Did you know...
There are between 6
and 7 million adult adoptees in America.
In 25 years as a
pastor, I have met adoptees who would never darken the door of a church because
they've receive hurtful and dismissive messages when they have dared to open up
and share their feelings with spiritual leaders.
Adoptees who reach
out to the Christian community may be hurt instead of helped if Christians do
not come to understand the differences between a spiritual understanding of
adoption (salvation) and being an adoptee in a world where most people are not
adopted.
When adoptees finally open up and share their pain, it wounds them all over again to hear from a Christian and especially from a trusted authority figure such as a pastor:
When adoptees finally open up and share their pain, it wounds them all over again to hear from a Christian and especially from a trusted authority figure such as a pastor:
“Just be grateful for life. Just be glad you were adopted
and not aborted..."
"Why do you even care about your birth family? Don't
you know your real parents are the ones who raised you and changed your
diapers?"
"Don't you see how your search for your birth family is
hurting your parents? I pray you can see the disappointment you're
causing..."
"Move on. Leave the past behind. Don't you know God has
bigger plans for you than worrying about something that happened when you were
a kid?"
"Wait a minute...you're telling me that something that
happened to you as a baby has an effect on your life now? Isn't that kind of a
little overboard?"
"You're upset over an event you can't even
remember..."
"Didn't you know Moses was adopted? Hey, technically
we're all adopted! Scripture says so! Even Jesus was kinda adopted.."
"Don't you know that you need to be thankful?
Things could be worse."
"All things work together for good..."
"Everything happens for a reason..."
"So, how do your adopted parents feel about all this?
They are really heroes to have taken you in and rescued you..."
"God gave you as a gift to your adopted family...you
just need to change your perspective."
With every word like
this that is spoken, the adoptee gets the message: “The church is not a safe
place.”
There are many things you can do to come alongside of
adoptees and be a part of their healing process.
Let’s start with…
8 Tips When Reaching Out to Adoptees
1) Don't use quotes like the ones I did, above. Or, anything
that sounds like them.
2) Listen more than you talk. Adoptees are so used to
everyone telling us how we should feel and few people actually listening to how
we do feel.
3) Give adoptees space to share their feelings without fear,
or judgment.
4) Try to suspend what you already know or think you know
about adoption, and look at it with fresh eyes. Listen to what adult adoptees
are saying. Adoptees are the best resource concerning what it's actually like
to be adopted. What you believe about adoption may very well be the
"Americanized" or "Christianized" view of it. The truth is
that adoption today is radically different from adoption the Bible speaks of.
5) Consider starting a life group, support group, recovery
group, small group, prayer group or some other form of gathering to give
adoptees space to share and heal. There are thousands of them in your city,
just waiting for an invite. They will probably be shocked that they're getting
one from a church. Chances are, you've
already got at least one adoptee in your church and perhaps they would consider
facilitating the group.
6) When a girl or woman in your church unexpectedly becomes
pregnant, let the first thing you say be, "how can I help you?" Never
should the first response be, "have you considered adoption?"
Adoption is a last resort not a first response. Get involved in preserving
families. If you are a pastor I'm sure
you probably counsel couples and your church may provide specific ministries
that help marriages and families. Consider taking things a step further. Get
involved when unexpected pregnancies occur, to assist in practical ways so that
babies can stay with their original family. To read just one story of how this
was accomplished recently, go here.
7) Be a good representative of the Father. Trust issues,
rejection, abandonment issues, lack of confidence in authority figures, are
just some of the common issues adoptees face. For many of them, thinking of God
as Father is a serious roadblock to faith. They need to see God is good, He
loves them, and wants healing for them. Here's the catch - the way they see His
love is through you, His representative here on earth. Be an integral leader
who can be trusted -- someone faithful and consistent, and worthy of following.
8) Support equal rights for adoptees. To find out more about it, go here.
Perhaps you think, “Deanna you’re crazy! How in the world
did you come to believe any of this?” Here you go.
Or maybe you think, “This is the first I’m hearing anything
about this being an issue for so many people. I’d love to find out more about
how I can help.” Contact me. I’d love to help.
*photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net
