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OAK: Adoption Fund
Why an adoption fund?
A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the
widows is God in His holy habitation. God places the solitary in families and gives
the desolate a home in which to dwell.
(Psalm 68:5-6a).
Learn to do right! Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the
widow
(Isaiah 1:17).
The Knox adoption fund helps Knox members care for orphans
by providing financial support to adoptive families.
Adoption expenses can seem
overwhelming to couples who would otherwise consider this way of adding children
to their families. We don't want those who are interested in adoption to turn aside
because of the financial burden.
The adoption fund is also one of several ways for those in the Knox family who are
not called to adopt to participate in the blessing of caring for vulnerable children.
The adoption fund fosters opportunity for conversation between potential adoptive
families and Knox elders, deacons and OAK members. Families considering adoption
find themselves supported in ways that will help them step out boldly in faith for
the sake of orphans. Those who administer the fund share in the blessing of seeing
orphans brought into safe, loving, families in the name of our Lord. Thus the adoption
fund can strengthen Knox in both inward community and outward mission.
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Giving to the adoption fund
Giving may be done through Sunday offerings (designate “Adoption Fund” on your check)
or through the Knox accountant. It is an ongoing fund. Gifts are collected throughout
the year and disbursed in January, to be fairly divided among applicants. Funds
may not be earmarked for a particular family.
Receiving from the adoption fund
Married Knox members who have
submitted an adoption application with a licensed agency may apply for assistance
from the Adoption Fund once per adoption.
Couples will work with a deacon and provide
copies of their adoption agency application, projected cost of adoption, and federal
income tax return. The applications are confidential, kept in a secured location
in the Knox office.
After reviewing the application, the deacons arrange for a meeting
between the couple and a Knox representative (a deacon, elder, member of OAK ministry
team). The purpose of the meeting is to get to know the parents, introduce them
to other adoptive families at Knox for support, and pray for the couple and the
adoption.
At the end of the calendar year, the Deacons gather all the applications
and compute the gift amounts, based on the adoption cost and family income. The
funds are disbursed on behalf of the applicants as soon as possible in the following
calendar year. Ordinarily, funds are paid directly for specific expenses (for example,
to the adoption agency). For more information on the Knox adoption fund,
contact Phil Wong.
For more information on financing adoptions, see www.hopefororphans.com/display.asp?page=financialhelp.
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