Trumbull County Fair. She would not miss the opportunity to stand on the side of the road with a poster during the Life Chain or gather babt and maternity clothes and supplies for the local crisis pregnancy center. And a spark was in her heart to one day be able to do something more for the unborn babies, to really make a difference.

Joe has always had an interest in the technical side of things. He likes to study things like apologetics and theology and different religions and what they believe. And after they got married he started putting meat on their dreams. He developed a strong opposition the abortion and attacked it from an ideological and political standpoint.

Many Christians want to stop abortion and want to help in crisis pregnancy situations. Many don't realize that a good portion of these women feel backed into a corner where they have no options. That's why we have always felt strongly to provide the things that are helping to force their decision. Things like the old New Life Maternity Home where they could stay if they'd been kicked out of their home. Things like parenting classes and GED programs and diapers and formula.

 Joe and Melissa found a way to take it one step further, and said, "We will adopt you baby--please don't murder your baby."

After they got married they began working on building a stable foundation for their marriage and finances. They began researching this idea and finding out how to put it in motion. The plan was to have a child or two and then begin the process of adopting a baby who would have been aborted.

Well, the plan went along well for the first few years. They got established in there job fields. Bought a home. Maintained an essentially debt-free lifestyle. But no babies came. After  investigating they discovered that no babies ever would come. So now part two of the plan was suddenly beginning. And not in the way they had originally thought. There was heartbreak along the way and disappointment. But it is still okay because God had prepared them both years ago to walk this path he had planned for them.

Joe shared fromRomans chapter 8 how none of us are born into the kingdom of God but all of us have received this relationship through adoption into God's family when we trust Jesus Christ for our salvation and how adopting is a picture of our relationship with God the Father. Not only will they be saving a child or children from death but they will be able to share with everyone they encounter along the way how God has a way to adopt us all, each who will turn from their own ways, ask forgiveness, and trust in the righteousness of Christ in place of our own.

It was an amazing testimony and I hope to share the recording of it soon!