Caroline's Promise News

We received a sad phone call this weekend that there was a break in at our partner church and school in Guatemala City. All of the church's instruments and sound equipment were stolen. The hardest part is that many of the young adults in the church worked hard to purchase this equipment. Today they worshiped without microphones, instruments, or any of their normal equipment. We are asking God to encourage them. Money is rarely kept at the school but $900 was there and was stolen. It was to be used to purchase the kids' school books. Part of partnership is encouraging, praying with and for, and helping in time of need. One of the ways we hope to help is in working with our friends to create a better security system. Will you pray with us that God will give wisdom and encourage our friends in Guatemala? If you would like to contribute financially to replace the $900 needed for the kids' books you can do so at this link. Please choose "Guatemala Orphan Projects...

October Baby is the story of Hannah, a 19 year old struggling with physical ailments and emotional upheavals. Deep inside herself Hannah has struggled with feeling unwanted. She has always felt something was missing. Early in the film Hannah discovers she was adopted after a failed abortion attempt. Her subsequent search for her birth mother and to know her life story fills the remainder of the film. This is a pro-life film but it goes beyond the obvious anti-abortion message. It is also a story for adoptive parents and adopted teens or young adults; helping us understand one other. It’s a story of family reconciliation and the loyalty and commitment of a friend. It is the story of healing from miscarriage. But most of all it is a story of forgiveness and the redemption and freedom that it brings. The film shows us how the lives of so many have been affected by this one abortion, Hannah, a clinic nurse, Hannah’s birth mother, her adoptive parents. All of these ...

From Deuteronomy to James orphans are mentioned sixty times. They are one of God’s great and constant concerns. He even defines Himself by His promise to them: “Father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.” Psalm 68:5-6 Are we concerned about the same things God is? He is concerned with the fatherless, are we? Jesus, as he did the work of the Father, was drawn in compassion to the needs of those around him. His heart was stirred and he acted. Is this true for us? It isn’t easy. Our compassion can be locked up tight by fear; fear of change, fear of the unknown, fear of our own shortcomings, of moving out of the comfortable place we are in. What adventures in the kingdom of God is fear robbing you of? In 2 Timothy we are told not to have a spirit of fear but to go boldly out proclaiming God’s word, boldly being His hands...

The Adoption & Orphan Care Ministry of Calvary Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC is hosting several adoption related workshops in the coming months. These are great opportunities to explore adoption/foster care and learn something new! Fostering and/or Adopting Children Through The Foster Care System Thursday, March 8, 6:30pm Joy Haithcock who is the Founder of Love Links Foster Placement and Adoption Agency will be speaking about God's mandate to look after orphans, requirements for foster care, and how to accomplish adoption through the foster system. Love Links works with Christian families who desire to foster and/or adopt children out of the foster care system so that these children can learn about the Lord and be encouraged to live for God. So You Think God Might Be Calling You To Adopt?" Thur sday, April 19, 6:30pm Lisa B. Holbrook, M.Ed., LPC and Co-founder and Director of Caroline's Promise will be speaking on things to consider when adopting. Whether ...

If you have never attended a Christian Alliance for Orphans National Summit you may want to consider going this year! The Christian Alliance for Orphans’ annual Summit has become the national hub for what Christianity Today recently called, “the burgeoning Christian orphan care movement.” Summit VIII on May 3-4, 2012 at Saddleback Church in Southern California is expected to draw 1,800 to 2,000 pastors, grassroots advocates, organizational leaders and church ministry heads. Alongside more than eighty workshops, the unforgettable plenary sessions will include Francis Chan, Rick and Kay Warren, Crawford Lorritts, Dennis Rainey, Steven Curtis Chapman, and other global leaders. Summit inspires, equips and connects for adoption, foster care and global orphan ministry. Check it out!

We are excited that Together For Adoption will be coming to Winston-Salem, NC for a regional conference on Saturday, April 28. This one day event will focus on God’s work of adoption within the story of redemption and its implications for adoption, foster care, and global orphan care. Our hope is that you will leave these regional events with a deeper sense of God’s adopting love for you and a better understanding of how to love and care for orphaned and vulnerable children in tangible ways. Join us for one of our 2012 regional conferences as we seek to magnify the adopting grace of God the Father in Christ Jesus and to mobilize the church for global orphan care. For details check out Together for Adoption

One of our grant families shared with us how blessed she was to attend the Created for Care Retreat last month in Atlanta. We have heard great things about this yearly event, designed to minister to adoptive moms. "While your hearts have been called to care, YOU were also created to be cared FOR. We want to not only support these families by equipping them with adoption resources, but most importantly provide resources to encourage them in their walks with their Heavenly Father who led them to this amazing calling." Their next retreat is the end of March. Check out their site for more information!

We are thrilled to be a part of Forget Me Not Photography & Boutique's 2012 Cutest Kid Charity Fundraiser! The contest is open to boys and girls ages 6 months-10 years old. Sessions will run from the 1st-28th of February, with voting the 1st week of March. A limited number of sessions are available. Sessions are free with a $75 direct donation to the sponsored charity of your choice . (That's Caroline's Promise!!!) Sessions will be 15-30 minutes in length and produce 10-15 final proofs. Proofs will be available for purchase following the contest at normal studio rates. No purchase is required to participate. One image of each participant will be chosen for contest entry at the discretion of Forget Me Not Photography. Help us spread the word! You can find all the details at Forget Me Not!