Elijah Moments, Part Deux

On Tuesday this week, my supervisor and I attended one of my historical moments.  Yes, one of MY historical moments when I came face to face with the passion and vision I thought no one else shared.  The people in the "Michigan Foster Care and Adoption: Faith-Based Summit" made me glad that day, just a little bit more, that Jesus is the Lord of Life, and  His Redemptive Work is still impacting lives everywhere -- and not just in my backyard and not just in my head.  The people in that room made history for me.

There was the bishop from Brownsville, Texas (Bishop Aaron Blake) that challenged whole churches and communities not to turn a blind eye to the plight of orphans living right there. 

There was Mary Hiatt, whom was herself abandoned in Korea as a baby but later adopted by a loving couple that is loving her from Heaven, watching her establish a foster care and adoption support network of other families. 

There was Trooper Sanders who remembered the family that cared for him when his parents couldn't, and now, because of their support, he is slogging away in political seats in Washington, making history in his own way as the founder of Wise Whisper.

There was Ta'sheema Jones-Murray, whom had lived through far more pain and misery than I could ever imagine in foster and adoptive care, but whom also has grabbed her future by the horns and held on - riding right into the next phase of life with her graduation from Ferris State University this month. 

There was Pastor Christopher Brooks with his wife, adopting three children and never having their own, and now, encouraging his ministry to love the fatherless and motherless.

There was Beth Harris, choking back tears at how the North Ridge Church body of members has made Foster Care and Adoption ministry a mainstay at their church.

There was Tennison Barry of Foster Hope, giving feedback about what churches and faith communities can do for the children and families that need them so desperately.

There was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Foster Care and Adoption Navigators, Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange, and the Heart Gallery - doing great work but most of all loving a girl named Ta'Sheema, whom will be walking across the Ferris State stage to receive her diploma...her family is his family.

All these people reminding me, like God reminded Elijah, that the vision is always much bigger than the problem.  It is always much bigger than any of us.  And thank God for that...that He works on a grander scale...