Chat Room with Christian Women Today

Adoption Chat Room with Christian Women Today

People look for adoption information in many places. One such place is the Internet. A wealth of data can be obtained using a keyboard and screen in the privacy of one’s own home and after regular business hours.

We recently had the opportunity to partner with Christian Women Today (CWT), a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ Canada. Over the past decade I have had the great pleasure to work with these dedicated ladies on a variety of projects and can assure you of their effective ministry to women. One of the interesting ways they work is through Internet Chat Rooms.

A chat room is a unique place where women can log on, maintain anonymity and seek answers to questions they may be anxious to ask in traditional settings. May 4th was all about adoption. Here is what Rosemary DeFrancis (CWT chat moderator) had to say:

"Tonight we were privileged to have as our guest, Julie Stobbe. Her compassion and wisdom concerning adoption and teen pregnancy were so well received. Julie really ministered to the ladies in the room and the comments afterward were very encouraging. The chat was filled with 16 women from across North America and I know it helped those who were seeking healing and guidance. Thank you, Julie, for caring."

The Holy Spirit knows no bounds and women could sense the freedom He had to move and minister to women’s hearts. In fact, a woman named “Lisa” became a Christian because of the chat room conversation and experience. How beautiful to be discussing earthly adoption and then learn of Lisa’s spiritual adoption ~ all because women gathered in a chat room on a Monday evening!

“Hey Mrs. Julie, I heard you had been praying for me. I was a non-Christian and the other night, women from the cwt-forum led me to the Lord. There had been several people witnessing to me but I just wasn't ready. I just thought I would share that with you. Love, ‘Lisa’.”

We are thankful to have been a part of collaborating with Christian Women Today and seeing the harvest of an orphaned soul finding her forever home with God through salvation in Jesus Christ. What could be more gratifying than that??

Full of thanksgiving,
Julie

P.S. Be sure to tag the CWT chat site so you can visit ongoing chat topics.

What Are The Origins Of Mother's Day?

There are several accounts of the origins of Mother's Day in the U.S.A., but what I can be sure of, and what I am about to recount to you, is the origin of Mother's Day in my home country, dear old England.

Mother's Day in England was founded by my great grandfather, John Alexander Whitehead.   You may be as surprised as I was when I discovered this during some research into Whitehead Aircraft, the aircraft company that was founded by my great grandfather during WWI.  As an aviation enthusiast, I had always been excited about the fact that my great grandfather's factory had built many of the Sopwith Pups that were used in battle during WWI.  

About 20 years ago, my research unearthed a newspaper article from 1916, clearly outlining the origin of Mother's Day and how John Alexander Whitehead wanted to, first of all, honor his own mother, and recognized the need to honor the mothers of soldiers and sailors who were away from home, serving their country in what was to become known as the Great War. 

So, on the very first Mother's Day in England, held on Tuesday, August 8th, 1916, while sons were unable to be with their mothers, Mr. & Mrs. Whitehead 'adopted' a few hundred mothers and entertained them all with a fantastic lunch and wowed the crowd with an aerobatic display overhead.  August 8th was chosen as it was the birthday of my great grandfather, a flamboyant character to say the least, who would have enjoyed such a huge celebration on his birthday, even though it was for the moms!  On a side note, my father, also John Alexander Whitehead, was fittingly named after his grandfather as they shared the same birthday.

The Mother's Day article from 1916 has been reproduced on the Whitehead Aircraft website, along with another piece on the subject, and photographs from the 1917 Mother's Day outings.

Now that I have shared this little piece of Mother's Day history with you, and I prepare to retire for the evening before waking to a wonderful mother's day of my own, I would like to wish all moms a very happy and blessed Mother's Day!

In Him,

Lynda

Mother's Day Blessings

Phones will be ringing and florists will be delivering record numbers of bouquets this weekend since Mother's Day is Sunday. How are you planning to spend this day set aside to celebrate mothers everywhere?

Mother's Day will most likely bring up all sorts of emotions. For those of us with young children we look forward to homemade cards and perhaps piles of pancakes for 'breakfast in bed'. For others, Mother's Day may be marked with sadness due to a mother who has passed away during the previous year.

I particularly enjoy celebrating Mother's Day because I have two women to honor. My first mother, my birth mother, who gave me life and provided a family for me through adoption and my permanent mother who walked beside me each day of my life and reared me into adulthood. They are two very different women, but they are my two heroines! While I have inherited certain biological characteristics from one, I have acquired learned characteristics from the other.

However you choose to spend Mother's Day I pray you will pause to remember the birth mothers who are rarely remembered on Mother's Day. These courageous women make life possible for their children and create stable homes in the arms of loving mothers who will care for them on a daily basis. I also hope you will pause and remember the adoptive mothers who have opened their homes to children who are not born of their flesh but have been born from the love of their hearts.

No Mother's Day would be complete without the opportunity to ooh and aah a little. So, take a peek at this video which illustrates mothers come in a variety of packages. Whether a child is born into or brought into a family does not matter. Whether the child looks like the mom or not has no bearing on his or her value and place within the family. The love of a mother remains the same.




Mothers love children. It is just what they do.
Happy Mother's Day,
Julie Stobbe

An Adoption Evening

On Saturday, March 21st, Act of Life presented it's Inaugural Adoption Evening, at Sagemont Church, Houston - an event we had been looking forward to for some time!  The attendees were able to browse the resource tables of the adoption agencies and support ministries that were present and chat with the representatives.  This was a great opportunity for those touched by adoption to network with one another, and discover the support and services that are available to them.  It was also an ideal time for the adoption agencies and services to network with one another, which is an opportunity not often found.

Following the time of networking, a program of powerful adoption testimonies and beautiful adoption songs from singer and songwriter, Becky Wright, moved the audience deeply. 

Everybody agreed that the most powerful testimony of all was that given by a V.I.P.- a birth mom - who shared her real-life story of how she made the courageous decision to provide parents for her son in an open adoption, and the emotions she went through during that time.  She shared how, over the years, she has been rewarded with love and a deep relationship with not only her son, but also with the parents she chose for him.

This powerful and touching story solicited immediate feedback from people who had their hearts and minds changed about an open adoption.  People who never before could have considered adopting a child in an open relationship with the adoptive parents, but now, they saw that it was a very real and beautiful option. 

 

As a special treat for friends of Act of Life and newcomers alike, Founder, Julie Stobbe took the stage and sang a beautiful song that was written by Becky Wright called, Act of Life.  You can listen to it below.

People left the Adoption Evening feeling blessed by the powerful stories and songs, and carrying their event bags filled with information from the many adoption resources that participated.  We are already looking forward to our next adoption event! 

Act of Life would like to acknowledge and extend sincere thanks to the following people and organizations that made this event possible:  Adoption and Orphan Care (FBC Houston),  Alternatives in Motion, Buckner, C.H.I.L.D., Gladney Center for Adoption, Homes of St. Mark, Life Time Adoption, Methodist Mission Home, New Life Pregnancy Center, Dorsett Family Foundation, Sagemont Church, Tom and Tricia Ehman, David and Michelle Kilpatrick, Laurie Lindquester, Jan Hester, and Yvonne Fotheringham.

Right to Life Sunday at Grace Community Church

On Sunday, January 11th, a selection of Houston's life affirming ministries were invited to attend and exhibit at Grace Community Church's Right to Life Sunday.  Act of Life was honored to attend.  Not only were we able to share adoption facts with some, make referrals to adoption agencies for others, but we were also able to pray with a couple who are heart broken at the difficulties they are facing with their adoption process.  This truly was a time of reaching out and ministering to those touched by adoption.

It was also a blessing to be able to network and chat with the representatives of the other life affirmining ministries that were present.  After all, we are all working toward the same goal of ministering to those in need, and saving physical and spiritual lives in the name of Jesus Christ. 

With sincere thanks to Grace Community Church for inviting Act of Life to this event.

Here are some photos of the ministries that were present...

Rejoicing While Reviewing 2008

What a year this has been! We have been witness to the tremendous impact Act of Life has had on multiple audiences at the local, state and national level. Hearts have been transformed, minds persuaded; lives have been saved and families have been created. All of this has been accomplished through God’s power and for His glory.

We have also been witness to changes and challenges. Through sustained prayer, sacrifice and God's power, we have been able to overcome! There were times this year we faced what seemed to be impossible scenarios, but we saw God part the sea and make a way. Isn't that just like Him? He is the Great Way Maker! Nothing is too difficult for Him.

We have great plans in store for 2009, but before we launch into the new year, we want to pause and thank you for your role in our effectiveness this year. Your prayers, your gifts, and your support have made a tremendous difference, and we are grateful for you. On behalf of the Staff and the Board of Directors, let me extend not only our profound gratitude but also our best wishes for a tremendous 2009.

What will you believe Him for? He tells us, "Call upon Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3) He is able and He is willing to show you things you have yet to even dream of. Are you well positioned and willing to seek Him fully?

May you pursue His presence with a new determination this year, for in it, lies all you require for a rich and meaningful life.

Many blessings to you and yours,
Julie Stobbe

Richmond Coffee Station Café and Dessertery hosts a Benefit Concert

The Richmond Coffee Station Café and Dessertery held an outdoor concert to benefit Act of Life. It was a superb evening of sharing and listening to praise and worship from the Sagemont Church band, Living Well. The weather was perfect as we enjoyed pizza and desserts from the fabulous menu, and enjoyed the company of Act of Life supporters and regulars to the coffee shop.

We would like to recognise and thank the coffee shop owner, Jan Hester, for her generous heart and desire to see Act of Life further it's adoption training programs. Jan retired as Executive Director for Katy Pregnancy Center to manage the coffee shop, and continues to use the positions in which the Lord places her to further the understanding of the sanctity of human life. We are extremely grateful to partner with Jan, and we encourage everyone to visit the Richmond Coffee Station Café and Dessertery for a delightful experience!

Read on for a closer look at the evening...

Browse the picture gallery (above) and listen to "Blessed be the name of the Lord" (below), as performed by Living Well. Living Well consists of: Misty Neimeyer on vocals; Sean Hebert on lead guitar and vocals; Steve Perry on acoustic guitar; Bud LeCompte on bass guitar, and Adam Mosqueda on drums.  Zeke Young also joined Living Well for a couple of songs, reciting a poem and playing harmonica. 

The evening was enjoyed by all, and over $1,000 was raised to benefit Act of Life. 

Thank you all, we truly appreciate you!

Lynda LeCompte, Executive Director

on behalf of Act of Life.