33 Days Until Summit 9!!!!

I am writing this post as part of the Summit 9 Blogger Giveaway.  Check out all the details at http://www.summit9.org/ 

Last year my pastor's wife, Mary, and I attended Christian Alliance For Orphans' annual orphan summit in California.  After Orphan Sunday that year we were inspired to attend the summit, but California is a bit far from NY.  The Lord, however, opened the door for us to go.  Our husbands gave their blessing and the church offered frequent flier miles that we didn't even know existed.  We flew to CA for $10 each!

Summit 8 was an amazing experience for these 2 adoptive moms.  We had sensed the Lord leading us to orphan ministry and attending the summit was confirmation of that.  We  came home excited, overwhelmed, and motivated to action.  Our ministry, Justice For Orphans (based on Psalm 10:17-18) was born shortly after our return home.  We hosted our first "mini-summit" in October and went on to host other events as well.  The Lord opened the door to local Christian radio and Justice For Orphans will be hosting our own radio show on everything orphan - adoption, foster care, global orphan care, parenting traumatized children, etc.  And we are currently hosting classes at our church where 6 families will become certified foster parents.  Like I said, Summit 8 was a major motivator!

Mary and I are counting down the days to Summit 9!  We've registered, booked our flights to Nashville, and secured a hotel room.  This year I'm excited about the workshops on "Becoming a Trauma-Competent Healing Parent."  This is an area I have first hand experience in with our youngest adopted son from Ukraine.  My husband and I even attended the Empowered To Connect conference in Nashville last fall.  One of the aspects of our orphan ministry is to come along side parents who are struggling as they parent children who come from "hard places."  I know these workshops at the Summit will be invaluable.  Of course there are so many informative sessions that it's so hard to choose just 6!  Mary and I appreciate the workshops that focus on building church orphan ministries as well as the one that targets human trafficking.  Aside from the educational workshops we also enjoy the camaraderie of being together with thousands of people who are also passionate about the mandate that the Lord gives us in James 1:27!  To spend a few days together with that many like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ who also have a heart for the fatherless is priceless!