Mike Rusch

I’ve learned a lot at Idea Camp these two days…

Dan king #fistbump
Chris Marlow still doesn’t know it’s actually called “idea” camp
chick fil a is only good for so long

—-

we must make ourselves vulnerable
fatherlessness is written in the hearts of our society
there is one statistic that matters the most - that’s you
Some of the most incredible organizations say they “aren’t doing enough”
this is about a child, not a statistic
ignorance isn’t bliss
a mother loves her child
In Kenyan slums, aprox 50% of teen girls are pregnant. Not b/c they are promiscuous - but b/c they are hungry.”
sometimes we have to sit in the dirt and listen
We’re running to the broken places, because that’s where we see God.
Aaron Ivey band is a full blown invitation to DO the gospel
there is value in every life
our perspective must change inside first
we need to walk towards the things that keep up awake at night
a life interrupted is life inspired
adoption is not about the past, it’s about the future
local churches can do great things
dad’s must be involved
reform is hard, but can happen (Heidi Cox)
the church is the only sustainable institution in the community
seek preservation of the family 1st
Foster parenting is one of the best things you can do to bless children (Susan Duke)
When I say I can’t do this, God says thank you

…so as we go back to our families, our npos, churches, etc

God Cares More about who you are that what you do

(story of meeting Charlie, who the world would call a janitor)

…picking up the discarded pieces

But you are now the guide…

“We can’t meet Kingdom Needs with Empire Values of Performance & Production” - Rick McKinley

(bring in kids)

and like this picture of a family and the child who is need of a father, it is also a picture of you and me.  Because without Jesus, without His adoption of us, we can not do this task in front of us.

“you see, the world need’s Jesus.  It doesn’t need another program to fix it, but it needs a revolution to redeem it.” - Rick McKinley

Until we find our adoption in jesus, there will be no peace or rest for our souls.

this picture is not of some orphaned child, it is a picture of me…it is a picture of you. 

And with Jesus, we become a son/daughter of the only One who can truly accomplish His purpose.

“Man designed orphanages for children, but God designed Children for Families”

In Exodus, the people call out in their oppression & God heard their cry.

God hears the cry of these children.

“O Come, O come Emmanuel” as we cry for our Father, we in turn answer the voice of those calling for an earthly father.

—

Let us listen to that cry through the story of Seth & Joy

As I sit on a plane leaving Austin, I have a few minutes to reflect on the past few days at Together For Adoption conference…

One thing that is absolutely clear is the heart of the American church is reawakening to the cause of the fatherless.  This gathering and these people (literally from all over the world) are claiming God’s promise as true.  Specifically, that He is a “Father to the Fatherless” (Psalm 68:5).

Deep within this movement there is a passion burning. It is a flame that feels like it is just moments away from igniting into a full blown wildfire within the global church.  The call of the church to care for the fatherless, the orphan and the vulnerable child is clear, and there are so many who take this very very seriously. 

So, it is from this perspective that I have a few observations of why it is so important to gather from time to time along this path of “igniting the wildfire.”

1.  Gathering around a common cause produces action…

It is impossible to stand among a group of people like those at Together for Adoption and not be compelled to act.

For example…

Corrie & I were in Tom Davis’s sex trafficking breakout session when at the end of the session, one man from the audience stood up a said one simple fact. 

“If the 80 of us in this room all gave $30 right now, we could cover the cost for one rescue operation.  That will mean at least one girl & maybe more will be free of being a sex slave!”

And then he offered to double whatever was given.

Twenty minutes later not one but TWO rescue operations were paid for.  Two rescue operations means that 6 girls (who were orphans) will be free of being forced to have sex 40 to 50 times a day.

My friends…that is the power of God alive in the hearts of His people.

2. Organizational Mission Statements are refined to produce maximum benefit…

Exposure is so critical as leaders move forward in their work. Exposure provides clarity of mission, knowledge of what works & what doesn’t, prevents redundancy of effort and exposes the gaps that exist.  Next to God, our gathering together is one of the greatest tools we have in our mutual efforts to rescue the orphan.  It simply makes us more effective.

3.  People & Relationships are the heart of any movement…

Movements are not institutions.  Movements are people bound together in relationship in motion towards a greater good.  People & relationships are the fuel to this flame because we simply can’t accomplish the greater mission alone. 

Along the way a cycle is created where movements form communities and communities form movements.  I believe this is the context of relationships & relationships are where God moves in His people.

4.  Community strengthens our resolve and moves us forward…

I had the honor of meeting Helen Parker & Bec Gebert of The Babes Project.  Both ladies are from Australia and are trying to turn the heart of a nation toward the value of life & the beauty of choosing adoption over abortion (est. 90,000 year in Australia). 

Their mission is impossible, but their calling is clear.  We are now a part of their story & our community is now their community. They are not alone. 

I guess you could say that “we’ve got their back”.

5.  We Don’t Give Up…

Walking among so many people who have dedicated their lives to caring for the orphan causes that still small quiet voice inside to turn from “are you sure you can do this?” to “if they won’t quit, either will I!”.

I think one twitter post this morning captured this tension in a way that allows us all to say “we won’t quit!”

“Today is the day that decides whether more happened in my life at #t4acon than just buying cool t-shirts” (via @4milkmoney)

Tomorrow we will ask this same question and we pray our answer is a movement forward into the tension, into the dim horizons and into a purpose so great that James calls it a part of “true religion”.

Organizations to Follow Closely…

• The Babes Project
• Mercy House Kenya
• Kidmia
• Into The Streets
• Esther Havens Watoto Project
• Help End Local Poverty

Don’t let the conversation stop…

…join us at Idea Camp Orphan (website is transitioning from Vegas) on February 25th & 26th in NW Arkansas as we work through

• the state of the global orphan crisis
• causes, issues & symptoms of the orphan crisis
• adoption, foster care & special needs orphan care
• global development (or as we call it preemptive orphan care)