The Mission and Goals of an Adoption or Infertility Ministry

In my April 3 entry, I
overviewed our adoption story and explained why I started Heartbeat Ministry.
Today I’ll explain the mission and goals of the Heartbeat Ministry.

We chose the name Heartbeat
because it symbolizes our hope to create a family. Children are a blessing from
God. Yet many people who desire to conceive a child have difficulty doing so.
Significant emotional pain, embarrassment, and feelings of isolation result.
These feelings are often compounded at church, where conversations and
activities revolve around families with children.

We believe that, to God, all our heartbeats sound the same,
whether our families are created “naturally,” by assisted reproductive technology,
or are born in our hearts through adoption. God shows us His heart of love for
all who have faith in Him by adopting us as His children.

Recognizing that God calls us to support and affirm one
another in love (John 15:17), and to
carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), we nurture and pray for those who
are waiting for a child through birth
or adoption. We provide opportunities for infertile couples and adoptive
families to meet, socialize and discuss issues, and we educate the church
family about the unique challenges infertile couples and adoptive families
face. We hold people’s hearts.

Our leadership consists of Christian men and women who have
experienced infertility and/or adoption. The ministry equips people in the
following ways:

• Recommends helpful reading materials, Web sites, doctors,
  attorneys, adoption agencies and facilitators.
• Stocks the church library with resources about infertility
  and adoption.
• Educates the church community about infertility and adoption
  through classes, seminars, and presentations. Encourages awareness of and
  sensitivity to the needs of infertile and adoptive couples.
• Refers people to other men and women within the church who
  are available to discuss infertility and adoption issues on a one-to-one basis.
• Organizes need-based small groups for infertile couples,
  pre-adoptive and post-adoptive families.
• Facilitates emotional healing during the pain of loss (of
  expectations regarding parenthood, of pregnancy loss, of infant death or of
  failed adoption).
• Provides fellowship activities geared to create a sense of belonging among infertile couples and adoptive families.

Coming Next: The first steps
in starting an infertility/adoption ministry