God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:5
The Mission of Lutheran Church of Hope is to “Reach out to the world around us and share the ever-lasting love of Jesus Christ.” While Hope NorthBranch continues to live out the Mission, the Mission leads to our being an Adopting Church.
The idea that we are adopted Sons and Daughters of God (Ephesians 1:5, Romans 8) loved by our “abba” father is good news. It gives people an identity. It helps us better understand who God is (1 John 1:3). It empowers us and enables us to go into the world around us sharing this good news with our neighbors, co-workers and family members who are lost.
The mission of the Adopting Church also sends us into the world.
Local Mission Efforts
Hope NorthBranch “adopts” local mission projects like the Central Iowa Homeless Shelter, partners with Lutheran Services of Iowa to help refugees in the Des Moines area. We envision Small Groups choosing elementary schools to Adopt. They provide school supplies to under-resourced children at the beginning of the school year. They provide winter clothing in November. They volunteer at teacher assistants.
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Adopt-a-Village
The first village Hope NorthBranch has adopted is Agortakpo in Ghana, West Africa. We’ve built a well and we’re working on developing a Micro-loan program to help the women of Agortakpo start businesses and provide for their families. A women’s leadership program is also in the works.
Future plans include construction of a church and support of a pastor in Agortakpo so people are taught the good news of the Kingdom of God.
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Adoption Agency
One final piece of the Adopting Church vision. We believe God is calling NorthBranch to start a no-fee Adoption agency. a no fee adoption agency funded and staffed through Hope NorthBranch. The mission of Bringing Hope Home is to partner with local agencies to provide loving homes for any child who is free to be adopted.
After an extensive amount of research and conversations with churches like Antioch Bible Church in Seattle, WA and government agencies, Hope NorthBranch moved forward with plans for Bringing Hope Home.
Bringing Hope Home does more than help couples adopt. Through this ministry on-going support is provided for families who adopt. Counseling services, playgroups and continuing education provide adoptive families with the personal resources they need to grow into a family as well as providing a community of love and encouragement.
A ministry has developed out of Bringing Hope Home which walks with couples who are experiencing infertility issues. As these couples look at all the options available to them, prayer mentors help them listen patiently for God’s leading as they makes decisions to adopt or to continue with fertility treatments.
Worldwide, it is estimated that more than 15 million children under 18 have been orphaned as a result of AIDS. More than 12 million of these children live in Sub-Saharan Africa, where it is currently estimated that 9% of all children have lost at least one parent to AIDS. As HIV infections become increasingly common among the adult population of the region, the brunt of HIV-associated mortality is expected to occur within this decade; as a result, millions of children will lose parents to AIDS. By 2010, it is predicted that there will be around 15.7 million AIDS orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The establishment of Bringing Hope Home is NorthBranch’s response to live out our identity as children of God:
- Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do good.Seek justice.Help the oppressed.Defend the cause of orphans.Fight for the rights of widows.
- James 1:27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
- Matthew 18:5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
