PPL eNews, November 2023 | Inside: Save Haven for babies, Adoption resources, more

Compelled by the Gospel, PPL equips Presbyterians to champion human life at every stage PPL ENEWS November 2023 Announcing Another Safe Haven Baby Box Installed in the Nation: Monica Kelsey, Baby Box founder whose mother surrendered her at birth, adds Indiana’s 109th baby box in Rushville, IN, this month.    “’Indiana has proved that anonymous surrender can end infant abandonment,’ Kelsey said. ‘We are protecting innocent infants and improving the lives of these mothers in crisis who bravely and lovingly surrender their infants. Each location is a visual in that community to remind citizens there are more options available to them.’... A Baby Box allows for the legal, safe, and anonymous surrender of an infant provided under the Safe Haven Law. It features three silent alarms alerting first-responders to the presence of a surrendered infant. The baby will be attended to within five minutes and taken to the hospital for medical evaluation.” (Adoption occurs shortly thereafter.) (11/2/2023), https://www.greensburgdailynews.com/news/local_news/ rushville-blesses-109th-baby-box-in-indiana/article_85993094-78e0-11ee-9207-372210d2100f.html)   Safe Haven now has 171 baby boxes in 12 states. Carmel, IN Fire Department Station No. 345 was its seventh baby box to be installed and is the busiest in the nation at four babies surrendered in under 18 months. Carmel Chief of Community Relations John Moriarty, right, and Chief David Haboush at a baby box in Station No. 345. JOHN TUOHY/INDYSTAR 10/15/2023   “Since the first Safe Haven law passed in Texas (1999), more than 4,425 infants have been surrendered nationwide and adopted, according to the National Safe Haven Alliance …" “Traditional Safe Haven advocates, however, said the baby boxes should be considered a last resort. The safer path is for mothers to surrender their babies in person because it gives doctors, nurses, paramedics or police a chance to offer the mother services and gather medical information. ‘There is an opportunity to ask about health and longterm care,’ said Leah Kipley, assistant director of the National Safe Haven Alliance. ‘And to let them know what services are available to her.’”   “Monica Kelsey said the boxes are an alternative that offers mothers who may be ashamed true anonymity and has likely led to babies being safely surrendered who wouldn’t have been otherwise.   (To read the full article by John Tuohy of The Indianapolis Star, go to the following link: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamiltoncounty/ carmel/2023/10/11/carmel-indiana-firehouse-baby-box-busiest-in-nation/71072753007/ )                      November is Adoption Month                     A  Biblical Basis for Adoption  The local church can play a key role in adoption by educating and orienting its members to its scriptural foundations, to the studies that show the positive outcomes of adoption, to the needs of our society that can be met through adoption, and to the opportunities and ideas for ministry that relate to adoption. Adoption: An Overarching Theme of the Scriptures Most of us are at least familiar with the concept of God’s adoption of us when we become Christians. Adoption embodies the biblical theme of the covenant. It is important to see that adoption is more than a legal contract—it is a relationship of promise. In fact, this distinction can be made of all family relationships. The relationship between God and His people is covenantal, not contractual, and God intends that family relationships mirror his covenant relationship with us. Calvin wrote, "God's covenant was not made to last only for a few days, or for a short time. When He adopted the children of Abraham, He took them under His keeping forever." The apostle Paul also uses the adoption analogy in his writings several times. Christians are adopted members of God's family, a privilege originally bestowed exclusively on Israel but through Christ made available to all through faith in him. According to a Roman-Syrian lawbook written in Paul’s era, a man might be able to disown his biological son if he had good reason, but he could never disown his adopted son. The adoption analogy used by Paul was a strong one indeed. The scriptural image of adoption emphasizes a) the sovereign character of God in planning our salvation, b) the newness of the family relationship he establishes, c) its climate of intimate trust and love and d) the gracious and immense inheritance our adoption affords us. This scriptural analogy gives us a wonderful picture of God's character and love for us as his children. Scriptural Principles Can Be Applied to Families There are several similarities between adoption into God's family and a child's adoption into a human family. First and foremost, adoption is one of only two ways that God has ordained for human families to be built. The relationship of parent to child is a covenantal relationship, bestowed on a family whether through birth or adoption. Just as marriage is modeled after Christ and his bride, the church, so parental love is modeled after God as Father of his people. God's plan for children is that they experience life in the midst of this covenantal relationship between a mother and a father.   The Scriptures give us examples of birth mothers making adoption plans (Jochebed and Moses, Exodus 2:10), families formed through adoption (Mordecai and Esther, Esther 2), and exhortations to care for orphans. Perhaps the most profound example of adoption in the Scriptures is Joseph's adoption of Jesus. It should not surprise us that God desired for Jesus to have an earthly father, consistent with His plan for marriage and parenthood. The lineage of Jesus, as prophesied in the Old Testament, is fulfilled through Joseph (see Matthew 1:1-17). Joseph is fully and completely Jesus' father—participating in his naming, protecting him from danger by traveling to Egypt, teaching him a trade and presenting him at the temple. Scriptural images can deepen our understanding of God's covenant family and His love for us. A true understanding of adoption gives us an overwhelming sense of permanence; God's permanent relationship to his children, and the permanent relationship of adopted children in their families.   This article is the first in a four-part bulletin insert series on adoption made available to churches by Presbyterians Protecting Life. The series is free to download here. You are permitted to print copies for distribution to your congregation.   PPL seeks to equip and encourage the local church to support adoption. Churches can play a role in adoption by encouraging young women in crisis pregnancies to consider adoption, providing resources to couples who desire to build or grow their family through adoption, and helping children here and abroad who wait for permanent families. We publish written materials on adoption and network with pastors and lay people interested in adoption issues. For more information, visit our website page on adoption or contact us.  PPL Resources

Partakers of the Grace: Biblical Foundations for Adoption As Christians, we want the Scriptures to inform everything we do. The Bible provides both specific examples and general truths relating to adoption.   The Scriptures give us the context for the institution of adoption in the world God has created. . . Read Essay

Five Fatherly Reflections on My Embryo Baby's First Birthday When people learn I’m the father of three sons and a daughter, they often remark, “You finally got your girl.” Boy, did I ever. Our Snowflakes® embryo baby, Phoebe, turns 1 year old this March. My wife, Julie, and I, along with our biological sons, Micah, Titus and Ezra, couldn’t be more elated that she is a part of our lives.  Read the Story

Download PPL's Free Bulletin Inserts for Adoption Month Resource for Pastors and Life teams: Presbyterians Protecting Life has a series of 4 Bulletin inserts for free download. We grant permission for you to print copies to distribute to your congregation during November Adoption Month or any time of the year.  Download the file here

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The Drop Box Movie A powerful documentary about caring for "the least of these"! In South Korea, Pastor Lee Jong-rak and his wife sacrifice everything to provide a safe haven for the orphans in their midst. A sign on their baby drop box says, "This is a facility for the protection of life. If you can’t take care of your disabled babies, don’t throw them away or leave them on the street. Bring them here.” The Baby Drop Box Story Purchase the Movie - Focus on the Family

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