Adoption & Foster Care Ministry
Posted on September 6, 2010 by The Tapestry TeamNo Comments
Registration for the 2010 Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Conference is now open. Visit www.tapestryconference.org for more details and to register. Because space is limited (especially for childcare), please be sure to register soon.
We look forward to seeing you at the 2010 Tapestry Conference. Help us spread the word.
Filed Under: For Churches, News & Events, Resources
Posted on September 1, 2010 by The Tapestry TeamNo Comments
On Saturday, October 23, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Tapestry will host the 2010 Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Conference at Irving Bible Church. This year’s keynote speaker will be Sherrie Eldridge, author of several books including Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew. Similar to past Tapestry conferences, this year’s conference will feature a wide array of adoption and foster care related breakout sessions. In addition, the 2010 Tapestry Conference will include an adoptee track (for adoptees ages 18 years and older) designed to help adoptees explore the unique journey they experience into adulthood and beyond.
The Tapestry Conference website (www.tapestryconference.org) will be up and running by the time online registration begins on Tuesday, September 7th. For now, however, you can find out more details about this free conference, including a detailed schedule and the line-up of breakout sessions, by clicking here.
We hope that you will join us for the 2010 Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Conference. Be sure to register as soon as possible once online registration opens on September 7th, as space (in particular childcare space) is very limited.
Filed Under: For Churches, News & Events, This & That
Posted on August 20, 2010 by The Tapestry TeamNo Comments
Have you heard about the Empowered To Connect Conference in Nashville, Tennessee on September 10-11, 2010? It’s not too late to register to attend this unique and exciting conference hosted by Show Hope and featuring Dr. Karyn Purvis.
Wendy Cosby recently blogged about this conference stating:
The presentation by Dr. Karyn Purvis, and ministry leaders Michael and Amy Monroe, includes invaluable tools and resources to adoptive or foster families, professionals and church ministry leaders alike. I am particularly excited about the breakout sessions for church ministries. The body of Christ is a critical piece of the support structure for adoptive and foster families, throughout the adoption process and beyond. Families need a safe place to come and be “real.” They need a place to share their joys and setbacks; a place to be loved, encouraged, equipped, and empowered.
Click here for more details about this conference and to register online.
Filed Under: For Churches, News & Events, Resources
Posted on August 17, 2010 by The Tapestry TeamNo Comments
We are called to defend the fatherless…to care for the child that has no family…to visit orphans in their distress…to show the love of Christ to the ‘least of these’. On Orphan Sunday 2010, Christians across the nation and around the world will stand up for the orphan.
Orphan Sunday is an opportunity to invite the church and our community to respond to God’s call to care for the orphan. On this Sunday in November, Christians will stand for the orphan through hundreds of events across America and beyond, all sharing a single goal: that God’s great love for the orphan will echo in our lives as well. Through sermons and small groups, concerts and prayer gatherings — each event will focus on rousing believers with God’s call to care for the orphan…and what we can do in response.
Visit www.orphansunday.org for more information and some great resources to help you and your church join the movement to live out God’s heart for the orphan.
Filed Under: For Churches, News & Events
Posted on August 3, 2010 by The Tapestry TeamNo Comments
Over the past five years Tapestry has had the privilege of walking alongside countless families and individuals as they travel the adoption and foster care journey. During this time, God has blessed the ministry in so many amazing ways. From our first large group event with twenty adults in attendance, we have seen God use this ministry to serve thousands of people and help literally hundreds of churches nationwide as they launch and grow similar ministries. We think this is worth celebrating – so we are throwing a party!
Make plans to join us on Saturday, September 18. Doors open at 6:15 pm with dinner and the program starting promptly at 6:35 pm. Adults will enjoy dinner followed by great stories, videos and a chance to hear about where Tapestry has been and a glimpse at what lies ahead. In addition, the evening will feature the opportunity to bid on some exciting raffle packages as well as other opportunities to support Tapestry. Childcare for children through 5th grade will be available, with lots of fun activities planned for the kids.
The evening is completely free but space is limited, so make plans to join us and register now!
Click here for more details or for questions contact Amy Monroe at tapestry@irvingbible.org.
Filed Under: For Churches, News & Events, This & That
Posted on July 12, 2010 by The Tapestry TeamNo Comments
Tapestry will host its annual family summer fun event at Bedford Splash Water Park on Sunday evening, July 18, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. This annual event is tons of fun for all families and is a great chance to swim and play at Bedford Splash.
The water park has pools, water slides and attractions for all ages, and best of all we will have the entire park all to ourselves. Everyone is invited and you don’t need to register — just show up. Best of all, the event is completely free. Limited concessions (i.e., snacks only) will be available for purchase, but families are welcome to bring their own snacks or a picnic dinner. Life guards will be on duty.
For more information about the venue and directions go to www.bedfordsplash.com, or email us at tapestry@irvingbible.org. We look forward to seeing your family next Sunday night!
Filed Under: For Churches, News & Events, This & That
Posted on July 6, 2010 by The Tapestry TeamNo Comments
Carla Barnhill wrote a very informative article in the July 2010 issue Christianity Today that captures well how God is working through local churches across the country to serve, educate and support adoptive and foster families. In fact, she points to what is happening at Tapestry at Irving Bible Church as a good example of how churches can become involved in many different ways to serve the needs of children and families touched by adoption and foster care.
“From megachurches like Saddleback Church in Orange County, California, and Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee, to small congregations like First Baptist Church in Cambridge, Minnesota, U.S. churches are launching orphan care ministries, most of them lay-led. One such ministry, Tapestry, began in 2000 when a few adoption-hopeful couples at Irving Bible Church in North Texas began meeting. Launched by Michael and Amy Monroe, Tapestry has become a cultural juggernaut at Irving Bible and in the wider community. It helps adoptive families wade through the endless amounts of paperwork, home visits, and assessments, and, after a child arrives, provides education and connects families to support groups.” — Churches Adopt Adoption, Christianity Today (July 2010)
Read the entire article and join with us in celebrating what God is already doing in so many local churches. Also, if your church is interested in starting an adoption, foster care or global orphan care ministry, check out some of the resources we have on the Tapestry website or send us an email at tapestry@irvingbible.org. We would love to help you and your church get involved in whatever way God is leading.
Filed Under: For Churches, News & Events, This & That
Posted on June 9, 2010 by The Tapestry TeamNo Comments
Check out the latest video from Empowered To Connect . . .
Be sure to also subscribe to receive email updates about future Empowered To Connect resources.
Filed Under: For Churches, Resources
Posted on May 5, 2010 by The Tapestry TeamNo Comments
Introducing the Created To Connect: A Christian’s Guide to The Connected Child.
This study guide, created by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Michael & Amy Monroe, is designed to help illuminate the biblical principles that serve as the foundation for the philosophy and interventions detailed in Dr. Purvis’ book, The Connected Child. Together with the book, the study guide is a great tool to help adoptive and foster parents better understand how to build strong and lasting connections with their children, and is ideal for use in small groups as well as by individuals or couples.
Visit the Empowered To Connect website to download and print the entire (76 page) study guide, or view and print it chapter-by-chapter. There is no charge for this or any of the Empowered To Connect resources, but be sure to let other adoptive and foster parents know about this new study guide.
Filed Under: For Churches, Resources, This & That
Posted on April 22, 2010 by The Tapestry TeamNo Comments
As more and more people answer the call to adopt, it is important that we understand that the children that God will bring into our lives through adoption and foster care will likely have deep hurts and needs. Therefore, an important part of our call is to be prepared to be used by God to help these children heal and become whole. This is undoubtedly one of the greatest joys and privileges of adoption – but we know it will not be easy.
The resources and tools offered by Empowered To Connect are designed to help those whom God is calling and has called to answer that call well – to know what to expect, to be ready and prepared and, ultimately, to help bring long-term healing to their child. It is precisely this kind of ‘love in action’ that we believe reflects what it means to be called by God to adopt.
Empowered To Connect has recently released a new video series entitled Insights & Gifts. This new 16 video series (developed in partnership with the TCU Institute of Child Development) offers seven insights and seven gifts that are highly relevant for those who are parenting or considering adopting or fostering children from hard places. Empowered To Connect is also developing a discussion guide for this video series, which will be available in May 2010.
You can view the introduction to this new series below and you can find all of the videos in this series here. We hope that you will watch and be blessed by the insights and gifts Dr. Purvis offers.
Filed Under: For Churches, Resources
