Our Beginnings
It started with a twelve-year dream of Dr. Ken Hutcherson, pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Kirkland, Washington. He desired to see all children from the foster care system adopted into loving homes. He also desired for more families to be able to afford infant adoptions.
Dr. Hutcherson said, "We took $20,000 cash just as Jesus did with minas in the parable of Luke, and had it at the church meeting, May 1998. I spoke from the book of Matthew on talents and told the congregation, 'everyone here is going to get free cash from us today.'"
A total of $16,000 was dispersed to the 1500-1600 in attendance, and the parable of multiplying talents was explored. By the end of the service the congregation knew what was expected. Everyone ranging in age from five to seventeen was given a crisp five-dollar bill. Those 18 and older were given a ten-dollar bill.
"We want you to keep this money for six months, mix it with your God-given talent and we're going to take it up on Jesus' birthday as we celebrate in December," Hutcherson concluded.
"Just as happened in scripture though, some people pooled their money to invest it, some buried it, and some saved it. But the majority took that seed money and invested it in different, creative ways."
The Process...
There were so many creative ways devised that Charlene Richardson is compiling a book soon to be published, detailing the stories.
One mother wanted to involve her children, knowing they would learn more by doing than by example. Her seven-year-old daughter gave manicures for one dollar each. Her four-year-old son drew portraits of people for twenty-five cents. He even included a goatee for no extra charge.
Another group banded together and wrote "Amazing Recipes that Stir the Heart & Soul." A spiral bound cookbook, it showcases favorite family recipes, while addressing spiritual needs in practical ways.
The Result...
By adding God given talents to seed money for six months, the initial amount increased in excess of 1,750% or 17.5 times, for a total of $280,000 collected in December.
Those funds provided startup money for Antioch Adoptions. The church hired Mrs. Donna Warner, MSW to facilitate adoptions at no charge or at cost, depending on family need.
Warner's education, combined with an extensive history in successful non-profit organizations, puts her on the leading edge of development and design in developing a new paradigm for adoption. "We seek to remove barriers - whatever they may be - and make adoption a land easily traversed by both adoptive and birth parents - for the sake of children in need."
New Growth...
Having established a working model, we are now working to bring the ministry to the next level of effectiveness. We currently place 30-40 children, on average, in forever families each year and we deeply desire to do more. In 2007 we opened a site in Wenatchee and continue to pray for more partner churches in other areas of Washington State to host and finance an Antioch Adoptions social worker. Similar to the "AWANA" model, our dream is to see an Antioch Adoptions ministry in many churches across Washington State. We are charging the faith based community to step forward and answer the call of the orphan, and make a difference in the lives of so many children! Many churches have ministries that serve the hungry, care for the abused or neglected, and encourage the discouraged. We believe that the ministry of orphan care is just as important and should not be considered an option, but a necessity. Our team will continue to work shoulder to shoulder to fulfill God's word in John 14:18, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."