An Adoptee Investing in Champions

Troy Matthews, or Dr. Matthews as he is better known today, was Dean of Students at my Bible College and was also Associate Pastor at my church in 1989/90. Troy was adopted at birth and always spoke openly, positively and generously about his experience. Although I was only 17/18 years old when I was one of his students and not really thinking about my future family too much at the time, his example influenced me significantly when the time came that my wife and I were considering adopting.

There are some heart-breaking stories of cases where adoption hasn’t been approached sensitively or lovingly (towards both the child and the birth parents). Unfortunately, some of those stories get a little more air time than the great majority of ones where children and families flourish through their experience with adoption. Troy is a fantastic example of a man who not only flourished, but is now helping others flourish also.

Together for Adoption recently published Troy’s story:

Troy was born to a young mother in Snyder, Texas, and because of the closed adoption he doesn’t know much more than that about his fraternal parents. Simultaneously to this woman’s pregnancy, a young couple had battled several miscarriages and were urged by a local pastor in Snyder to consider adoption – particularly the adoption of Troy. They quickly realized that this was their “gift from God.”

Today, Troy puts it in his own words, “They were his gift from God.” …

Dr. Matthews is now a professor of “Contemporary Issues”, a course required by all majors at Liberty. The subject matter directly approaches one’s world view – affirming a Biblical world view and also applying it. Topics such as adoption, abortion, and a Christian’s moral responsibility to such topics and understanding of absolute truth’s found in Scripture. These courses are designed to affirm a believers responsibility to the world around them.

Troy is “a champion, … reinvesting in others to be young champions as well. – just as (he) was invested in.”

If you’re in Australia and considering investing in adoption, National Adoption Awareness Week can provide you with the starting point. Click on the link for your state to find out more. If you have already been involved with Adoption there are many opportunities for networking and support with other families and adoptees.

In the USA check out the links on the Together for Adoption site.

Karen’s Adoption Links has information for other countries.

 

Do orphans need saving?

This question is complex and volatile. There is a tendency to be over simplistic when talking about adoption using terms and phrases like “saving” the orphans. However it is important to distinguish between advocating adoption as a vital means to helping and serving children in need of a permanent family and “saving” them. Lets be clear about this, there’s only ONE saviourand it’s not me nor is it any other adoptive parent, advocate or ambassador.

Kawale Orphan Care in Lilongwe, Malawi

Kristen Howerton has a lengthy blog post about this and she deals with the issue with substance and sensitivity.

I don’t like the savior narratives applied to adoptive parents.  I don’t like people telling me I’m amazing just because I’ve adopted.  Because I’m not.  I am a very human mom who is sometimes shrill and selfish and impatient and just plain mean.  I did not “save” my adopted kids.

I am very careful to never give my adopted children the feeling that there is some extra gratitude required from them.  They are a part of my family just like my daughters.  They have every right to be ungrateful, or resent me, or wish that they had never been adopted.  I don’t talk to them about where they came from as if they needed to be saved.  So on the one hand, I do take care to avoid the savior meme.

Citing a detailed example from Haiti arising from the recent turmoil caused the earthquakes she urges readers, it’s time to sit up and take notice:

This is a long post.  I hope you will read the whole thing, and I hope you will read it without judgment of the people involved.  People who serve in Haiti face the awful task, every day, of how many people they can help.  Orphanages are overcrowded simply because some very good people have a hard time turning away one more helpless child.  If this outrages you, then think about what part YOU can play.  There can be no outrage at people who serve in Haiti, as we sit at our computer screens in our comfortable homes in America.  But you need to know that this is real.

… Please, read the full post

 

An adoption connection with the tribes of Israel

In reading the Old Testament, when a geographic region is mentioned, it is usually referred to in terms of its tribal allocation. Depending on your attention to detail, you might get a bit confused when you try to line up these tribal allocations with the original sons or family heads of Jacob (later renamed, Israel). For the majority of us, the most familiar son of Jacob is probably Joseph (i.e. the owner of the multi-coloured coat). Yet, there is no ‘tribe of Joseph‘ so to speak. Instead, Joseph’s two son’s, Manasseh and Ephraim, form two new family tribes and receive a land allocation along with ten of Jacob’s other sons. K. A. Matthews in The New American Commentary on Genesis offers the explanation that Jacob adopted Manasseh and Ephraim and gave them the same legal recognition and inheritance of his other (direct biological) sons.

Jacob claims the sons of Joseph as his own, making them full recipients of his inheritance on the same order as Jacob’s other sons (Gen 48:5–6). … Ephraim and Manasseh will have full status as Jacob’s sons (not merely grandsons), receiving their rightful legacy. The [text] reinforces the new standing that Ephraim and Manasseh receive. This adoption extends to Joseph’s first two sons only, not those Joseph may produce subsequently; future offspring will not have their brothers’ elevated status, meaning that their inheritance will fall under the territorial designations of Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen 48:6; Josh 14:4). …

… the sons of Joseph also receive firstborn rights as the adopted sons of Israel (1 Chr 5:1–2). … The adoption of Ephraim and Manasseh as the “sons of Jacob/Israel” also had implications for the configuration of the “twelve tribes of Israel.” … the Blessing of Moses counts twelve tribes by deleting Simeon and dividing the house of Joseph into Ephraim and Manasseh (Deut 33:17). In the idealized count presented by Ezekiel (Ezk 47:13–14), the land divides into twelve equal allotments with two going to Joseph, since the tribe of Levi receives no portion (Ezk 44:28). ~ (Mathews, K. A. 2007. Genesis 11:27-50:26 (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary. Vol. 1B (874–876). Broadman & Holman Publishers: Nashville)

 

Jack Thompson tells his adoption story

This morning, National Adoption Awareness Week Ambassador and iconic Australia actor, Jack Thompson explained why he, as an adoptee, supports NAAW and the need to improve education and processes in Australia to increase insight and empathy, remove the stigma, and work towards a more positive adoption environment.

The video is available on the Channel 7 Sunrise site.

 

How adoption gave Jesus legal claim to the Davidic throne

Adoption plays a significant role in the lineage and history of Jesus Christ. Today, followers of Jesus, recognise and worship him as King. The sign posted to the cross above his head read, “This is the King of the Jews” (Luke 23:38). How did a carpenter from Galilee come to receive this title?

A comment on the New Testament record of Jesus’ circumcision (Matthew 1:25 & Luke 2:21) in M. S. Mills, “Life of Christ” explains how Jesus became Joseph’s legal son, linked him to the Abrahamic covenant (signified by circumcision) and established his legal title to the Davidic throne.

The Jewish custom was for the boy’s parents to name him at his circumcision. …

Luke mentions Jesus’ naming passively, but Matt 1:25 makes it clear that Joseph gave Him his name. This is significant, for in so doing Joseph accepted Jesus as his son. Now, as Joseph had the legal right to David’s throne, this meant that Jesus, now his adopted son, became heir to the Davidic throne!

The whole sequence was complete. Jesus was born of the virgin Mary by act of the Holy Spirit, so is sinless. By virtue of this birth to Mary, He was of the house of David, though not the legal heir to David’s throne. Through adoption by Joseph, however, He became the legal heir to the Davidic throne. His birthplace, dictated by Caesar’s decree, affirms that He is of the house of David, and His circumcision confirms that He is a descendant of Abraham; so both great Old Testament covenants relating to the Messiah are attested in the circumstances surrounding His birth. The eight-day old babe was now in position to become the Messiah, for in His person He met all the conditions which Scripture specified for the Messiah. ~ (Mills, M. 1999. The Life of Christ: A Study Guide to the Gospel Record. 3E Ministries: Dallas, TX)

 

Elmo Learns About Adoption

Deborra-lee Furness, the patron of National Adoption Awareness Week in Australia, talks to Elmo from Sesame Street about adoption.

National Adoption Awareness Week (NAAW) is a series of community based events exploring the process of adoption, and the journeys of all people touched by adoption, locally and internationally.

NAAW was launched in Australia in 2008. Due to its success, it will be held annually in November and will coincide with adoption awareness around the world. NAAW 2010 will be held from 8th to 14th November.

NAAW aims to acknowledge and learn from all adoption-related journeys and experiences. It creates opportunities for open, honest and ongoing dialogue between all parties to adoption, to increase awareness of its complexities, challenges and opportunities.

A more informed and constructive attitude to adoption will flow through to policy-making, support services and education, and will help Australia work towards a more positive adoption environment.