Missouri Baptist Children’s Home works to find or develop “forever families” for children in Missouri.
Through the first three quarters of 2016, more than 360 children have achieved “permanency” through the work of MBCH. This is a life-changing experience for the children and the family.
The following is the story of how God used MBCH to impact the family of Seth and Amanda Beecher (expressed as follows by Amanda).
We had loved eight different kids in two years of foster parenting. We had hoped to adopt four of them but they were able to be reunified with family.
We knew we wanted to adopt and after many disappointments, tears and laughter we found ourselves looking through adoption websites searching for “our” children — the children God had planned for us.
In July 2015, after searching endless hours, we came across a sibling group of three. We read their profiles and so many of their interests were the same as ours.
We were excited about the possibility, yet knowing that we may not hear anything back for a while. The next day we received an e-mail asking us if we were interested in a sibling group of four!
I thought there must be a mistake. We learned there was a baby that would be included in the adoption but wasn’t legally free yet. Was it possible that we would have a baby also?
A month later we were chosen for an adoption interview. We had prayed that if it was God’s will that it would work for our good — his will above ours.
We did the interview and asked how long before we would know something. They said first of next week. Thirty minutes later I got a phone call that we were chosen! The excitement was uncontainable.
We had prayed and God had answered. All other moments of disappointment didn’t matter at that moment. We were going to be parents! Not just any parents, but parents to “our” kids.
On Aug. 28, we made a long three-hour trip to meet our kids for the first time. We got in the truck and headed to what would be the future of our family.
I remember walking in and seeing them for the first time. The two youngest were giggling at their baby brother on the floor.
It was all I could do not to run up and hug them and tell them, “I love you!” How silly would that be? I had just met them. However, that wasn’t true. Two years before, God had given us the burden to adopt; we just had to follow his plan.
I am happy to say that today we have four adorable children that God looked down through time and picked us to be their parents. Even through the disappointments, storms and tears God was shaping our family.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
This is one of a seies of ministry impact articles that appeared in Word & Way. The section contains stories from organizations and institutions that were invited to share how they were impacting a life, a group or a community.
