Church Ministry

Precious in His Sight

In this brief 20 minute talk, Dr. Purvis shares some fascinating insights about the way in which we were created by God to connect. As revealed in Scripture and confirmed by science, all humans are designed as relational beings. Yet ‘children from hard places’ have missed out on so much of the nurture and development that is ideal and serves to build a strong foundation of trust early in life. As a result, adoptive and foster parents must be committed and uniquely equipped to lead these children toward healing.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/Audio-ETC/Reflecting+Your+Child%27s+Preciousness+-+Karyn+Purvis+(CAO+Summit+VII+-+2011).mp3

By Dr. Karyn Purvis, ago

ETC Conference – Sept. 23-24 in Nashville

Empowered To Connect, together with Show Hope, hosts the Empowered To Connect Conference, which has provided hope and help to many adoptive and foster parents as well as church ministry leaders and adoption/foster professionals.

The next Empowered To Connect Conference will be held on September 23-24, 2011, in Nashville, Tennessee at Brentwood Baptist Church. Online registration is open and the early bird rate is available through Wednesday, June 1.

Visit www.etcconference.org for more details and to register online. And, for a limited time, 1/2 off registrations discounts are available due to a generous grant from Focus on the Family. Simply use the code FOCUS when registering online to receive this discount.

By Michael Monroe, ago

What is the Created To Connect Study Guide?

In June 2010 we published Created To Connect: A Christian’s Guide to The Connected Child. Our hope was this study guide, which follows The Connected Child chapter-by-chapter, would be an encouragement and provide additional insight for Christian adoptive and foster families.

In less than one year we have distributed 6,000 printed copies of the study guide, and more than that same number of people have downloaded the study guide online. We have heard from dozens of churches that are regularly using the study guide in support groups and discussion groups. Likewise, many agencies and countless families from across the country have turned to the study guide to find hope and help.

By Michael Monroe, ago

Created To Connect Study Guide

Created To Connect: A Christian’s Guide to The Connected Child is a study guide designed to help illuminate the biblical principles that serve as the foundation for the philosophy and interventions detailed in The Connected Child.

Watch as Dr. Purvis briefly explains the heart behind Created To Connect:

Click here to download (free of charge) the entire study guide or chapter-by-chapter. You can also find out more detail about how to purchase printed and bound copies of the guide.

By Michael Monroe, ago

Join Us in April for the Next ETC Conference

Join us April 8-9, 2011 in the Denver Colorado area (at Mission Hills Church in Littleton, Colorado) for the next Empowered To Connect Conference.

Registration for the Denver ETC Conference is still open — and you can still take advantage of the 1/2 off registration discount (made possible by a generous grant from Focus on the Family). Simply use the code FOCUS when registering online to receive this discount.

Visit www.etcconference.org for more details and to register online. We look forward to seeing you there!

By Michael Monroe, ago

Adoption from the Inside Out

In this audio presentation Michael & Amy Monroe speak to a group of adoptive and foster parents (and parents-to-be) at a Tapestry event about what it means to approach the adoption and foster care journey from the “inside out.” This process requires that parents be willing to look back and make sense of their own past, look forward and honestly examine their motivations and expectations, in order to be free in each and every moment to be “fully emotionally present” with their children to help them heal and become all that God has created them to be.

In addition to listening to the audio, you can also follow along with the slides and handouts for this presentation.

https://empoweredtoconnect.org/wp-content/uploads/Adoption-from-the-Inside-Out-Audio.mp3

By Michael Monroe, ago

Providing Support for the Post-Placement Journey

The mission of Empowered To Connect is to offer hope and help to adoptive and foster families. We believe that one of the most effective ways to accomplish this over the long-term is to encourage and equip churches to create healthy and holistic adoption and foster care ministries. And in order for our churches to do this, they must be willing to provide education and practical support for families in the post-placement phase of the adoption and foster care journey. This is a big challenge no doubt; but it is one that our churches must rise to meet.

Dr. Karyn Purvis and Amy Monroe recently led a webinar entitled The Post-Placement Journey, where they offered insights and resources to equip adoption and foster care ministries to help families meet the challenges of loving, nurturing and building strong relationships with children from hard places.

By Michael Monroe, ago

The Safest Place on Earth

(ETC Team: This article was originally published on the Tapestry website in 2007. While many churches have made real strides in the area of adoption and foster care ministry, collectively we still have a great deal of important work to do. It is our prayer that many more churches will commit to become truly “safe places” for adoptive and foster families.)

This may not be easy to read; it wasn’t easy to write. But I think this is something we all need to face . . . and then go about praying for and seeking change. I’m speaking of our churches and how they relate to and support (or fail to relate to and support) adoptive and foster families.

If Numbers Could Talk

A 2002 nationwide survey commissioned by The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption revealed many interesting things regarding Americans’ views and attitudes about adoption. One finding was particularly relevant to local churches. When asked “where would you turn for information or advice about how to adopt,” 52% of married couples indicated they would turn to their local church or place of worship. Thus, it is clear that many people at the front-end of the adoption process think of their local church as being a good place to go for information and advice about adoption. Sounds promising, right? Hold that thought.

By Michael Monroe, ago

Counting the Cost: Preparing for the Adoption Journey

Dr. Karyn Purvis was one of the keynote speakers at the 2010 Together for Adoption Conference in Austin, Texas. During her talk, she challenged the nearly 1,000 participants that were gathered to “count the cost” as the consider and prepare for the adoption or foster care journey. This brief 30 minute talk is highly relevant and challenging for all adoptive and foster families as well as for churches wanting to wade into the waters of adoption and foster care ministry.

https://empoweredtoconnect.org/wp-content/uploads/Counting-the-Cost_-Preparing-Churches-for-the-Adoption-Journey.mp3

By Dr. Karyn Purvis, ago