Upcoming Adoption Training

Here is a friendly reminder to those of you interested in our upcoming adoption training opportunities.

April 17 - The Woodlands (Crossroads Baptist Church)
April 24 - Southeast Houston (Sagemont Church)

Registration is 8:30 a.m with the program beginning promptly at 9.

For more information on our dynamic program please visit our website and click the training page. These trainings are fully underwritten so there are no fees to attend. You can't beat FREE!

We are sure to have a terrific time together. Make plans to join us!
Team Act of Life

Do You Know Your Neighbors?

Isn't it refreshing to pick up the paper and read a good story now and then?


Too often our airwaves, blogs and newsprint are riddled with depressing stories of devastation and destruction. And, all too often, adoption seems to get negative press. We hear most frequently of the stories with ugly endings which only fuel the fire of those who do not understand the beauty of adoption. Then, like a ray of sunshine piercing the darkenss, we read a story of hope.

For a jolt of joy I encourage you to read Canada's The Globe and Mail's adoption reunion story of two biological brothers. You will never guess where they found each other!

Reader discretion advised:

sudden smiles are likely to erupt!

Joyfully,
Julie

From God's Arms, To My Arms, To Yours

Act of Life has the joy and privilege of helping people understand adoption. Most of the time we accomplish our mission through our educational programs geared toward groups. Every now and then, we have the opportunity to work one-on-one with courageous young women and men who are interested in creating a home for their child through adoption.


We are currently walking alongside a teen birthmother and her family. This young lady has decided on adoption from the beginning and has begun laying strong plans for her future and that of her baby. Recently I received this precious poem from the birth mother's mother, and I want to share it with you. It truly captures the loving heart of birthparents who choose adoption for their children.


From God's Arms, To My Arms, To Yours


So many wrong decisions in my past,
I'm not quite sure If I can ever hope to trust my judgement anymore.
But lately I've been thinking,
Cause it's all I've had to do.
And in my heart I feel that I
Should give this child to you.

And maybe, you could tell your baby,
When you love him so, that he's been loved before,
By someone, who delivered your son,
From God's arms, to my arms, to yours.


If you choose to tell him, If he wants to know,
How the one who gave him life
Could bear to let him go.
Just tell him there were sleepless nights,
I prayed and paced the floors,
And knew the only peace I'd find
Was if this child was yours.

And maybe, you could tell your baby,
When you love him so, that he's been loved before,
By someone, who delivered your son,
From God's arms, to my arms, to yours.

This may not be the answer,
For another girl like me.
But I'm not on a soapbox,
Saying how we all should be.
I'm just trusting in my feelings,
And I'm trusting God above,
And I'm trusting you can give this baby
Both his mothers' love.

And maybe, you could tell your baby,
When you love him so, that he's been loved before,
By someone, who delivered your son,
From God's arms, to my arms, to yours.

~Michael McLean~

Texas Life Connections - HOUSTON

Are you in need of encouragement?

Would you like to receive training to sharpen your skills in ministry?

You need to attend Texas Life Connections (TLC) Life Saving 201!

When: February 6, 2010 from 9 am - 4:15 pm.
Where: Houston's First Baptist Church
Fee: $25 includes lunch. What a deal!

With this event, Texas Life Connections seeks to provide sound training and spiritual encouragement for people serving in life ministries. While opportunities exist for national annual conferences many are unable to attend. TLC is bringing a compact conference experience to you. Plus, the fee is so reasonable you cannot afford to miss it!

3 General Sessions will be offered by speakers:
Dr. Julie Parton (Texas Life Connections),
Destiny Cortez (WPC Houston)
Julie Stobbe (Act of Life)

Relevant breakout sessions will focus on evangelism training, praying with power, post-abortive clients, healthy sexuality, and understanding the relationship between sexual abuse and abortion.


As one who participated in the TLC event in Dallas last summer, I can tell you I was encouraged, sharpened and challenged in my walk with Christ and in my role in ministry.

Let's bear in mind we have unique circumstances in Houston surrounding the opening of North America's largest abortion facility here later this year. This should motivate us into action. Take advantage of this opportunity to get equipped. You will reach more women through the love of Christ with critical tools to assist and support them with their decisions.

Click here to register. You will not want to miss this unique gathering with your fellow co-laborers. Do not delay ~ Make plans today!

See you there,
Julie

Adoption Training @ The Source for Women Houston

“I cannot begin to thank you enough for bringing this amazing and truly enlightening training into our center today. What a blessing this has been. It has truly given our staff and volunteers further knowledge on such an important piece of the puzzle and equipped us to present adoption as an option to our clients in need. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are appreciated more than you will ever know.” – training participant

What a resounding endorsement for the full-day adoption training Act of Life provides. We thank the Lord for another opportunity to present the Biblical perspective of adoption to a group of enthusiastic men and women yesterday.

The seminar was held at The Source for Women near the Galleria, and The Gladney Center for adoption sponsored the event so there was no charge for the attendees! We extend warm thanks to both of these amazing organizations!
And hats off to Chris Wenz who stayed up late on the eve of the training to hang a screen for the PowerPoint presentation. You went above and beyond, Chris! Thank you!

How do YOU feel about adoption? Are you confident and knowledgeable to share the good news of adoption with people in your life? While this particular training is geared primarily toward pregnancy counselors we frequently have others join our seminars and remark how it has equipped them to speak about adoption outside a traditional counseling room. Equally satisfying is when some call back with stories of how the Lord used them to minister to someone in their personal lives.

Who can benefit from Act of Life's training?

* pastors, youth pastors, and staff of churches

* pregnancy counselors

* teachers

* board directors of life ministries

* maternity home staff and houseparents

* YOU

Call 713.991.LIFE (5433) to speak with someone about how to host a training in your area, or check our website for upcoming training opportunities. We have additional programs we are sure you will want to learn about as well. Whichever outreach you attend one thing is certain: you will emerge educated, encouraged and equipped!

Julie

Off to a Running Start

Happy New Year!

Act of Life is off to a strong start already. We have already touched 39 people with adoption information! We've educated clients who have called in or submitted email enquiries, educated residents of Houston's LifeHouse maternity home and trained counselors in 8 Dallas/Fort Worth pregnancy centers. All of this activity has been accomplished in the first 11 days of 2010! Praise the Lord!!

Along the lines of training, we want you to be aware of an upcoming training that will be held next Thursday, Jan. 21 at Source for Women here in Houston. It will run 11 - 5 and will include lunch. This particular seminar is fully underwritten by Gladney Center for Adoption, so there is no cost to attend. You won’t want to miss this opportunity ~ Details are as follows:

When: Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Registration and Lunch: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Training: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Where: The Source for Women 6009 Richmond Ave. Suite 130 Houston, 77057
In the Galleria area

CEUs will be available upon request. This is the perfect opportunity to train your staff and volunteers on how to best present the adoption option with knowledge and confidence!

RSVP by January 18 to Amber Stoffer Thomas at 713-780-0030 or athomas@thesourceforwomen.org so we can prepare for this wonderful day of fun, fellowship and learning.

Hope to see you on January 21!

Celebration of Life 2009

"I was so very impressed with the amazing event Friday. It was my favorite so far..."

"What an awesome program!"

"WOW!"

"What a wonderful celebration of life we were blessed to be a part of this evening!"

"Great dinner, great speaker!"

"Dr. Land was tremendous!"

These are just a few of the comments we have received through email, voice mail and Facebook since the Celebration of Life was held Friday, November 20. People battled the rain and the snarl of traffic to make it to the Houston Hilton Hobby Airport to take part in a fantastic evening.

The auction captured many people's attention with items from James Avery, premier golf courses in Houston and The Woodlands, along with pristine prints from beloved Christian artist, Larry Dyke. Many people secured special stocking stuffers for sure!

We were then treated to a delicious dinner (yes, the hotel food was very good - no rubber chicken) and an action-packed program. We heard a message by letter from Texas Governor Rick Perry, Dr. Joe Pojman from Texas Alliance for Life spoke about our collaborative relationship with them, and Colyn Bezanilla shared a heart-felt testimony from her perspective as a birth mother. Next, Executive Director, Lynda LeCompte gave a report of how effective Act of Life has been during this past year and then cast the vision for where we are headed in the days ahead. This led us to Dr. John Morgan of Sagemont Church introducing our keynote speaker, Dr. Richard Land.

Dr. Land's address was a combination of humor and urgency. He related to the audience very well and his message was clear: adoption is a key component in the overall pro-life message. Adoption is a loving parenting option. Adoption is a win-win-win situation - the birth mother, the baby, and the adoptive family. Adoption is an antidote to abortion.

All who were in attendance raved! Many congregations from around the city were represented, but we must say a big thank you to Sagemont Church. Their continued support has been a stabilizing force for our advancement in ministry. Hearty thank you's must also be sent out to the Board of Directors and the Event Committee for their tireless efforts which made the evening such a tremendous success.

Act of Life is a team made up of committed individuals, churches, donors and businesses who make our ministry to birth mothers, adoptive parents, adoptees, schools, pregnancy centers, maternity homes, juvenile detention centers and society in general possible.

Be watching in the coming weeks for more information on our exciting new education initiatives. The Lord has big plans in store for Act of Life, and He will utilize many to accomplish His purposes.

Would you like to join in the action?

I love how Henry Blackaby talks about "finding out where God is working and joining Him in the work." I can assure you that Act of Life was birthed by God, is sustained by Him and is being propelled forward by His Spirit.

Don't miss out on your opportunity to join this exciting work of the Lord. Find out more by visiting our website. We would love to hear from you.

Blessings to you and yours during this season of giving thanks. We are thankful for each of you, for you make our ministry possible. Please take a moment to peek at the pictures and consider how you might be able to become an active partner.

Julie Stobbe

Enjoy our photo presentation of the evening's events...