We are close to finalizing our list of breakout sessions for Conference 2009 in Franklin, TN (Oct. 2-3). The list below contains most of the breakouts that we will be offering. Once we announce that our list is complete, you will register for breakouts via e-mail.

There will be four breakout session blocks (see conference schedule). Each workshop will be given twice.

Adoption by Faith Alone, Kristin Wong, Author of Carried Safely Home: The Spiritual Legacy of an Adoptive Family – Orphan care and adoption bring with them vulnerable hope, heart-wrenching sorrow and splendid joy. Each of these comes with temptation to turn away from God – and precious opportunity to draw near to Him. In this workshop, we will explore how our adoption and orphan care adventures can be wonderful vehicles for a growing faith in the living God. We will discuss together how to wrestle to live by faith as we care for children, and will move towards a “when I am weak then I am strong” attitude that exalts in God through all ups and downs of adoption.

An Adoptee’s Perspective: Nature vs. Nurture, Lizette Beard, Project Manager for LifeWay Research – Lizette will share from her experiences what it is like to grow up with a God-given natural disposition that is quite different from her parents. She will highlight the blessing and challenges she encountered by navigating family, life, and the journey of becoming who God has created her to be.

Baby Steps: Getting Started in Int’l Orphan Care, Casey Scheberl, VisionTrust International – There are so many needy children around the world, and it can feel overwhelming at times to think about making a dent. This breakout session will outline helpful tips to identifying where and how your church can get involved with caring for needy children around the world. We will discuss simple ways you can create interest among your church congregation and leadership in orphan care, as well as practical steps you can follow to help meet the tangible needs of orphans around the world. If you think God may be calling your church to engage relationally and strategically to help orphans around the world, but you just aren’t sure where to start, come and learn how to take the hardest step: the first step.

Beginning the Adoption Journey: How to Get Started, Laura Godwin, Nightlight Christian Adoptions – Most couples spend about two to three years “just thinking about adoption.” If you are ready to begin adopting a child but are unsure of just which direction to go, this workshop will can help you decide what is the best path to building your family and how to start the process.

Birth Mothers and Adoption Stigma, Lisa Florian, Member of Christ Community Church’s Adoption & Foster Care Ministry – We often hear from adult adoptees about their experience in connection with adoption, but less frequently hear from the birth mother. We want the conference attendees to be able to hear a birth mother’s perspective on what it means to make that choice for her child. As well, we hope to address the stigma that appears to be prevalent among high school girls that choosing adoption makes you a bad mother, so much so that many see even abortion as a better and more accepted option.

Both Hands: Innovative way to help both the widow and the orphan, JT Olson, Both Hands Foundation – Hear about a unique approach to fundraising that not only impacts the financial needs of the adoptive family, but at the same time gives aid and comfort to widows. We will talk about the concept and the details behind the idea and you should be able to determine whether or not it’s the kind of plan that could work for you. We will explore how to get your friends and a community involved in a fundraising effort that culminates with 10-20 of your friends spending a day working on a widow’s house. Everyone walks away blessed.

Foster Care and Adoption, Panel Discussion, Eve Boger, Chad Crow, and Linda Roley

Implementing a Balanced Orphan Care and Adoption Ministry in Your Church, Johnny Carr, Bethany Christian Services – This session will help you think through the philosophy behind your ministry with practical suggestions for leading people to deeper involvement.  We will talk about educating and engaging everyone in the congregation, many in the congregation, and then a few in the congregation.  At each level, the education and engagement will get deeper and be more involved.  A sample calendar will be available to give you practical ministry ideas.

International Adoption 101, Tammy Bass and Amanda Clark Lawrence, Bethany Christian Services and America World Adoption – Are you interested in adopting internationally?  Join representatives from Bethany Christian Services and America World Adoption as they share an overview on the international adoption process. Very generic about countries are agencies service and hague versus non-hague immigration paperwork.

Mentoring At-Risk Kids in Your Community, Arnie Adkison, Buckner International – For 130 years, Buckner has loved and mentored orphans and at-risk children. Recently Buckner began working directly with KidsHopeUSA, a mentoring program where a church adopts a school and provides mentors to elementary children with the goal of preventing them from entering the cycles that lead to tragedy and set them up for success in life. You can change the trajectory of a young child’s life through mentoring working with Buckner and KidsHopeUSA–here’s how…

Mobilizing the Local Church to Serve Children in Foster Care, John Schechter, 4KIDS of South Florida – Opportunities to serve children in foster care are sometimes overlooked by churches wanting to respond to God’s heart for the orphan. Yet, local church involvement is critically important to the lives of these precious children. This session will provide an overview of the needs of children in care and the many ways that the church can become involved.

Moving from Success to Significance…becoming Orphan Advocates, Andy Lehman, LifeSong for Orphans – Many Christians today have great experience, expertise, and energy to serve the orphans and fatherless. This season of life is ripe to redirect time and skills for the Kingdom! This session will focus on how God can use Christian businesspeople and “everyday people” to become effective orphan advocates.

SPECIAL CHILDREN, SPECIAL NEEDS, Dan and Gretchen Rauter, Adoptive Family from Christ Community Church – Personal testimony, discussion and Q&A with adoptive families of special needs’ children — How are “special needs” defined?  Are some special needs too special?  How is the special needs adoption process different from that of a “healthy baby”?  Doctors, medical insurance, surgery, oh my!?!

Starting a Regional Orphan Care and Adoption Alliance, Middle TN Church Alliance for Orphan Ministry, Panel Discussion, Debi Armstrong (Christ Community Church), Marty Schwieterman (Fellowship Bible Church), Greg Buzak (Retail Orphan Initiative), Eve Boger (Covenant Presbyterian Church), Cheryl Jenks (Brentwood Baptist Church).

Stewarding God’s Resources for Adoption, Jason Kovacs, ABBA Fund – For most couples, the greatest obstacle to adoption is the cost. This workshop will look at a Biblical and practical perspective on how to fund an adoption. We will cover God’s promises and God’s provisions through interest-free adoption loans, tax-credits, grants, and creative fundraisers. We will also look at the benefits of establishing local church adoption funds.

Strengthening the Church by Engaging and Mobilizing for Orphan Care, Alan Hunt and Michael Vinson, World Orphans – What if the church needs the orphan as much as the orphan needs the church? Come to this session to learn about the greatest kingdom building opportunity in our lifetime. God has an army of 143,000,000 orphans strategically positioned throughout the least reached places on the earth. Come hear how you and your church are being called to respond.

The Comfort that the Doctrine of Adoption Brings, Kevin Twit, Founder of Indelible Grace – In this seminar we will explore the way adoption into God’s family should affect our hearts, and not just our heads.  In justification we become God’s friends, but in adoption we are brought into His family.  Come explore the important link between the doctrine of adoption and the assurance of our salvation.

Unique Needs of Adopted Children, RJ Caswell, Weaving Families – Children who come to a family through adoption do have unique needs.  Loss, grief, rejection are all common themes that surface periodically throughout their lives.  As parents, we need to be aware of these unique needs so that we can can help our children navigate the journey of adoption.  Awareness of these needs might also man we need to change or alter or previous ways of parenting.