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Twice Adopted
Those familiar with Branson, Missouri’s entertainment mecca may know the musical “Twice Adopted,” featuring ten adopted children who share their singing talent with thousands. Their story touches the heart.
Randy and Linda Koenig were childless until they adopted a child from Guatemala. One thing led to another, and another, and another until ten children were adopted from Peru and Guatemala. What a joy and a blessing to these children who may have languished in an orphanage until they aged out and were sent into the world to fend for themselves. The children are eight girls and two boys. There were three two-year-olds at one time.
Why titled “Twice Adopted?” Because they purposely refer to the Bible and our adoption into God’s family. “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’" (Romans 8:15).
Consider how blessed we are whom God has adopted. We were in the world with no hope. The future held nothing for us other than a “certain fearful expectation of judgment” (Heb. 10:27). “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).
Yes, we were once orphans, but were adopted at a great price into a loving family.
Now, think about the millions of physical orphans in the world. Upon reaching a certain age, they will be “twice orphans”—spiritual and physical orphans. Does this present an opportunity for us? Why not? Remember James 1:27? “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
“Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?” (Isa. 58:6-7).
Here’s the challenge—what have you done about the challenge God has given us? In our own family we have three adopted grandchildren, and my wife and I and our children have taken in those who needed a home for a while, and by a strange happenstance my wife and I have been able to provide for the adoption of about 80 children. I say not this to praise ourselves, but to cite the blessings this brings. Occasionally we get a note from someone who remarks what a blessing we gave them in giving them a child.
In our small congregation here in Roswell, Georgia, just off the top of our heads, my wife and I have come up with some 20 children who have been adopted by those present or those who have been with us.
As I reflect about our latest addition, a precious 5-year-old girl our daughter and son-in-law have adopted from Uganda, tears come to my eyes as I think of the changes in Zuri’s life, and of the future hope she has.
So, here’s a challenge. If you can possibly adopt a child, you will be blessed, and obviously so will the child. And the Lord will honor you. Obviously some are not able to adopt. Can you be a foster parent? Can you volunteer as a Big Brother or Big Sister with these organizations that help needy children?
If you are not able to take someone into your home, but would like to share your blessings with a child or family in a third world nation, I would be happy to help you make a contact or put you in touch with Sacred Selections, an adoption program provided by David and Dana Carozza.
“Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me’” (Matt. 25:34-40).
I have seen tears of joy as one is adopted by God in rising from baptism. Can you imagine the tears of joy when an orphan realizes “someone wants to adopt me”?
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November is National Adoption Month. May it give you a special reason to consider the adoption – either physical or spiritual – that you can help bring about in someone else’s life.
